Today’s update has been written by Sam Chadwick, Assistant QS. Here’s what Sam has to say about combining work and study…
Studying part time while working is a fantastic way of achieving your degree while gaining a significant level of practical work experience in the construction industry.
I have studied part-time at Kingston University and also via distance learning at the College of Estate Management (CEM) Reading. There are lots of options and it all comes down to your situation and what you feel suits you best.
My course at Kingston Uni was part time taking one day a week for five years. Living in Southampton it meant leaving home at 6am and arriving back around 8pm while enduring endless traffic on the M3. It was hard work and the travelling was part of the reason I decided to leave after two years.
When I joined Evolution5, gaining my degree was high priority for me and the company are supporting me to achieve this. As a result, looking for the best way to study was important. In the end I opted to enrol at the CEM on a distance learning degree studying for BSc in Quantity Surveying. This allows me to study in my own time, and at work, while only needing to attend lectures four days per year.
Being able to fit university work around my workload and personal commitments has allowed me to develop a better work/life balance. It means that I can effectively manage my time in terms of work and Uni deadlines. If I am lucky to have a few quiet days at work I can focus on study and assignments. This also means that I can, generally, complete assignments ahead of the deadlines, avoiding the unnecessary stresses of trying to complete assignments ‘just-in-time’!
Overall, my experience so far with CEM has been great, assignments have achieved the grades that I am after while the workload is manageable and work orientated.
Now it’s time to prepare for my September exams…. I hope I can continue my good form!
