To keep pace with the changing industry demands, many working professionals are going back to school to upskill and equip themselves with the latest knowledge and skills. However, they may not have the time and resources to embark on a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate programme as they have other commitments in both work and life.
This is where part-time studies come in.
Part-time studies are designed for people who want to pursue a qualification while juggling work and other personal commitments at the same time. Other than offering flexible study arrangements, these part-time programmes also allow students to directly apply what they have learnt in school at their workplace. Students can develop their personal and professional capabilities, while ensuring their financial security at the same time – the best of both worlds.
Here are 6 Reasons Why You Should Study Part-time:
1. Flexible schedule
Being a part-time student means you have more control over your schedule. Many part-time courses allow you to choose how many modules you want to take up in one semester. For instance, you can choose to take fewer modules if there is a big project at work that you need to focus on during the semester.
This also means that depending on your learning needs, you can choose to adjust your learning pace by either taking more modules per semester to shorten the course of studies, or take less modules and extend your duration of completion.
2. Learn and apply your skills in real-life situations
A good outcome of part time studies is being able to apply theory to real-life work situations. Working while studying can help a student better resonate with the course materials and concepts that are being taught in class.
At the same time, part-time students can apply whatever they have learnt directly in their day-to-day job. This is a more effective and efficient way of learning as it allows you to better understand the subjects and develop critical-thinking skills to tackle real world problems.
3. Acquiring soft skills
Soft skills are important as it helps one become more employable in the market. It is a crucial differentiating factor in hiring when it comes to assessing candidates with similar experiences and educational backgrounds.
Learning how to manage your time properly and effectively is an essential skill that not many can master – and studying part-time can help you to achieve that. In addition, skills such as effective communication, leadership, problem-solving, and many other transferable soft skills can help you excel in your professional and personal life.
4. Wider career prospects
To stay relevant to the industry, many working professionals choose to go back to school and take part-time courses after working for a few years. Upskilling yourself not only enhances your competencies but the knowledge and skills you learnt from your part-time studies may also help you in your career advancement and exposure.
If you are looking at a career transition, you can explore different roles and opportunities at a much lower opportunity cost while taking the part-time degree.
5. Networking
Doing a part-time programme allows you to meet people from different walks of life – you can be a young adult studying to upskill yourself to boost your employment or career advancement prospects, or a mid-career working adult studying to do a career switch.
Studying and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences help you to understand different perspectives and broaden your horizons. Other than creating meaningful friendships, these networks can potentially open your doors to more career opportunities.
6. Exploring your interest
Many people are exploring career options and finding out what they want to pursue at different stages of life. Doing part-time studies allows students to venture into areas that they are passionate about while holding onto their job for financial stability. It can also broaden your perspective and expand your worldview, bringing about positive change to your life.
About Ngee Ann Academy
Ngee Ann Academy (NAA) is a private education institution (PEI) that partners with top-ranking universities across the world to provide tertiary education in the heart of Singapore at Orchard Road. Established in 1998, it is owned by Ngee Ann Education Holdings which is, in turn, a subsidiary of The Ngee Ann Kongsi.
Ngee Ann Academy’s university partners are King’s College London (UK), University of Nottingham (UK), and The University of Adelaide (Australia). Ngee Ann Academy offers professional, undergraduate, and postgraduate degree programmes in business administration, education, and nursing.
Find out more about the programmes we offer here.