In postgraduate studies, I think that part time students are better in assessment than full time students. The reason is that part time students can organize their time well and usually take less credit hours.
In postgraduate studies, I think that part time students are better in assessment than full time students. The reason is that part time students can organize their time well and usually take less credit hours.
Dear @Mohamed, yes, @Mahfuz have given nice observation on assessments!
The important fact is that part time postgraduate students are very serious, mostly with jobs, families etc. Yes, they can not afford to study full time, but all credit hours that are taken, are mostly earned.
The full time postgraduate students have a better chance to finish studies earlier, they have much more opportunities to collaborate with academic advisers, mentor and professors. They have all the facilities available all the time comparing to part time students.
In general, I do think, as the obligations for both categories of students are same, that outcome is similar regarding quality!
Maybe this research on The Part-Time Doctoral Student Experience may give a new light on this issue! There are good comparisons in this research, "this study explored the experiences of 10 part-time doctoral students in different disciplines through semi-structured interviews"!
http://ijds.org/Volume7/IJDSv7p063-078Gardner352.pdf
Dear @Mohamed, I prefer full time graduate students because they have the whole time to do their works unless the work is at the institute itself then it is the same like a full time.
I support the full time students rather than part timer. Any part time task is incomparable with full timer. ..
If "part-time" PhD students refer to them performing teaching some 20%, like they typically do in Sweden, then I would say that it is very favorable. I myself experienced, as a part-time ditto, that having some teaching (in fact more than 20%) was a very good way to let off steam - to allow the brain to work in other dimensions, allowing subconsciously the mind to still explore the research problems at hand. I may be romanticizing a bit, but I think I can remember being in some ways more sharp after a few hours of teaching than during a full week of having no such duties. Having the pressure to think rather than letting time fly freely I found to be preferable. Besides, in our system the PhD student still has the equivalent of 4 full years to work on their thesis, so teaching has the automatic effect of making that period 5 rather than 4 years long. I have heard very few complaints about this.
Dear All,
According to my experiences, generally when the studying opportunities (teaching hours, assignments etc.) are decreased the quality of the future degree holders decreases. However, it is a complicated question because studying moral of students generally decreased heavily compared with the situation say 20 years ago. There are too big differences among the abilities, diligence and possibilities of students. Unfortunately, for many students not the knowledge but the paper (the degree) matters. Some teaching institutions do not make efforts to increase the standard even on the contrary.
Several factors affect whether it is better to be part-time or full-time as a postgraduate student, notably: the other 'part' in the part-time arrangement, the personailities of the student and the supervisor, the program in which the student is enrolled, the institution, and the economic conditions of everyone involved.
Long ago I was a part-time postgraduate (graduate) student and it suited me very well. I was lucky in that my institution and supervisor supported the arrangement, I was employed by the university itself, and my economic condition was secure. It took a bit longer for me to complete my thesis due to my other duties, but I had the added opportunity to develop skills (such as research supervision) which other students did not develop until later in their careers.
While this worked well for me (and for some other students I have known), it does not always work out so well. For example, I have known part-time students who experienced serious conflict between the demands of their employer and the demands of the research itself. leading to them dropping out of the graduate program. On the other hand, I have known full-time students who dropped out of graduate school for various reasons, including not having any employment experience (by which one learns to discipline one's work habits).
Some postgraduate students are mature enough to do extremely well in full-time study and take off quickly in their careers as a result.
In summary, I think the most aoppropriate answer is "it all depends!"
As a full time student, I prefer full time due to many reasons. First, I timely use every available facility and opportunity provided by the Graduate school. I have time to attend seminars, conferences and involve in networking (within and outside my school). I do not think I would have been able to do this if I was doing a part time. Second, I have involved in planning and writing papers from my on-going study. Many part time students I know are struggling to combine work demand with their studies and may not be able to do that. Third, part time students may not enjoy collegial benefits full time students enjoy when they gather in Research Rooms. When we meet, people often raise questions and concerns about their research and everyone contributes. This has been very helpful because everyone helps to solve one another's problems. I have been involved in peer-reviews and I am learning a lot from this. Many of my colleagues who are doing part time studies may not have this time or opportunity. That said, I think part time studies may also have some advantages that I may not know.
To me full time student means the post graduate students are involved in the program as TA or RA with the professor or the department. If this is the case, then full time student is better because students produce and achieve in academic career in theory and practice. If students are not working as TA or as RA in the program, then there are no difference between fulltime or part time students with respect to their contribution to the field. However, full time student is dedicated to the science and course work closely without undue interruption of the comprehensiveness thinking. Again, everything is dependent on the student’s enthusiasm whether full time or part time.
I assume post-graduate studies should be in full-time. It is difficult to concentrate on research when you have other responsibilities somewhere else. To me, a researcher should just research. However because PhD students normally end up with an academic position, we should ask them to foster their academic skills by teaching and tutoring.
If we are discussing outcomes and quality of the program which is the main issue here, each type of study has its own outcome based curricula which designed for the purpose of the program and the type of student recruiting. From this point there is no difference because each program fulfill the requirement of the program , in which the student makes the main part of it. Now if we are discussing the the outcomes and quality from the students point of view, it will depends on the the type of study selected by the student which suits his capabilities and time. The Outcome and the quality will decrease on the case of conflict between the two side of the equilibrium.
Its a hard question actually, but I do agree with most of our colleagues' answers here. It is all depend on the inner drive and self motivation of the student. Even a full time student become disorganize when passion and patience is not instilled. So, both can be produce quality papers.
Dear @Emeka, the advantages of part-time studies that you have mentioned are following. " If you are studying a professionally related degree, it might be to your advantage to combine work and study; experiences gained in your professional life will add depth and relevance to your academic development. Some taught programmes, particularly the professionally oriented ones, are only available by part-time study." Further reading is good and gives advantages of both types of studies!
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degree-guide/study-modes
Imagine full-time students are in a better position without distractions of work!
Period!
Hi,
Full time is better as it enable students to deeply investigates the research problem .If there arev courses in the progamming,then the student had plenty of time to capture most if not all the knowledge targeted by the progamme.
After a full time post graduation , one can do distant learning and part time course in whatever subject one has inclination towards for knowledge sake not for practice. There are many such fields one desires to learn but is unable to do so practically, so, part time learning has its own slot when one is busy with family and earning livelihood.
This is a good question.
I definitely agree with @Cecilia that graduate student performance performance depends on the commitment level. I also agree with @Abedallah M Rababah: I also prefer full-time graduate students. I have had experience with both part-time and full-time graduate student and--so far--I have found that full-time student outperform part-time students because they are living with their research throughout the day and on a daily basis.
The solution to the problem of full-time vs. part-time students largely hinges on making sure that graduate students have grants to cover their living expenses.
Even though I have done my PG as full time, I would like to support part time studies because of many reasons, students can can study at their on pace, if the university can provide moodle and mahara with most modern flip classroom technologies ,part time studies will be better.
@Sheeba pattattu Sankaran: ...I would like to support part time studies because of many reasons, students can can study at their on pace, ...
The basic problem with the part time approach to graduate studies is concentration being broken by influences that tend to pull one's attention in more than one direction. It really comes down to what @Cecilia mentioned earlier: performance depends on your level of commitment.
Although I have commented on this before, I still want to emphasis that if fund is available and there is no other reason to take up part time study, the best option is full time studies. Having tested both, I strongly support full time because as James said, full time students live with their studies daily and can concentrate better. I have also noted that as a full time student, I have enjoyed as well as given other students support. Despite the fact that our research topics are diverse, when we gather in our 'research room', we share problems, brainstorm and proffer solutions to one another's difficulties. Through this process, I have learnt how to work with team and learnt many other things from other people's research. Part-time students may not have time to do this. Although one's level of commitment matters, part time students face many distractions (although many of them work harder than full time students) than full time students.
Based on my observation, part time or full time students' performance depends on student's motivation and commitment to learning at the first place, as well as on a number of other factors, take for example, the field of study. If the field of study is, say, international development study, then a student who is working in the field of development study (e.g. in NGOs, etc) and studying at the same time as part time student in development study course will do better than full time student with no experience. Same is true for those students who work as accountant and study accounting as part time student. On the other hand, full time student studying mathematics will do better than part time student. I have seen many students getting full scholarships go abroad as full time student, but no motivation or commitment for study, they do poor in their study if the field is irreverent.
I believe that the part-time students in the postgraduate studies have better learning outcome than the full time students. The part time students can organize their time in a better way and can do their duties as required.
Postgraduate studies should be full time and without any distraction from whatever you are doing. It needs dedication as well as a complete input. If one is distracted by even closely related jobs or work, it is likely that one would miss the nitty gritty of the postgraduate course. If the idea is to grasp only the core curriculum and nothing else like in medical education which would be learnt after you work in the community as a teacher, research topics can only be grasped through s thoroughly dedicated full time output.
I think that full time studies are better, they allow the student to be entirely involved in his study and the team work outside any distraction. Student could learn much more from experienced researchers and technicians of the research group and be able to correct the mistakes at time as well could fasten his/her thesis.
Here in Greece most of the cases are for part time, at least in PhD studies.
Dear Demetris so how is the performance of part time in Greece compared to full time
It depends on the researcher and the field. I have no statistical data. If the researcher is good, then he/she doesn't need an institution to support him/her.
It totally depends on how dedicated the researcher is. If utmost dedication is shown by a researcher in his or her field of study, both types of study can be very good in their applications.
Whenever there is a possibility of full time post-graduate student is the better.
There is saying" if you are following two birth at the same time you will lose both of them"
I can say that in postgraduate studies, there a significant differences between full time and part time students in the outcome and quality. Part time students who work and learn are more able to organize their time.
I personally believe that postgraduate studies should be full time , as the student has to concentrate on his subjects . In the medical profession , he has to gain both theoretical & practical training & experience in treating patients . The postgraduate on completion of his course , should be fully confident in handling his speciality . The need for postgraduate degree , is to work in a teaching Institute & he should be fully equipped for this task . There should be no compromise on the quality of teaching & training of post graduates . Part time courses should be certificate courses & not postgraduate degrees . The only solution is that post graduate students should be well paid to take care of themselves & concentrate on their studies .
Full time is better than part time & the outcome will depend on power of the institute, quality of program & efforts of student.
In case of MS(through Research), There is plus in both, but the opportunities are unique
Full Time - More time devotion to a research based study.
Part time - Application of (some quantum) work to research exploration.
I think that graduate studies should not see as another degree. If one is starting graduate studies he needs devotion and hard work. A part time student usually is one that is working in some sense. This means not so much devotion to study, just by the nature of his situation.
On the other hand in case of a foreign graduate student, he should chose part time in order to have the chance to be adapted in the new conditions and concentrate on the courses which constitute the basis for graduate studies.
Ideally full time students are more serious in their class works and theoretical background and somehow more standard.
Practically, some part-time students have more experimental experiences due to being involved in industry, working beside their studies, etc.
So quality of research can not be judged based on being part- or full- time students.
Finally due to financial constrained to support family and study, nowadays both part- or full- time students seeking jobs during their studies, .
Full time students should be more serious because of the time they have. But, some of the part time students, as my dear Mahmoud said, have more experimental experiences due to being involved in industry, working beside their studies.
I think part -time have more constrains that could interfere with their achievement
Dear @Mohamed, motivation is a major factor. Both full-time and part-time postgraduate students can achieve the same results, it is a matter of personality and will regardless the constraints! Strong will !
I think in medicine ( with exception of few disciplines) we need a dedicated students, Therefore we have to support full time students
Part time students can do their work and succeed in some disciplines. But in other discipline, such as Medicine, Chemistry, Engineering, students must be dedicated to their study.
I´ve read all the interesting contributions. My very distinct meaning is, the postgraduates may be so earnest as before, but they have the problem of time to spend if they are studying half time. I know some of these cases during my studies, we had our possibly unfair and unjust but sometimes matching comments for the colleques.
Dear Mohamed,
no matter whether the postgraduate are in part-time or full-time, it is important that they are really interested in the research and that their intellectual engagement is strong. The key elements are thus the thirst for knowledge and a willingness of deepening .
Two types of part-time degree programmes are offered by some universities: on-campus and those offered via outreach programmes. The on-campus, part-time programmes are offered at main campuses; outreach programmes are offered at satellite outreach centres, often located many kilometres from the parent campus, typically in large commercial urban centres. To gain entry into part-time programmes of study, in theory part-time students must meet the same admissions requirements as their full-time student counterparts. On-campus students studying part-time are taught by regular faculty, use the same facilities, and attend lectures during the evenings, weekends or vacations, as fulltime students studying on-campus. Outreach or satellite programmes, on the other hand, offer part-time programmes that are administered and delivered at designated ‘outreach’ centres that are physically located off-campus, outside confines of the parent institution. Outreach centres are typically located in large urban and commercial centres, so as to attract students who could afford to pay for their academic upgrading and education. These outreach centres, however, tend not to be as well equipped compared to their parent universities. Moreover, those hired to teach outreach programmes are typically recruited from outside the parent university’s faculty.
www.hecsu.ac.uk/assets/.../part_time_undergraduates_in_he_0509.pdf
www.herts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/11898/DDesFAQs.pdf
https://www.ukcge.ac.uk/.../2014%2009%20International%20comparisons
Dear Mahfuz Judeh · I think the reverse is true ie, full time graduate students have the whole time to achieve their works.
@Ishag,
I share your opinion. We were not asked for exceptions. I know both, the "lazy case" and the very exceptions with 24h workers and big success.
I do agree with Brenda Jacono that a significant difference between the two groups is expected.
In countries where it is very difficult for people to get work, it should be possible for people working to continue their work and at the same time enroll on a part-time postgraduate programme. The part-time takes a longer time than the full time programme. The content is the same for both groups. Both groups do the same number of credit hours. When it is organized at satellite campuses, equally qualified lecturers are engaged to teach the students. There should, therefore, be no difference in terms of output and quality.
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