The internet doesn't just have to be a distraction from postgraduate work These days it can actually contribute to your studies and help you get more out of your Masters.
Many of today's academics and research students document their work online or form part of virtual scholarly networks.
You don't have to participate directly in these as a Masters student, but you can still learn a lot from them. Academic blogs, discussion forums, Twitter and even Facebook (yes, Facebook) can all be great ways of staying up to date with your academic field.
And, of course, if you do have something to contribute, go for it. Online forums are a great space for reflecting on your work and 'road-testing' ideas in an informal setting - particularly if your university doesn't yet feature any face-to-face postgraduate discussion groups.
Finding online discussion groups
Established academic subject areas will have websites run by scholarly groups and academic societies. These often have dedicated student sections, with discussion forums. Many also maintain Twitter accounts or Facebook groups, allowing you to quickly and conveniently network with other students and scholars in your field.
These groups will often lead you to blogs or other websites run by individual scholars or students. Some are very well established and function as important academic hubs in their own right.
You can also consider doing your own blogging. This can be an excellent way of documenting your course and reflecting on progress during your Masters degree.
Blogging doesn't have to mean building a full website or committing to regular updates. A basic homepage can allow you to describe your academic interests, with the option to add more content as and when you have time. This could be as simple as posting reviews of conferences or thoughts on your course material.
Or, if you don't have the time or material for a blog of your own, why not consider contributing to an existing academic website? Many will be happy to take guest posts from student bloggers.
These don't have to be long and they certainly don't have to redefine your field. But they're a great way to try your hand at scholarly writing and begin to build an identity for yourself as a researcher.
The benefits of blogging and networking for Masters students
Blogging is a particularly valuable activity for budding academics. Today's academics and research students increasdingly use personal webspaces to help communicate their research and increase the visibility of their work.
You may not have quite as much to say about your research as a Masters student, but you will in future. And there's nothing wrong with getting started early.
Blogging can also serve a practical purpose as you approach the dissertation stage of your course. It can be helpful to explore ideas through less formal writing and keep track of the way your research develops.
Getting involved in academic networks and discussion groups can also be worthwhile if you want to pursue a PhD. You'll become acquainted with current scholarship in your field and make useful contacts for the future.
But it's not just future academics that can benefit from getting more involved with their subject online. Professional networking is an important skill in many careers and blogging is an excellent way to present your degree to non-specialists.
Both activities can also make valuable contributions to your CV. Including your degree result is great, but why not also point out the ways in which you went the extra mile and became part of a wider scholarly community? And why simply state your degree subject when you can point to a blog that explains what you actually did during your Masters?