The Pros (and Cons…) of starting a Masters in January

January is the perfect time to a take on a new challenge – whether it be sticking to a new exercise regime, taking up meditation, learning a language or actually drinking the recommended eight glasses of water per day. Something that might not have made its way onto your list of resolutions, however, is starting a Masters degree, which, yes, you can do in the New Year!

If you didn’t quite meet the September deadline, you don’t have to wait until next autumn to start working towards a postgraduate qualification. We currently list over 3,000 January start Masters right here on FindAMasters, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a course.

Still on the fence? We’ve put together a few pros and cons to help you decide whether a January start could be for you.

The Pros

Starting your Masters in January can benefit you in a few ways you might not have thought of...

Get an edge when applying for jobs

It’s no secret that the job market is as competitive as ever, and many graduates entering the workforce armed with a freshly earned Masters degree will find themselves up against thousands of others doing exactly the same thing. If you’re in the minority of students completing their course in December, however, you’ll a chance to start your job hunt outside of the usual post-graduation rush.

January motivation

We know it might sound a bit cheesy, but the New Year’s spirit really can be a powerful motivator. You’ll never see as many joggers out for a 6am cardio session as on a cold, dark January morning. So why not channel some of that momentum into kickstarting the next phase of your academic career?

What's so special about September, anyway?

While most of the working world operates on a January-December schedule, the traditional academic year is a bit of an anomaly. Historically, school terms in the UK were organised around farming schedules, so that children could still contribute to tasks such as fruit-picking and caring for livestock in the summer months. Universities soon followed suit, giving rise to the now standard September start.

So, unless you’ve a harvest to tend to, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t complete your Masters over a calendar year instead. There are a couple of perks to this you might not have considered! First, you’ll be able to trade a summer stuck struggling through your dissertation for pumpkin-spice fuelled writing sessions in the autumn, before your final winter deadline. Second, you’ll graduate just in time for Christmas.

Better for international students

Not everyone operates according to the schedule we’ve adopted in the UK – in fact, many countries in the Southern Hemisphere already organise their academic terms around the calendar year. A January start will be far more convenient for international students looking to start their studies in 2024, without waiting almost a full year for September to roll around.

The Cons

There are a couple of things you might want to keep in mind before you commit to a January start!

You dont have quite as much choice

January starts are an increasingly popular choice for students, with universities offering more and more courses to meet this demand. However, most courses will still run over the traditional academic year. If you’re looking to start a Masters in the new year, you will ultimately be faced with a reduced course catalogue to choose from.

This isn’t necessarily a problem – it might be that your dream course is amongst those on offer. But if it isn’t, don’t sacrifice the course you’ve got your heart set on simply for the convenience of a January start! It’s always worth being patient – especially when you’re embarking on a commitment as significant as a Masters.

Delayed start for social activities

Since the vast majority of Masters students start their degrees in September, it is likely that most extra-curricular activities will be organised around this. If participating in a society or joining a sports team is high on your priority list, you might find it preferable to be amongst the larger cohort of students starting in the autumn.

That said, most societies will still accept students wanting to gain entry mid-academic year, with many universities hosting ‘Refreshers’ events in January for this exact purpose – so there’s never any need to miss out! Plus, don’t forget that you’re more likely to dodge the dreaded freshers’ flu.

If you’re ready to apply for a Masters starting in January 2024, visit our dedicated page now to pick out the best one for you.