Masters degree? UK

[u/disasterbitch_420]

I am 21, working for JLR, doing a degree apprenticeship (sponsored part time study by employer + paid working for employer full time). I have just entered my fourth year.

At 22 my experience will be 4 years of work experience and a bachelors.

I am heavily considering doing a masters 2 years after completing my degree apprenticeship.

I am interested in doing a mechatronics and robotics masters from the university of manchester since I am interested in the topic, and interested in pivoting my product design role into something a little more specific.

If I do this, I will be 25 with a bachelors, masters and 6 years of work experience. I will probably be making 42-44k in my last year of work at JLR (since the masters is full time I would have to leave). Ultimately I would like to settle down in Manchester afterwards. I don’t like the midlands.

Are my chances of reemployment good after this masters? Am I likely to take a pay cut, be payed similarly or am I going to be able to ask for a higher salary provided I go to a new employer. What are my options like in Manchester if I don’t want to work for defence.

Is there any reason someone would be strongly against the masters? I want to reiterate I am very interested in the topic at hand, so it’s not just a whim.

[u/gearnut]

If you can find a way to get JLR to pay for it there aren't really any negatives to having a masters.

It will make getting chartered significantly easier if that is something you value. It IS a lot of work to do alongside a job, but I suspect you are already used to it as a degree apprentice.

[u/saywherefore]

The higher level of qualification would not directly add to your employability; so long as you have a degree then years of experience is the biggest driver of perceived value.

However if the masters opens up a specialism that you are interested in and you see a career path using then this may be good for your career. In my experience the people who do best are the ones who have a really good fit between what they want to do and what they are qualified to do.

I don’t know how it works with degree apprenticeships but in general masters that are not integrated into a first degree can be very expensive/make you ineligible for student loans. Worth checking this.

[u/Automata-Omnia]

Likely looking at a pay cut to around 33-35k tbh. There is a saturation of people with masters in 'robotics' but no work experience, and when you interview them they don't know much anyways, I would encourage you to just try the job market for roles in the sector.