[barry-cotter]

I got a Master’s without ever having a Bachelor’s starting when I was well over 30. Feel free to email me if you want to know anything.

If you already have a successful career in a non-credential field it’s unlikely getting a vanity credential like a taught Master’s will do much for you, unless it’s a finishing school proof of class habitus like an MBA. A Ph.D. like an MBA is good for changing fields and perhaps social class entirely but it’s unlikely to pay off in monetary terms.

[specproc]

My partner didn't finish her undergrad, but was accepted onto an MSc program in Manchester in the UK on the basis of her work experience.

I think students with experience are great for courses, and applications from these sorts of candidates look great amongst piles of identikit young over achievers.

[barry-cotter]

It’s a taught Master’s. They want the money and some scrap of a justification for admitting you. Don’t overthink it.

[cluelessmaker]

If you don't mind, could you share the university you went? I dropped out my bachelors in final year, and kinda old now. Spending 1 or 2 year for masters is okay for me now, but don't want to spent 4 years for bachelors again. Trying to figure out options.

[barry-cotter]

University of London. There’s more than one Master’s degree that allows you to take individual modules as stand alone qualification and once you hit the limit you transfer to being a Master’s student proper. I did Finance. Last I looked the London School of Tropical Medicine also did this. If they offer a Postgraduate Certificate they’ll probably take your money for an individual module if you have any evidence you can do postgraduate level study. I had a MicroMaster’s from EdX.

https://www.london.ac.uk/courses/international_type_of_study...

[inhumantsar]

Thanks for this insight. I've been looking for programs like these. There are plenty of MBA programs but I'm more interested in doing a CS degree.

I have a decade of experience in software development and a smattering of Coursera certificates in relevant areas. Doing a BSc feels like it would be, not a waste exactly but inefficient and overly expensive. But it looks like University of London they offer a PCert->MSc pathway for CS.

Did you do the micro-master because you didn't have (much) relevant experience in the field? How important do you think it was on your application?

[barry-cotter]

> Did you do the micro-master because you didn't have (much) relevant experience in the field? How important do you think it was on your application?

I did it so I could show some reason to admit me to the course. Absent any relevant work experience they needed some evidence I could think think and write. They asked for a notarized copy as part of the application process. Legible bureaucratic qualifications are a good thing to have if you’re trying to get another legible bureaucratic qualification.

[cluelessmaker]

If I do edx micromasters, will they consider for Msc computer science or related courses?

[barry-cotter]

I imagine they would but it’s not like I work there. The M.Sc. Computer Science does individual modules as stand alone qualifications.

https://www.london.ac.uk/courses/msc-computer-science#progra...

[jrumbut]

A lot of universities have (often not well publicized) programs to help you finish bachelor's degrees after you drop out and are gone for a few years. You can sometimes get credit for work experience or other things you've done and take all/most classes online.

I went through one myself and am currently working on my PhD. If you have a relevant career or just come off as pretty mature a master's program will be happy to have you even if there were issues in your undergrad, but very few institutions worth going to will admit you without a bachelor's of any kind and the circumstances would have to be something truly remarkable.