How to make study work for you

Going back to university – and getting ahead in your career – is more achievable than you think.

‘Busy’ is the buzzword of our days and weeks, but then suddenly a few years go by in a blur of work and kids, and you start to ask yourself are my days just full or are they fulfilling?. If this sounds familiar, now could be a good time to hit pause and consider if you’re where you’d like to be – and if studying a Griffith MBA could help get you there.

If you’re thinking about furthering your learning and earning potential, but you’re not sure how to juggle study with life, here are some tips to consider:

Get creative with ‘lost’ time

Study doesn’t have to be done at a desk or in a lecture hall. It could be on the bus, or on the couch. Think about what you could swap out of your existing routine, like replacing listening to podcasts with listening to lecture recordings. Make friends with this incidental time and discover what else you can achieve while you’re travelling or scrolling socials.

Be proactive at work

Many employers offer study leave or funded training initiatives so you might be able to negotiate flexible hours, especially if you can demonstrate how your learnings will benefit your organisation.

Many employers offer study leave or funded training initiatives so you might be able to negotiate flexible hours, especially if you can demonstrate how your learnings will benefit your organisation. Hint: Griffith’s MBA subjects are built on the core values necessary for success in a sustainable, equitable economy, so you’ll learn critical tools to help drive purpose and profit. The Griffith MBA program also has a number of scholarship options available, which might make dropping back to part-time work more financially feasible.

Build study around your needs

The Griffith MBA offers two study options, to give you control over how fast or slow you study and how study fits around your life. The first is fully flexible and can be studied online, on-campus or a combination of both in a standard 12-week trimester, either part-time or full-time. The second is a part-time online accelerated program, delivered over consecutive 6-week teaching periods followed by a 2-week break. And on top of all of this, with each option you can skip study blocks to concentrate on other commitments if you need to.

Make time for time-out

It’s important to be realistic and build in a buffer for those days when things don’t go to plan. Consider how much downtime you need to function and try to plan for something fun every now and then. The Griffith Study Planner can help you visually map out your existing routines and then design your study around how much time you can afford to commit.

Consider online vs on-campus

MBA student and mum Rachell Hansen credits Griffith’s online learning options with being able to maintain a more balanced family life. Having a new baby and toddler means flexibility in the way I study is important, Rachell says. Online learning has been an absolute lifesaver. I don't feel any less involved or supported on the online campus. Griffith has given me confidence that I can still put my health and parenting first while studying and enjoying motherhood. My future goal is for my career development to focus on sustainability while achieving work-life balance.