A question for Australin Historians

by optumyst

I am a 31yr old retail worker with an arts degree. I am considering going back to university to continue/restart my studies in the hope of pursuing a career in academia or, if possible, archeology. I graduated 6yrs ago so RPL is not likely. It has always been my dream to have a career in this field. However, because of my age, I have no idea of how employable I would be if I were to attain the required qualifications to enter this field, nor do I have any idea of the income I could make. I already have a hecs loan that I have barely put a dint in, and I have very little income or assets as it is. I do not wish to be struggling all my life to make ends meet but I also do not wish to work a job that I am not passionate about which I have simply fallen into.

So my questions are:

  • Would it be wise to pursue this dream or is it too late?

  • Is it even possible to attempt it with an outstanding hecs debt?

  • If I were to attain the required qualifications, what employment opportunities are there? How difficult would it be to find a well paying job?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

talondearg

For context, I've just completed a PhD at an Australian university in Ancient History, and am currently in the academic job market.

  1. Unless they've changed the regulations since I last checked, you probably can't put another B.Arts on HECS-HELP. You can put multiple degrees on it, but only if they are not entry level.
  2. However, you probably don't need to do a full Arts degree again. RPL is not really your issue, it's having a major in History or Archaeology.
  3. So to get around those two issues, you could do a Graduate Diploma somewhere, and complete just the major sequence of a History degree. (8-10 subjects).
  4. To go all the way through to academia, you'd normally need to do a BA (Hons) - 4 years, plus PhD - 3 years. A lot of Australian PhD programs are moving to a 4-year model though, incorporating an initial master's years. Alternatively, you can do a masters in the middle. Doing a Grad.Dip. as I mention above is unlikely to shorten this time, since you'll need to get through at least 3 years of sequential units.
  5. Assuming you can get the undergraduate requirement without going into crazy debt, the PhD will be covered, assuming you're a citizen (Aus university places for Aus PhD students are fee-free).
  6. The prospects of a job in academia are poor. Perhaps not as dismal as the US market, but still difficult. In some ways more difficult because the field is smaller, so while the ratios might be the same, the raw number of positions is low.
  7. Is it too late? No, not necessarily. But it is going to be most of this decade of your life.
  8. Is it possible? Yes, and HECS debt is best debt! Not that you necessarily want more HECS debt, but of all kinds of debt to accrue, it is the best. And there probably is a way around doing a 2nd bachelor's.
  9. Is it wise? I wouldn't advise it if you are thinking of it from a career/economic perspective.
  10. Economic prospects? Academic jobs, very poor. Moving sideways into history-related fields? Possible, but the pay advantage disappear dramatically.

Hope that gives some perspective.