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Getting a better education is a great way to get ahead at work. But juggling a job with external study isn't always easy. The workload as office and course deadlines loom can be suffocating and relationships with family and friends can suffer.

If you plan to work while studying, experts say preparation, support and a good employer are all important.

Cate Wellington, an organisational effectiveness manager at Qantas, saw extra study as a way of taking the next step in her career. She began a masters of business administration in mid-2006, hoping to develop her management skills, and is due to finish at the end of next year.

To help contain the study workload and keep a healthy work-life balance, Wellington takes just one subject a semester. She says even for a well-organised person it can take real discipline and organisation to accommodate the extra work. "Typically, I get up three mornings a week at 5am to fit in some extra study," she says. "I'm careful to optimise my time. For example, I make personal phone calls on the way to and from work."

Wellington is not alone in seeing the benefit in further study. Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 27 per cent of students combined full-time employment with part-time studies last year, up from 25 per cent in 2002.

The evidence suggests bosses reward those who study with promotions and pay rises.

Ken Burt, general manager for Victoria and NSW with recruiter The Brooklyn Group, says there are many positives to combining work and study, including sending a message to employers about your focus.

"There's a real bar set with some organisations," he says. "They [are looking] for candidates with postgraduate qualifications. An MBA, for example, can help when organisations are looking for ... people with future potential."

However, Jasmine Sliger, a corporate psychologist and executive coach with JSA International Communications, says the downside of working while studying is often having less time for family, friends, relationships and socialising. "You have to know where you're at in your life," she says.

Before people commit to extra studies, Sliger says they should ask themselves key questions, such as "Do you have a support team with your family and employer?" and "Do you have realistic expectations and a real passion for what you're studying?"

She believes some personalities are better suited to the work-study juggling act than others and it helps to know how you cope with competing demands. "Those people who can compartmentalise and structure their time usually cope better," she says. "Others may be overwhelmed with so many commitments."

Another hurdle is that some bosses can feel threatened when employees start advanced degrees. This may lead to them questioning the commitment of workers to their jobs. Sliger advises people to be discreet about taking on extra studies if they're in this situation. "The larger the organisation, the better off people usually are," she says. "But be judicious about asking for time off, especially if you have a poor manager who may be unsupportive."

However, many employers recognise the value of further education to the company and are becoming more flexible and accommodating. Wellington has been in her job only since December last year but she's already found "Qantas is very focused on the development of people, so they have been supportive of my MBA."

Wellington says her work-study mix has forced her to make adjustments to her life but doesn't regard these as negative, given the benefit her career is getting. "I tend to think in terms of 'opportunity-cost' quite a bit and focus on quality time with family and friends rather than quantity," she says.

Having a group of fellow students to talk with and compare notes has been a big help, she says. "Study group helps me stay motivated. We tend to keep each other on track, as well as learn from each other's experiences."

Meanwhile, one benefit of keeping your job when you study is that it can help you maintain commitment to learning during the your course. Edwin Trevor-Roberts, a career consultant and chief executive of Trevor-Roberts Associates, says this is because you see your studies being applied in real-life situations.

Wellington agrees: "The practical application of course concepts at work adds an extra dimension to learning and loving what I do."