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.

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

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.

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...

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?

> 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.

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

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...

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.