Hey NSG -

I think a MA before a second professional degree is a great idea especially if your first degree was a UK Part I.

In reality, all education should be 'research-based' developing criticality, innovation and imagination skill with a level of complexity in methodology.  This should be your interest and agenda wrapped around a strong principle based course. In the UK, however, the part I and Part II have been hijacked by RIBA Arb so often it is so prescriptive its difficult to find your voice.  MA's in the UK tend to be much smaller and focused towards strengthening and making your voice visible.

The year will give to adequate time to look [and visit] Delft/Copenhagen if you haven't. If your European and plan to stay in Europe you need to strongly consider where you will like to practice and if either course leads to a professional qualification - for the RIBA/ARB  equivalent, it is very complex and depends on if you are a EU national and how much time you practice in the country where you receive what ARB would consider a part II EU equivalent.

If you did your Part I at Manchester you might consider a different UK school for your part II.

good luck with it all - your thinking the right direction.

That's a lot of school!

hey trace - if one is good, they never give up school in an abstract sense - one can't get enough criticality.

the only difference in being an academic v. a student is pay; a student pays while the academic is paid.

Who can understand what the hell is going on in the world today?

I guess I look at school with a critical eye - there is too much academia and not enough reality.  I fear that it is a continual cycle (indeed it currently is) and continues to graduate students without the necessary skills to compete in this world (theory class will not help anyone get/keep a job, business classes will, etc., etc.).

Critically, I think (with any creative field) the point at which you can critique your own work, evaluate and progress is a point that you have 'succeeded', or reached a point where you 'graduate'.  Never ending journey, but it is in your hands vs. someone else's.

That's all, lotsa school (don't get me wrong, if I could do 'research' and enter competitions all day I would).  I just see lotsa creativity in the world, but without the business knowledge it doesn't go anywhere outside of the inner circles (and round and round we go once more).

Both of you gave me a lot to think about. I don't want to stop learning. I found I learnt very little from certain Jobs. I suppose my aim is to get as much variation in the Academic and the Practical. Because of the economy, it is actually cheaper for me to do an MA than to live and work in London! 

mate your last phrase said is all.
the real world is out there and is the business. you can hide as much as you want in MA , post grad and acedemic titles, but the solid and serious practical professional experience is what makes you a succesful architect.

Get your diploma ASAP qualify in ARB and get yourself a hardhat.

good luck

agree with you ggroppas, better get your diploma and try to get a lot of on hand experience....that's how the world works....