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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

funding a PHD if you aren't on a low income

19 replies

flopsyandjim · 09/03/2019 20:33

I'm posting on here for the traffic and also because I'm not sure where else to post this, sorry.

So I've completed a Msc that my employer funded. Did it part time (evenings/weekends) and got a Merit pass and shortlisted for an award (although didn't win).

I loved the learning and the research and I would love to go on to do a PHD. I've found the ideal PHD which is entirely online which would suit me as I work full time and cannot afford to cut my hours or my pay. It is about £4000 pa over 4 years.

My employer won't pay for me to do a PHD so that's not an option.

I earn too much for all the charity grants I've looked at so far. I've looked through that funding guide all the universities recommend and there's only about 2 or 3 I think I could apply for and get £100 if I am lucky. I also don't have any savings (we had a period of debt which was only cleared about 2 years ago).

The research councils seem to expect you to do the PHD full time or work part time. I am Scottish so not eligible for the new PHD loan thing (but I'd rather not go down the loan route)

So I guess my question is - how can I fund this PHD without getting into debt again? Are there any funding routes that I may not have explored?

OP posts:

Original poster

flopsyandjim · 09/03/2019 20:34

ps when I say I earn too much, I mean my salary is £35,000 pa so not a low income but i wouldn't say I'm wealthy either. DH earns similar amount

OP posts:

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 09/03/2019 20:36

Put away savings for a year and do it next year?

Chloemol · 09/03/2019 20:41

If you can’t get a grant, then it’s either save up, or get a loan and pay it back monthly, or not do it

SpotlessMind · 09/03/2019 20:44

Doing a PhD on top of a full time job is an extremely high risk affair (in terms of whether you could finish it). A PhD is a massive step up from a masters. I worked full time for most of mine, though I was able to collect my data at work and got a fellowship from a charity linked to my profession (midwife) to buy some time out of work to write up. Without that I don’t I would have finished, and even then it took me 6.5 years.

So I think it might be quite difficult to get funding because of that risk - but maybe talk to your university, they will be well informed about profession specific funding. You might also find that the uni might be unwilling to take you on full time for a PhD (ie with an aim to finish within 4 years) when you’re also working full time, it is a risk to them if you start and don’t finish.

Sorry, I don’t mean to sound negative, a PhD is an fascinating experience, but it’s also gruelling, and it’s good to be realistic from the outset. Best of luck to you

nocoolnamesleft · 09/03/2019 20:48

I'm impressed your employer funded your MSc. Had to self fund mine (even though it was relevant). So I saved up the money, and paid for it.

SpaceCadet4000 · 09/03/2019 21:00

I think in this situation you would need to just save up or take out a personal loan.

Have you looked for a pre-funded positions in your field so that you could fully dedicate your time to your research? It depends on the discipline, but you can get funding for your own proposals too and you MSc supervisor would be a good person to point you in the right direction for that.

I'm not sure how manageable a phd would be alongside a full-time job. Even people I know who did their doctorates part-time have struggled immensely.

suziedoozy · 09/03/2019 21:00

I don’t know what the options are in your specific field are but have you full investigated the options of various studentships either from a university or from a research council? They pay fees and a stipend (which isn’t taxed) and there are possibilities of working part time or completing the PhD full time.

Although the stipend might not be a huge amount of money it can add up to over £20,000 when you include the annual tuition fees etc.

They might not be available in your field but have made it possible for me to do my PhD with the support of my DH but without getting into debt.

Paperdoll99 · 09/03/2019 21:24

You can apply for funding through the relevent research council. If your phd isnt eligable then its probably not worth it. A phd is fine to do if its the right superviser and the right research and Institution for you but its not worth it just for the sake of it. Its easy to get carried away with the idea of doing one but take a step back and try and be dispassionate about it. You dont need a phd to study, research or publish a phd by publication may even be an option?

Original poster

flopsyandjim · 09/03/2019 21:32

yes I've looked into studentships and stipends. I simply cannot afford to cut my hours to do the PHD either full time or part time - the stipend would not cover the income I'd be losing.

I cannot afford £4000 a year (going up slightly each year too) but I do want to research this topic further. I want to move into an academic or research role too. Currently in the public sector.

Yes its great that my employer paid my MSc but they wont do the same for a PHD due to the higher cost and the fact I'd have to change my hours etc for such a long period of time.

I guess it will have to be something for the future, if at all.

OP posts:

suziedoozy · 09/03/2019 22:31

I did save for a long time to make it possible to self fund a PhD - both of my masters have either been partially or fully funded which has made it easier.

I am in my 40s so have effectively left it too late to have a career as an academic given the length of time post docs etc take.

If you are planning a career as an academic that does need to be taken into consideration in terms of when you do your PhD ie don’t leave it as long as me!

Although I do have a career to return to which the PhD isn’t necessary for - I am doing it because I want to rather than because I need to for my career.

SwimmingJustKeepSwimming · 09/03/2019 22:33

I think on a family income of 70k you surely need to either pay it or take out a loan and pay it back in stages?

anniehm · 09/03/2019 22:44

Save up? All of dh's phd students are full time and receive a stipend from the research councils, dd is currently looking into them (different field from her dad and it's either research council with stipend or private fund full or part time. I don't want to pry but make sure the awarding body is worth the money, here the feeling is those who aren't able to get funding shouldn't bother because the best candidates are funded (British). I do understand what you are saying but on that income I don't think anyone is going to take pity on you and fund it outside of normal funding streams - a career development loan is your best bet.

GottenGottenGotten · 09/03/2019 22:48

I think the thing is, if you aren't on a low income you are expected to be able to find out yourself. Which is a reasonable expectation on a joint income of 70k pa and not living in London.

Maybe you need to get into the moneysavingexpert website and look at how you can cut your costs.

agnurse · 09/03/2019 23:08

Is it an option for you to work as a teaching assistant while completing your PhD? I don't know if it would be an option given you're doing it online, but you could check. If you could work as a research assistant for your thesis supervisor that would be even better.

I did my MN (master of nursing) at a brick and mortar university and was hired as a research and later a teaching assistant. That's how I got interested in teaching.

LaurieMarlow · 09/03/2019 23:18

Why do you want to do it? It’s a massive commitment.

Are you talking about doing it on top of your full time job? If so it will take you way more than 4 years.

I’d only advise anyone to do a PhD if they absolutely know what they want from it. I’m not getting that sense from your OP.

Wishiwasonholiday1 · 09/03/2019 23:30

I've just finished mine and I had to finance it myself. I had two children during the course of the PhD and worked full time. I'm a teacher so I had some holiday time to write, but I also had to juggle the childcare.
It's a huge commitment and it was very tough to do it with work and children. I do feel that it's been worth it, but only enter into it if you're desperate to do it.
They usually let you pay in instalments, so speak to their finance dept and see if they can help you with a plan. Good luck!

bridgetreilly · 09/03/2019 23:36

Four years is ludicrously optimistic for a part-time PhD on top of a full-time job. Three to four years is pretty standard for a full-time PhD without a job.

And no, I can't think of any other funding source that you'd be eligible for doing it that way, sorry. Save up?

bridgetreilly · 09/03/2019 23:38

here the feeling is those who aren't able to get funding shouldn't bother because the best candidates are funded (British)

That does depend quite a lot on both the field and the university, though.

CountFosco · 09/03/2019 23:41

Don't bother. Most PhDs (unless you are a scientist) are vanity projects that do not enhance your career. It's a lot of time and money for nothing.

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