To part-time PhD or not part-time PhD

[MaidofKent78]

That is the question...?

I work PT in senior analytical/research role within a social change organisation. I really enjoy my work & find it interesting & rewarding, both intrinsically and extrinsically.

But every now and then the question pops up: shall I do a PhD or not? I'd like to pursue one within the research area that I'm working now, so to that end I could potentially get support from my employer.

I've no intention of moving into the academic field (one academic within the family feels like enough!!) so it would purely an interest/vanity exercise.

It's a lot of work to undertake alongside a PT role and a young family for what purpose? To change my title? To be able to say I have a PhD? To pursue my own research interests?

On the other hand, research for the sake of research can be a good thing. Continuous learning and development is a good thing.

My local university has a strong research reputation within the field and is well regarded in that respect so accessing the support would be relatively straightforward. I know my husband would be supportive if I chose to do it, though I suspect he would say if you're not planning on moving into academia, what's the point?

Decisions, decisions....

Is it not possible for you to pursue the research you would consider for your doctorate within the job? Is there a reason you're only working PT at the moment? Would have a PhD advance you within your field?

How committed to it are you able to be for the next 10+ years?

Realistically while doing a part time taught award is hard, but very achievable if you're organised and disciplined, a part time PhD, with work and parenting alongside is a different kettle of fish. Drop out rates are high, and very few that do finish do so within the expected 7 years. Keeping motivated for that length of time, with minimal supervision, is hard.

That said, why not give it a go! At least aim for the MPhil part and see how you feel.

Valid questions which I have considered.

1. Yes, potentially, but I don't know if I could then use that research for a PhD as I don't know who would have intellectual ownership of the material - me or my employer. It's worth pursuing though.
2. I'm PT at the moment as my DS is young and as a family we made the decision that I would work PT certainly at least while he's at primary school.
3. It would potentially advance me in my field but obviously I can't guarantee that.

@titchy

How committed to it are you able to be for the next 10+ years?

Realistically while doing a part time taught award is hard, but very achievable if you're organised and disciplined, a part time PhD, with work and parenting alongside is a different kettle of fish. Drop out rates are high, and very few that do finish do so within the expected 7 years. Keeping motivated for that length of time, with minimal supervision, is hard.

That said, why not give it a go! At least aim for the MPhil part and see how you feel.

That is a concern. Having said that, I did complete an MA part-time whilst working, having my son, and relocating twice! So I have proved I can do it.

At least pursuing the MPhil is worth considering.

No, I meant whether you would only be able to pursue the line of research that interests you if you did it as a doctoral project, separate to your 'day job' -- as you sound as if it's this line of research that primarily interests you, rather than a doctorate as such, so maybe you could see whether pursuing it would be possible outside the confines of a doctorate.

It's certainly possible to do a doctorate PT with a job and a young family I've supervised several to completion but do you want to be essentially working FT, if you've deliberately chosen to only work PT for now?

What would you gain? And at what cost? You'll need more childcare, or you'll get less sleep and social life. PhDs are gruelling and, in the UK at least, mostly aimed at potential career academics.

I finished mine (FT) in 2016. It wrecked my confidence, finances and social life. And I am now back in academia (even though I'm not wild about it) because it's the place the qualification makes sense. Don't do it.

Some key questions to consider -

Can you get funding to do a PhD? Even part-funding? If you can get a PhD scholarship so that the university or a research organization or your current employer is paying for your time, then that makes a big difference. Otherwise, you are essentially paying tuition fees for the privilege of working for free.

Can you find a nice supportive supervisor whose interests align with yours? Some supervisors are lovely and helpful, others are ... not. Talk to potential supervisors, interview them, talk to other PhD students in their group (if there are any) in order to pick a good supervisor.

If you have a positive answers to both of those, and you really enjoy the research, then go for it. you can make new connections and find new ways to make your work matter.

You say you gave up full-time work to spend more time with your son. A PhD plus part time work will be worse than full-time work. PhD's just eat time.

Why don't you go back to work full-time which sounds like its rewarding work for you. Split childcare with your DH/nursery etc/

Will it be funded or will you be funding it yourself? If it's not funded then I don't see the point personally. Sorry...

Have a look at EngD courses, I'm not sure which unis are offering them atm but some colleagues were doing the projects based at the companies they worked at.

Doing a PhD is a bit different to doing a taught degree. You can't just fit it in here and there around the rest of your life. You need sustained periods of focus.

Thanks for all the replies. The questions and challenges pretty much sum up the conclusions that I came to last time I had this conversation with both myself & my husband, and the conclusion was to shelve the idea. So back on the shelf it goes.