Phd and children

Mumlifeandme · 2023-03-07T13:54:30+00:00

Hi all, Ive been awarded a phd studentship for 3.5years in a health subject. I will not be undertaking any lab research but will have qualitative interviews etc.I have two kids, 3yo and baby. Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences? How did you afford childcare? How did you make it work? I have recently discovered I will no longer be entitled to 30 free hours of childcare when I start the course as I get a stipend not an income *sigh*. Thankful that I get 15hrs but I hadn’t realised that I will be having to pay for 2 children in nursery effectively and I’m freaking out. I recently completed a Masters with only one day of childcare and weekends/ evenings, so it is possible but it does impact on home life. No family to help with childcare, Anyone who has done a phd with children successfully? How did you do it?

hallcuts · 07/03/2023 14:22

Congrats on getting the studentship! But yes, the childcare situation is dire... I would repost in Academic Common Room for more responses. There was also this thread recently: www.mumsnet.com/talk/academics_corner/4715974-removal-of-phd-stipend-due-to-part-time-study-can-they-do-this?page=1

katsue · 07/03/2023 14:24

I don't know but I'm here in solidarity. Due to start a funded doctorate in September with a baby and two school-age children. Basically my entire bursary will go on nursery and fuel and I am lucky enough that my husband's wage will cover the rest. It's a really pain about the 30 hours and tax free childcare options. I'm just hoping that it will be worth it financially in the long run.

Original poster

Mumlifeandme · 07/03/2023 14:47

hallcuts · 07/03/2023 14:22

Congrats on getting the studentship! But yes, the childcare situation is dire... I would repost in Academic Common Room for more responses. There was also this thread recently: www.mumsnet.com/talk/academics_corner/4715974-removal-of-phd-stipend-due-to-part-time-study-can-they-do-this?page=1

Thank you, I’ve reposted on there

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumlifeandme · 07/03/2023 14:54

katsue · 07/03/2023 14:24

I don't know but I'm here in solidarity. Due to start a funded doctorate in September with a baby and two school-age children. Basically my entire bursary will go on nursery and fuel and I am lucky enough that my husband's wage will cover the rest. It's a really pain about the 30 hours and tax free childcare options. I'm just hoping that it will be worth it financially in the long run.

Glad it’s not just me. I think our outgoings could be covered on one salary but we’d be skint if I put the children in to nursery 3 days a week. Considering two days a week of childcare and then doing the rest in own time.. or alternatively putting older child in term time only childcare to get more days? I don’t know really, but glad we are not he only ones.

OP posts:

youreallyarefantastic · 07/03/2023 15:06

Congratulations!!

I'm on a research council funded studentship and am just making my final thesis revisions (only a few months to go 😬). I had my daughter a year into my PhD so we had to make some pretty quick adjustments! After my maternity leave she went to a childminder two days a week (much cheaper than nursery!). Luckily I have been able to do the entire thing working from home - I did interviews and meeting observations in an NHS trust so it was all over MS Teams. Interviews you should be able to schedule to fit your child-free days, and in meetings I regularly turned the camera off to feed/change my daughter. The rest I just sort of fit around naps/evenings/weekends. It was tough, but worth it now the end is almost in sight!

Regarding the 30 hours free childcare, you might qualify if you are newly self-employed even if you aren't earning. I actually started a small business a few months ago and since then we've been able to get tax-free childcare, she's not old enough for the 30 hours yet so I'm not sure if the same rules apply.

Good luck! If you'd like to chat about anything feel free to PM me x

Original poster

Mumlifeandme · 08/03/2023 11:57

youreallyarefantastic · 07/03/2023 15:06

Congratulations!!

I'm on a research council funded studentship and am just making my final thesis revisions (only a few months to go 😬). I had my daughter a year into my PhD so we had to make some pretty quick adjustments! After my maternity leave she went to a childminder two days a week (much cheaper than nursery!). Luckily I have been able to do the entire thing working from home - I did interviews and meeting observations in an NHS trust so it was all over MS Teams. Interviews you should be able to schedule to fit your child-free days, and in meetings I regularly turned the camera off to feed/change my daughter. The rest I just sort of fit around naps/evenings/weekends. It was tough, but worth it now the end is almost in sight!

Regarding the 30 hours free childcare, you might qualify if you are newly self-employed even if you aren't earning. I actually started a small business a few months ago and since then we've been able to get tax-free childcare, she's not old enough for the 30 hours yet so I'm not sure if the same rules apply.

Good luck! If you'd like to chat about anything feel free to PM me x

This is really helpful thank you! I didn’t know about the self employed option and from what I’ve read it also similarly relates to the 30 hours. I will PM you with some more questions if that’s okay :)

OP posts:

Mummyxiannubrownie · 11/03/2023 17:48

Hello
Does anyone have any experience of studying medicine in Germany or Switzerland? My DS is doing his A Levels (UK) and would like to know how easy / complicated it is to apply from the UK to study medicine in one of these countries. He is studying A Level German but thinks he needs to do his C1/C2 exam as well.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 😊

Mummyxiannubrownie · 11/03/2023 17:50

Oops ! Sorry I didn’t mean to message on your thread.

Congratulations, by the way 😊

jtada · 21/10/2024 16:49

youreallyarefantastic · 07/03/2023 15:06

Congratulations!!

I'm on a research council funded studentship and am just making my final thesis revisions (only a few months to go 😬). I had my daughter a year into my PhD so we had to make some pretty quick adjustments! After my maternity leave she went to a childminder two days a week (much cheaper than nursery!). Luckily I have been able to do the entire thing working from home - I did interviews and meeting observations in an NHS trust so it was all over MS Teams. Interviews you should be able to schedule to fit your child-free days, and in meetings I regularly turned the camera off to feed/change my daughter. The rest I just sort of fit around naps/evenings/weekends. It was tough, but worth it now the end is almost in sight!

Regarding the 30 hours free childcare, you might qualify if you are newly self-employed even if you aren't earning. I actually started a small business a few months ago and since then we've been able to get tax-free childcare, she's not old enough for the 30 hours yet so I'm not sure if the same rules apply.

Good luck! If you'd like to chat about anything feel free to PM me x

Congratulations! That's interesting to know about the self employed option. Do you know if you have to have a certain income from this to be eligible?

I have tried searching for more information about the childcare funding and self employment but can't find it. If you happen to know where it is, I would take appreciate if you could send the link, please?

I will be going back to the end of my first year of a PhD after maternity leave, at the beginning of next year, so we are keen to understand this well. Thank you so much for your post!