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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Phd students with small kids? Is it possible?

35 replies

abirdinthehand · 08/12/2011 09:23

I have a 4, and 22months docs. I have just found I'm expecting no 3 in august. I want to apply for a 3+1 phd to start sep 2013. My youngest yould be 1. I would do it part time until the youngest started school.

Doable? Would love to hear if anyone has experience of phd study with kids...

OP posts:
Original poster
abirdinthehand · 08/12/2011 09:23

Dcs that should say!

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belgo · 08/12/2011 09:26

I know a few people who have done this, as I live in a University town. In fact loads of phd students have small children as they are usually exactly the right age to have babies (twenties, early thirties).

What subject will you study?

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 08/12/2011 10:39

Social sciences, it will partly depend on the funding I can get as my interests are quite broad.

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belgo · 08/12/2011 10:46

Good luck!

DonInKillerHeels · 08/12/2011 10:48

Lecturer and mother of one here. Certainly doable part-time I would think - as long as you dedicate at least three full 8-hour days per week to it (not bits and bobs here and there). My experience in the humanities is that it takes a while each day to get into concentrating mode, and if you're constantly having to do this, you just won't get the concentrated reading, thinking and writing time in. And you will need childcare/willing partner for those hours.

That being said, go for it! There's a brilliant blog called thethesiswhisperer that has excellent tips on all sorts of issues, and I wouldn't be at all surprised ifthey have some posts on doing PhDs with small children.

belgo · 08/12/2011 10:56

Just seen your other thread, sorry to hear you are so worried about everything.

I am currently completing a vocational degree, (in a foreign language as I do not live in the UK), and I also have three children. It has been hard work (I also bf long term/co-sleep) but it is well worth it. Children take up so much of your life that it's made a huge difference to me to have something for myself to concentrate on.

In my experience the baby no. 3 is so much easier because you are now an experienced parent.

Go for itSmile

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 08/12/2011 11:04

Thank you both for your advice. I have been so upset by this pregnancy because I had set my heart on continuing studying so if there is still hope I feel better...

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notcitrus · 08/12/2011 14:42

I know a number of people who have done it in social sciences.

If it was lab work needing anti-social hours and nasty chemicals that a pregnant woman wouldn't be allowed near, it would be a lot more difficult.

DevonDiva · 08/12/2011 14:49

I did it - certainly doable and in fact ideal - there are very few stimulating jobs out there with as much flexibility as a PhD. I would imagine the 1 year MSC if you do a 1+3 may be a bit more challenging logistically as you'll be tied to specific lecture times, but I'd say certainly go for it!

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 08/12/2011 15:53

Thanks devon. I was hoping to do 2 yrs part time and switch to full time. And social sciences, so no yukky chemicals. I do hae some postgrad credits uder my belt already so I also wondered if I might be able to get accreditation of prior learning for some of the MA which would make things easier too...

Were you full time devon?

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redridingwolf · 08/12/2011 16:03

I'm doing it in humanities. 3 DCs (all born since I began the PhD). Proper childcare essential - you need concentrated time. I don't do any of the social stuff and have to really ration the 'presence stuff' - lectures/seminars/conferences etc. It is as much as I can cram in to do the work. But it's incredibly satisfying and if when I get the 'Dr' title, I shall be very very proud of it!

redridingwolf · 08/12/2011 16:04

Oh, and you are entitled to maternity leave (interruption of studies) which helps.

madwomanintheattic · 08/12/2011 16:20

agree with the childcare thing. and it's often tricky to co-ordinate childcare for 3 dcs of different ages. my 3rd also suffered a birth injury, so life was a bit more complex, and in fact i ended up taking an additional year to complete the MA. phd on hold but am hoping to apply in this round for next year.

make sure your arrangements are watertight, stick to your timetable and be ruthless Grin it will all be worth it!

where are you applying btw? i found that there were a fair proportion of livers-in on the MA (the 1+3s were different) but at the MA point there was no difference (out of a lecture studio full, only 4 were 1+3s), and the 'out of lecture' group work etc was very difficult to organise (it meant altering my childcare arrangments etc) so it was noticeably more difficult to participate in group projects etc. but again, you just have to be very specific and stick to your guns about when you can fit in the extra time at uni that will be needed.

i couldn't get any prior accreditation for previous post grad. usually for a 1+3 the rules are quite tight about the specific modules you need to progress to the +3, but you might be lucky.

good luck x

crazymum53 · 09/12/2011 08:30

"If it was lab work needing anti-social hours and nasty chemicals that a pregnant woman wouldn't be allowed near, it would be a lot more difficult."
More difficult yes, but still possible if you take appropriate safety precautions. My friend managed to complete her Chemistry PhD and have 2 pregnancies!
I would investigate whether the university has a creche for student parents and whether you need to apply for this before your course starts as this would help you a lot! Studying school hours would still be part-time as PhD students tend to work through the holidays!

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 09/12/2011 13:34

Thanks everyone, that is so helpful that it's possible. I think I will have to delay it till the older two are in school - 2012 and 2014 - to make the child are more doable. Also at the moment we are 40 min away from the UNi where I'd like to study so will have to consider moving nearer I think just to make my days a bit more manageable. But I really appreciate all the advice, so good to hear from people who've been through it!

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teahouse · 10/12/2011 17:48

I did an MA & PhD (in social sciences/humanities) with young kids and as a single parent; totally do-able but hard work. Good luck.

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 10/12/2011 18:40

did you just have to have a lot of childcare teahouse?

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MrsDobalina · 10/12/2011 19:07

Watching with interest! About to go back to phd part time after maternity leave with DC2 - it was ok with just 1 DC but I'm really properly anxious about being able to fit it all in with 2 as there's no slack in the day (or night!) now. I've seen a lot of my childless friends in their last year working every day, night and weekend and that simply won't be possible. It's good to know that you guys have done it but all the same I'm dreading it!

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 10/12/2011 19:12

mrs, how part time will you be? and how much childcare do you have in place?

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MrsDobalina · 10/12/2011 19:23

bird I'm going back 3.5 days but only have 3 days in nursery so the half day will have to be at the weekend when DH is around. I might try and go down to 3 days though if we can afford it (head in sand re cost of childcare!) cos hate the thought of missing out seeing DH and the kids.

Original poster
abirdinthehand · 10/12/2011 20:44

Ohh, yes, weekend work is hard. I do 7 hours paid work online in the evenings, and I find I can just about squeeze that in - mailnly because DH takes the lead on getting the kids to bed and clearing up dinner while I work. Maybe you could get a least some of your 1/2 day in during evenings, leaving more weekend time free? But it's a juggling act, however you do it! Well done for going beck and cracking on with your PhD tho - has your uni been flexible about you being part time? And do they expect you to be around for set hours at all, or can you come and go as you please?

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sosickofthesoundofscreaming · 10/12/2011 20:52

I just completed my PhD, I have two DCs, both born during the PhD.

I had childcare for 4 days a week after my first was born (couldn't bear to part with my baby for a whole week) and worked solidly for those days. I was unable to do any of the social stuff, and very few conferences/additional seminars.

The beauty of a PhD is that you are free to pick and choose your hours to some extent, and it is much more flexible than a job.

I needed to use 6 months of the writing up year (unfunded) but passed my viva with no probs.

Hard, hard, work - but very satisfying!

3inABIRDsnest · 10/12/2011 21:04

WELL DONE sosick (this is still abirdinthehand BTW) - it must be an amazing feeling. 4 days a week is tough - don't think I could leave my baby that much, until they were older. You must have been so tired! What will you do now?

sosickofthesoundofscreaming · 10/12/2011 21:09

thanks Grin

At the moment I am unemployed, and look set to stay that way. My subject was humanities based, and the funding has just disappeared. I may have some volountary work after Christmas, which could make some useful contacts - but for now I am relaxing a bit. (Luckily DH is still in work).

It hasn't really sunk in yet. I can't wait to get my hands on the official paperwork and switch from Mrs/Ms to Dr on my bank cards [vain]

3inABIRDsnest · 10/12/2011 21:18

Not vain, you bloody deserve it. After a career in academia then...? Don't worry about funding - all these things come full cycle, things will pick up once this bloody coalition is voted out when the economy picks up, which it will sometime.