PhD with school aged children

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Would really appreciate input from anyone who has done this. I am considering doing a PhD when youngest is in school. I am thinking (hoping!) this would mean I could be flexible around school hours while I work. So be there for drop off and from pick up, and stay at home if ill. I would work while they are at school and in evenings/weekends as necessary. It would be a humanities subject so no lab work or anything, but I think I would need to do an MSc first.

How realistic is this? What haven't I thought of?

That sounds perfectly realistic to me. Funding might be something you have or haven't thought of!

Thanks RoadRunner! Is this something you've done?

Yes I'm also investigating funding, to see what the possibilities there are.

No, I did my PhD before I had my children, but I work at a university and supervise PhD students. I guess you'd need to decide if you want to register as a full time student (in which case you may need to make up time at evenings and weekends) or part time (which seems a better option for you). I think different universities and different faculties vary considerably with what they expect from PhD students though. I think most, now, would prefer if you had a Masters though (unless you've got other research experience or publications).

I would do the MSc first and see how things go. Like RoadRunner said, you will have to decide whether you want to register full-time or part-time, and I should imagine almost all institutions will request a Master level qualification for a humanities discipline before they accept you for a PhD programme (I work for a Russell Group Uni, and I know we do).

Doing an MSc will also ease you back into academic work and give you an idea of what is required at postgraduate level. PhD work really is significantly different to bachelor's level work, and it is worth getting an idea of what will be expected -- and also how you will organise your work on a work/life balance basis.

There are two books that I would suggest you read before you commit to a PhD programme.

1. How to get a Phd, by E Phillips and D Pugh
2. The Unwritten Rules of PhD research, by M Petre.

These two books will probably inform you more about PhD work than talking to a potential PhD supervisor (which is another issue that requires very careful thought).

Another thing I will say on the quiet is a lot of part-time PhD students do not complete. Six years is a long time to pursue one narrow field of research on a solitary basis in the way you will with a PhD (unless you are successful in applying for a 1+3 or a +3 scheme). With revisions etc on a part-time basis, you could find it goes up to seven or eight years -- and people just get sick of it.

However, if you are committed to doing a PhD, then I would say "go for it". You will be able to work around childcare commitments. In fact, you may find you actually want more contact time with your supervisor and other PhD students.

I'm currently doing a PhD with school aged children (7 and 10). It's great from a flexibility point of view - am currently at home with sick children! I work at home 3 days a week and go to my office for 2 full days while the DC go to after school club. You do really need to put in a good, productive 30 hour week and be available for meetings, classes as required and seminars. If you want to progress in academia you will need to teach at some point.

However, it's definitely do-able and less stressful than working! Doing a masters would actually be harder as there is generally a lot more contact time and assignment deadlines.

Thanks all, this is really helpful. Allhours I have the first book you mention but not the second so will look that out, ta.

I have an MSc through Sussex in a related area but unfortunately doesn't seem to be recognised for funding. i am looking at 3 + 1 funding and doing it full time, as I'd heard the stats on part-time plus there don't seem to be funding options anyway.

Family can do childcare on one day a week but anything else would need to be after school clubs etc. I think the MSc would be most challenging timing wise.

How often are meetings/classes likely to be needed for the PhD? I'm guessing it varies but very interested in anyone's experiences either themselves doing PhDs or supervising etc.

Sorry that should be 1+3 shouldn't it? Still learning...

Hi
I am currently in my last 18 months (eeeekkk) of my PhD. My PhD is part time- I have two school aged children. I work 3 days a week as a lecturer. The best thing I did was create as much overlap as possible... I lecture in special needs policy, this is the focus of my PhD too. So it always feels like each role benefits the other. I think it is doable just keeping to that plan and keeping dedicated time.