Part time PhD- Am I insane?

[bowbluebell]

Hello,

Just looking for comments and thoughts from those that know more than I do about these things. I have an 18 month DD and hope to try for another later this year. DH works long hours in the City so sorting out childcare is mostly down to me. I work two and a half days a week in a professional, interesting and responsible job.

On top of this, I am thinking about undertaking a PhD. Most in our profession do an applied doctorate (to make up for the fact that all new entrants have a doctorate as their professional qulaiification) but I've looked into it and I think that instead I would like to undertake a detailed and long-term piece of research. I have found potential supervisors at Cambridge and in London (about an hour from home) and forsee it taking about seven years. I have some broad ideas for research which are related to my current work. DH is highly supportive (but I suspect not in any practical way!).

Do you think that this is do-able with two young children? I could give a day a week and some of my 'free time' over to the work and it's a choice I would be making as an alternative to applying for more senior roles in my current employment.

Basically, it's an itch that I really want to scratch and I'd give it my all but am worried I won't be able to pull it off!

Thoughts?

Thanks :)

Not insane but I think you probably don't have enough information. At a rate of 1 day per week your PhD is likely to take a lot longer than 7 years.

A PhD is doable with young children but it is very demanding - do you have any support other than your DH? Is a nanny a possibility? Because if you need to travel an hour to see your supervisor that will be difficult with nursery hours. I am guessing most of your research can be done at home or in the library?

Also many institutions will insist on you spending time on courses etc. (which will be valuable) so you need to fit that in as well.

I am sounding very negative, and I don't want to put you off fulfilling an ambition but if I were you I would ensure I understood exactly what would be expected of me.

Finally I would try to talk to others who have done PhDs in that institution - was it a supportive environment? They do vary dramatically
good luck

Yes. That is all.

One major problem with part-time PhDs, especially one over 7 years, is that your research may not be new or important by the time you've finished it. I'm told you have to put in even more time networking with other researchers in the field and keeping up with the literature in order to ensure your work remains relative.

Yes its quite doable. Bear in mind that increasingly full time phd students are having to take on extensive teaching & other roles so in reality may be working on their theses only 1-2 days a week & be up against harsh deadlines if the fail to complete within 4 years of initial registration. I've known students take much longer than that. One thing to bear in mind though is that if you want to go into academia thereafter you'll be competing with these guys for jobs & need to show that you can do the whole networking/teaching/getting research funding/etc thing. You could easily be at a disadvantage. Talk to your proposed supervisors about how they propose to support your research and remember whereas at undergrad level students are trying to 'sell themselves' to the university, at phd level the boot's on the other foot, or at least there is a more equal relationship. They want you & your research as much, sometimes more, than you need the place,

Good luck whatever you decide