• Name: Kate Bowen-Viner
• PhD Programme:  ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership
• Type of study: Part-time (Full-time, prior to having a child)
• Length of PhD: September 2020 – 2025.
• University: University of Bristol
• Children: One child, 20-months-old
• Childcare: Attends nursery 2.7 days per week.
• Stipend: £775.92 a month
• Nursery Fees: £801.70 a month for three days a week.

Kate’s Story:

“I decided to study for a PhD in social policy because I thought that it would give me a route into academia, a way to get a job and good career progression. I used to be a secondary school teacher, before working for the civil service. I was doing a Master’s whilst I was working and got to a stage where I was evaluating my future career choices. I really enjoyed teaching and research, and I thought a role in academia seemed like it would be a good option.

Financially, I’ve found balancing childcare alongside my studies extremely difficult. I was able to secure a part-time job, working one day a week with the University as a Research Assistant, which is great as the role is really flexible. However, although I was also working, my salary wasn’t enough to qualify for free government childcare hours.

I currently work on my PhD until between midnight and one a.m. every day, and I then need to be up, again, the next day between 5-6am to take my son to nursery. If I wasn’t constantly working to put in these long hours, I don’t think I would be able to keep on top of my research. Because I study on a part-time basis, too, and I juggle this alongside childcare, I also find it very challenging to attend things like academic conferences.

When you’re studying for a PhD, there is quite limited support. While a PhD can be quite flexible, as you are responsible for your own time, there is also no one else who can pick up your work for you – so things just don’t get done unless you can dedicate the time to them.

The challenge of balancing childcare alongside my studies has caused issues in my household. There is an enormous amount of pressure for everyone in my family to support me through my studies. In addition to this, we really need to save to move somewhere bigger – so I need to finish my PhD as quickly as possible. My husband is also under pressure because we rely on his income. Realistically, the only reason I can do my PhD, in the first place, is because he has a good wage. I don’t see how those without a partner earning a decent salary could even dream of doing a PhD and having a baby.

In terms of working alongside my studies, my handbook stipulates that I can only work up-to 8-hours per week, but the guidance around this isn’t particularly clear. I also think the guidance around the types of childcare support that postgraduate students are eligible to apply for is extremely unclear and difficult to navigate. Some schemes seem to be based on an individual’s finances and wages, others seem to be based on household income, so it can often feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to accessing support.

I only agreed to do a PhD if I could secure maternity pay, as I knew I wanted to have a baby in the future. My supervisor was very supportive of this, and we discussed maternity pay beforehand, which SWDTP provided. But, other than this, prior to starting I was not fully aware of the lack of access to childcare funds for those studying for a PhD. I knew there were benefits available, for other groups, and I assumed that I would be able to access these or similar – but the childcare system is so difficult to understand.

I spend more than my entire PhD stipend on nursery fees for three days a week and have had to study part-time to juggle childcare and academic commitments. It’s disheartening and, on some days, I feel like leaving my PhD is the more sensible option than continuing in academia.

If I had known what I know now, prior to starting my PhD, I 110% would not have chosen to study at the same time as starting a family. Personally, I feel I am in too deep now, and I wouldn’t want to leave without completing my PhD and going on to work in academia.”

Content correct as of February 2024