Supporting GW4 PGR Parents: Report highlights challenges and recommendations

The GW4 PGR Parents and Carers Network has published a new report shedding light on the unique challenges faced by Postgraduate Research (PGR) students with parental and caregiving responsibilities.

The nine-month project, led by four PGR parents from GW4 institutions (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter), aimed to evaluate existing support systems and capture the experiences of PGR parents. The report, informed by a survey of over 100 PGRs and two hybrid events with PGRs and staff, also provides recommendations to improve inclusivity and equity for this diverse group.

The report identifies significant common challenges that PGR parents face, including financial insecurity and high childcare costs; balancing caregiving responsibilities with academic demands; social isolation and lack of community; and institutional barriers and funding restrictions.

The report notes that mothers are disproportionately affected, often serving as primary caregivers. 60% of PGRs who had suspended their studies did so because of their caring responsibilities and all of these PGRs were women. International students and those caring for children with disabilities also experience additional layers of complexity.

While examples of good practice and services exist, these were often thought to be poorly communicated resulting in respondents perceiving provision both within and across GW4 universities to be inconsistent. A supportive supervisor was also highlighted as critical for many students surveyed, with 70% identifying them as a primary source of support, however having a positive experience was often regarded by respondents as ‘being lucky’ rather than the norm.

To address these challenges, the report outlines nine key recommendations for institutions and individuals to support:

1. Strengthening supervisor support: Integrating guidance on supporting PGR parents into supervisor training and encouraging open conversations about caregiving responsibilities.
2. Peer-to-peer support: Institutions backing student-led initiatives to sustain these activities and build a community among PGR parents.
3. Staff-to-PGR mentoring: Establishing mentoring programmes with senior academics who are also parents to provide guidance and emotional support.
4. Doctoral champion roles: Creating dedicated roles within student services to offer tailored advice and support for PGR parents.
5. Enhanced online resources: Centralising information on policies, funding, childcare, and support networks to improve accessibility.
6. Pre-arrival information for international PGR parents: Providing resources and induction sessions to ease their transition to life and study in the UK.
7. Family-friendly scheduling: Encouraging flexible working patterns and avoiding deadlines during school holidays.
8. Flexible access to PGR study space across institutions: Offering study spaces across GW4 institutions could help distance learners use facilities closer to home.
9. Advocating for policy change: Supporting campaigns for improved access to free childcare and addressing visa restrictions for international students.

Bethany Teale, member of the GW4 PGR Parents Network, University of Bath said: “We recognise there is institutional complexity in addressing the diverse needs of PGR parents and carers. However, we hope this report highlights the significant challenges many PGR parents face. We look forward to working with the GW4 Alliance and policy makers across the universities to deliver some of our recommendations and help put our ideas into action. We are hugely grateful to all the PGRs who took the time to respond and share their experiences through our survey and staff who engaged in this project. GW4 has provided an invaluable platform and support, enabling us to drive meaningful change.”

Dr Sabrina Fairchild, GW4 Talent and Skills Manager, said: “GW4 institutions are leading the way in creating an inclusive and equitable research culture for PGR parents. Through the GW4 Alliance, our universities can collaborate, share best practice and access facilities across the partnership, all of which can help meet the needs of PGR parents. By implementing these recommendations either through existing programmes like the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project, of which GW4 universities are partner practitioners, or by innovating new collective initiatives, we can better support this vital student group, ensuring their academic success and well-being and while delivering research that benefits society.

“GW4 is also campaigning to make further education more accessible by extending the current undergraduate Childcare Grant to include postgraduate students. Postgraduate research offers benefits far beyond the individual - it drives innovation, strengthens society, provides essential upskilling and reskilling to meet the demands of future careers, and underpins the UK’s ambition to become a global science superpower.”

This report is the outcome of an Impact Funding project originating from the GW4 Connect programme, which offered group coaching for PGR’s with parental responsibility. The project included desk-based research, a survey and two hybrid events bringing together PGRs and staff from across the GW4 Alliance.

Read the full report on the GW4 website.