I used it overseas - that's fun if you find yourself with a few months to kill.

PC Geek - in most families I know, it's just a matter of practical economics that tends to make one parent (not always the mother) go part-time while the other stays full-time. Overall finances and long-term financial security tend to make this the best fit solution.

Most mothers I know personally, want to work part-time. They don't want to stay at home with baby but they don't want to be full-time either. It's not guilt - they actually want to be with their child. I do know a cuople of fathers who have gone part-time while the mother went back full-time. But in one case, the mother was very resentful that she wasn't the one who got to go part-time and spend more time with the baby (and she is a very high-flying professional).

I have TEFL and 4 yrs teaching experience. Wouldn't do TEFL just to get university teaching - I really doubt it would be that helpful. But I have used it to actually earn some money (not a lot though, I warn you), for example, while waiting for funding between MPhil and PhD. TEFL cert is quite a light weight taching qualification and if you stay in the profession seriously people do the TEFL dip or masters. The teaching experience has been very helpful to me when teaching undergrads - but unfortunately, teaching experience doesn't seem to be a high priority in recruitment.

Also - it's not all about what's best for baby. My daughter might be perfectly happy if I worked full-time - but I wouldn't be happy!

I know plenty of mums who work full-time, some by choice, most by necessity. You do what you have to do. But I didn't have to and I wouldn't do that unless I really had to - so for me - that is not an appropriate comparison. After all, if you financially need to work full-time, then you are unlikely to manage a PhD, even funded.

Olivia - been thinking about that as I seem to struggle with the work/family balance more than some others. But that is because it depends what you are comparing your situation to. It is definitely more flexible than working full-time - but that wasn't my personal alternative - which would have been working part-time or not at all (wouldn't have considered working full-time). I've tried to make the PhD as much as possible like a part-time job.

I had my daughter at the end of my second year. I then took a year out planning to go back, but i then took another year out (but worked 2 days/week so that I could go back 3 days/week this year)! Are you funded? Can you afford to take some time out - I would say at least 6 months? Can you afford any childcare (I have 3 days/week) - or do you have a partner or family to help? It can be very hard to work at night with a baby as you get very tired. A lot depends on whether you have help and whether your child sleeps well (mine really didn't!). A lot of people take less time out but that is how I wanted to do it.

I'm in my final year now - oh, and I'm quite a bit older than you

Pineapple - that's something I would look into too if there were somewhere close enough for me to train. Good option.

I am also very isolated in my research topic and that is definitley the toughest aspect. Writing up now so must just keep going. I guess this is what it must be like being a novelist?

Our max is 80,000 words. I'll be happy to throw in the towel at 50,000.

The ranking is awarded by an independent gov review. You know when your dept is being reviewed because everyone runs about digging out paperwork and demanding to know every footnote and comment that anyone connected with the dept has ever published anywhere.

Sounds very similar to Data Overanalysis Syndrome. Especially wrt the constant whining irritation. I am irritable all the time, that's for sure.

I wish I had to cut words. I'm still at the point of trying to write more rather than less.

Note - ESRC have very stringent criteria regarding topic areas - some depts (like mine) are not accredited because of this - and not because of problems with research ranking etc.

I think at this level indiviual supervisors/labs count for a lot. I used to be in cancer research, many years ago, and I know that some of the best work is done at institutes attached to various hospitals all over the place. It sounds like Leeds would be a good choice. If it's good project in a well-known and respected lab then you can't really go wrong after that. 3 years is a long time to do a PhD somewhere 'just for the name'. I understand your dilemma though.

Alas it is common. I have seen a few people complain but no-one has successfully had bad supervision held to account. My grabt deadline is Oct - but I can submit at Xmas. I can't remember when I last say my sup - maybe Feb, maybe Mar. I have emailed, and phoned every day last week trying to get an appt to go over a draft chapter. I despair of getting feedback in time. And I am concerned that no-one has really got into the details of the models I am working with - they could be rubbish.

I am so fed up with working alone and just hoping it will be alright in the end.