I am a mature student with a family and I hope to graduate in June and would like to embark on a PhD after this. Does anyone know if I would be entitled for family tax credit during my doctorate? (I normally receive FTC when I work full-time in the summer). Thanks Andy xx

You get a tax free stipend during your PhD studies anyway, so you probably won't be entitled to tax credits. And considering us students are probably paying for all these mothers to get these MASSIVE tax credits, you shouldn't be getting any more tax help anyway. Why should I pay for someone to sit at home having babies all day?

Erm..okay Sarah.......

Andrew..I think you will have to ask somewhere like Citizens Advice because although it's true you get a tax-free stipend I'm not very sure if you are entitled to get tax credits too.

Sarah,

It is clear that you don't have any babies. My PhD was started with a first grader and an infant, and working full-time and pursuing a doctorate was a breeze compared to "Sitting at home having babies".
I hope if you work in academe, you will share a more openminded attitude with your students
By the way, there are tax- payers that don't feel their money should support arrogant college students either.