Er, for 'get' read 'apply for', of course!

oh yes, and on funding: I think you can get funding from the Research Councils no matter what your age. Check with the relevant Research Council.

I am pretty sure that a teaching background would help with academic jobs, but I also think that even more important than this (in the UK at least) will be trying to get something published as quickly as possible. Your teaching background will probably count for more at the post-1992 universities, i.e. the former polys, as they tend to be happier to support careers that are more about teaching than about research. That's not to say it won't count for you at other universities, just that publication will be even more important.

doc2008, are you hoping to go into a lecturing job?

I'm female - this is a very interesting thought, thanks!

True enough!
I will do some research on the quota competitions...

Very interesting blog.

I have NOT 'saved assiduously'

The man I feel is unfortunately even older

Thanks for the encouragement, Goods. This is the inevitable mercenary follow-up to your post... did the people you know who got academic jobs in their late 30s eventually catch up, at least to some extent, pay-wise? - did their previous life experience, academic or not, help with this?

Lola, that's very interesting. When you say lack of sophistication, do you mean of the field itself, or your own lack of experience in the field?

Yes, living standards-wise it would be... interesting...

Thanks. It's good to hear that people are doing it, have done it, and are not starving in a garrett. Good luck with your own career change.

Thanks UFO. Maybe I need to come up with a more applied topic so that I have a wider range of career options at the end...

Are there any other mid-late 30s people doing PhDs? Are you planning to enter academia, or do something else? Is it even possible to break into a decent 'first' academic job when pushing 40?

I currently have a public sector job that's reasonably well-paid, but it's ridiculous hours and I don't enjoy it. I'm coming to the end of a Masters in Psychology of Education (one of these 'Psychology 101' conversion courses), which has gone very well. Just the dissertation to go. I have a first class degree and some concrete ideas for a PhD topic.

Any thoughts and experiences from other oldies much appreciated!