Hi, I am considering applying for Phd but I have 2 young children so would prefer to do it on a part-time basis - however 2 potential supervisors have put me off the idea. Has anyone else completed a Phd part-time? How many hours do people put in on a full-time course? I want to do a Phd in Psychology, and have 3 days as well as evenings free. Thanks ...

Make it a full-time PhD! It's possible, even with children and chances of completion are much higher.

Supervisors would rather have you doing the PhD fulltime because they want to know that you're working at 110% producing groundbreaking findings and publishable results asap. They don't want to have to wait 8 years for overall results, the research topic may have moved on by then. It helps with their funding opportunities as well.

I've known a couple of people doing a part-time PhD but they were also working as research assistants at the same time as they're doing their PhD. That in itself is questionable particularly if you were to factor in scholarships but their RA work was in a slightly different area. A supervisor may be more supportive of an RA/PhD situation because your role is still 100% with your department and you're still actively doing work that potentially produces publishable results (more or less).

That said, if you have young kids, you'd have to be very very good with time management to make it work with a full time PhD. It's possible but you have to know what you're doing and on the ball for the length of the four years until you submit your thesis. And you'd have to have a good supervisor who will understand if you had to take a day off occassionally for your kid's birthdays and emergencies, whatever it may be, or at least a supervisor who is ok with you having a flexible schedule.

o.stoll makes a point worth mentioning - stretching your PhD through extra years may wear you down the longer you take to complete it. It's a matter of how focused you are and how much you want it. What o.stoll is saying that statistically PT students tend to wear themselves down over the years and quit. I'd be interested to see the stats though, I've heard about this but never really seen it happen.

I'm PT as I'm self-funded and have to work as well to support myself. If you have other commitments, then PT study is a good idea and it does remove some of the pressure in the sense you do have more time to complete. However, it is still extremely tough - it is a long slog and requires a lot of motivation (hence why the drop out rate is so high). There isn't a lot of support for PT students and I feel I'm considered 'inferior' to the full timers. If I didn't have to work, and I could afford it, I would be FT no question. But I know that isn't an option...

Couldn't find you those stats RogueA (though sure there was something posted on a thread on here about 8 months ago...)

Found this which may be useful to you preedym, although haven't read it in full myself yet:
http://www.missendencentre.co.uk/Mission.pdf

Thanks sexkitten, looks really helpful

I agree with sexkitten, I did my MSc part-time at an institution 20 miles from home. Never again. I had huge problems with communication (some staff don't understand semaphore never mind email) and it was just problematic the whole way through. Personally, I'd rather pull out my toe nails that repeat that.

hi frnds myself bharat have done my masters in clinical research and looking to pursure my phd in clincial trial. so anyone out there would help me out......

mmmm just been talking with hubby this weekend about this. I wish I had done my phd part time. I started when my boys were one year old and at the time wanted out of the house at all costs. Now over a year on I am regretting not having more time with them but can't do anything about it as I have committed to complete in 3 years...by which time they will be at school and it will be too late to spend that time with them...humphhh not an easy decision x

To be honest, when you have other factors to consider (like children or finances), it is a case of whatever works best for you or whatever your situation allows. Both options - FT and PT - have their plus and minus points and everyone's situation is different. If you are able to consider FT study, would you be able to start off as FT and then change to PT if you find that it isn't working for you? Or vice versa?