Student Parent Profiles

Degree: PhD Medical Sciences

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
Time management, juggling between family and study commitment.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family?
Because this opportunity only comes after I started my family. 

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Completing 2 years of my PhD study and on-going data analysis and writing.

How did you overcome this?
I've managed to overcome with great support I've received from my husband and children.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
To be well prepared mentally, emotionally and physically.

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
It's not as bad as what you may think, but be well prepared... I guess... 

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
I just want to have a rest.

Degree: PhD Civil Engineering

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
What worries me most is losing precious time which cannot be regained.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I think studying and having a family are not mutually exclusive. Besides, age is also telling on my side. 

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
The biggest challenge is that I have to sometimes compromise my study plan to attend to family needs to ensure there is peace. 

How did you overcome this?
I did not take any extra work just to be sure that both my study and family are not affected.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
I think studying and parenting are not mutually exclusive and there is really nothing to worry about.

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
Make sure you have the support of your spouse. This is necessary for success in your family and study.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
I will go on a visit and also have enough time to pray to my God.

Degree: BSc Food Science and Nutrition

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
I worry about finding the time to study, I only have one shot at getting a degree and I want to do my best, but I also worry that I don't spend enough time with my children.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I didn't have the confidence in myself to go into further education when I left school. As I have grown older my confidence in myself and my abilities has also grown.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Biochemistry exams!!!!! There was so much information to remember, names of enzymes and reactions etc. Any parent will agree with me that some days holding information in your head can be a challenge even if it is just a shopping list!

How did you overcome this?
Lots of repetition, writing the things I had to learn over and over again. The on-line revision tests that some of the university schools put up before exams is also very helpful.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
If you have friends and family that can support you while at university, you should use that support. Don't be proud, you will need help whether it is emotional support from a partner or friends or grandparents taking the kids for a night, you will need to complain and you will need nights off from the kids.

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
I haven't met one parent who finished their university degree that regretted it. It's not easy but the best things in life aren't easy.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
Stay in bed and read a novel.

Degree: MSc Public Health and Health Services Research

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
The biggest worry for me was the impact on my children. As I work full-time my time with the children is precious so I was concerned that studying part-time would greatly reduce the time I had with the children. Equally I was worried that my studies and grades would suffer if I couldn't devote enough time to the study work required. 

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I studied to be a Fashion Designer when I was younger but in my late 20's/early 30's I changed career. I studied through the Open University to gain my first degree in Health & Social Care, then after changes at work the new Director of Public Health suggested that I should do the MSc, hence I enrolled part-time. 

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
The biggest challenge so far has been juggling the undertaking of my dissertation, whilst working and changing jobs in the middle of it all.

How did you overcome this?
Careful planning of my time was key, plus I have a very supportive family. I made sure I had set time put aside to concentrate on the writing element. 

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
Plan ahead your time. Think logically when you can fit it in best. Evenings were good for me when the children were in bed so my time with them was not affected, however this makes you tired! You need to think of when you learn best, am or pm. I found using my holidays from work useful to help with time for writing when the children were at school so no distractions. 

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
It's not impossible! Plan carefully your time at home. Use available kids clubs etc... to allow yourself to get to lectures on time and ask your tutors for support, they know where best to signpost you too help.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
If only! I think I would like to be in the Lake District, in my tent, with no technology, email, iPhone and TV. But I'd probably get bored and miss the kids so would need them there with me, and probably a good book to read :)

Degree: BSc Biomedical Genetics

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
Keeping up with the work. While you get used to juggling several jobs at a time, staying disciplined in the independent study time can be hard.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I decided to make a lot of changes in my life when I met my wife. We both wanted to start a family and she was supportive in my wanting a new career.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Keeping on top of work with a couple of years of poor health and the young baby. It leaves little time for anything else.

How did you overcome this?
While there have been many changes I’ve made to manage the balance of university, home and family. Relaxing my expectations has been one of the biggest helps. Just realising that it’s a lot to manage.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
Relax and enjoy it but stay organised. Worthwhile study time always takes longer than you think so keeping up with things as you go can go a long way to reducing the stress levels at exam time. My son was teething and ill through my last exam period which added quite a lot of extra distraction.

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
Just do it. It’s so hard to see how it can fit together with all the responsibilities you have at home but it’s amazing what you can achieve. Plus, you’ll meet plenty of wonderful people at university, both staff and students, who will offer a surprising amount of support. 

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
I’d love to say something interesting here but I’m not sure I can. If not catching up on other jobs, probably sleeping!?

Degree: PhD Energy

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
I don’t think anything worries me, exactly. Maybe the lack of flexibility (ability to work long hours, weekends, go away to conferences, etc). On the other hand, this shouldn’t be necessary.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
Career move / intellectual frustration.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Keeping up a routine, or at least coordinating productive study time with family time. Concentration is hard to attain and is easily interrupted. I don’t have the option to sink hours or days into study while ignoring everything else, in the way that I could if I didn’t have children, and can’t drop things / travel / attend meetings freely. Compulsory School or Faculty presentations and meetings always seem to be at the most awkward time possible for clashing with family commitments.

How did you overcome this?
I haven’t yet, I am trying to find a new way of working. One thing I have done though is to try to structure the subject of my research so that I am not dependent on external factors as far as possible. Excessive delays and problems are likely to be very hard to recover as I would simply not be able to slog away doing long hours to complete my study.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
I don’t know. I imagine it depends on the age of the children. I would not have liked to have studied when my children were very young. On the other hand, the flexibility of studying compared to working is tremendous. I try to keep reminding myself that it’s study, and not work, and that I can take ownership of my material output, and that I have a supervisor and not a boss.

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
Make sure you’ve got your finances sorted.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
Some of the endless pile of domestic chores and maintenance that need doing, probably. Possibly I’d be wishing the kids were around so we could go and do something fun and interesting. It’s not a job!

Degree: BSc Physiological Sciences

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
Being quite far away from my children should an emergency arrive - I study in Newcastle (obviously) but we live near Carlisle, which is over an hour away by car.

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I didn't want to go back to doing what I was prior to children (food microbiology), so I made the decision to retrain.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Managing my time - with a house to run, children to look after, commuting and studying - I really have my hands full.

How did you overcome this?
There are some things I cannot overcome - the commute is what it is and my children still need looking after - but I learned to manage my time more effectively. I study when the children are asleep and I no longer panic if the ironing basket is full or there are dishes to do!

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
Learn to manage your time effectively; accept that you won't necessarily be able to study when it's best for you, as that might not fit in with family life. Oh and don't put off any assignments until the last minute as you never know when your children are going to be up all night with a sickness bug!

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
Don't be scared as there are many parents who have successfully studied at university, but do your homework. Find out what childcare help, financial assistance and other support you may be entitled to and apply for those on-time. When you start university, make sure your school/faculty and personal tutor are aware of your circumstances as they may also be able to help.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
Sleep! Joking aside, I'd love a day at a Spa having a massage, facial and generally being spoiled, followed by a child-free evening meal where I get to eat my food whilst it's still hot.

Degree: PhD

What worries you most about studying and being a parent?
Time! Your family has to come first, so when my son is ill I take time off to care for him, but you don't get this time back! I'm also finding it hard to get in the right head space to write. Being in the final year of my PhD means that I really need to focus and write!! 

Why did you decide to start studying after you started your family? 
I decided to start a family mid way through my PhD, which to many may seem a little odd, however there is never really a right time to do these things. I waited until the fieldwork phase of my research was complete and then had my little boy. I'm currently writing up with a 1 year old, but luckily we have a lot of family support nearby.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Concentration. You don't always get a lot of sleep with a 1 year old, but no matter whether I was up at 2.30am this morning, I still need to come into university and write. 

How did you overcome this?
I set small achievable deadlines for myself and try to stay focused. I don't allow a huge amount of time for talking in the office, but rather get my head down and write. It can be a little lonely at times, but I know that it wont be forever. 

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a fellow student parent?
You need to be organised and allow yourself to have proper breaks. I know some fellow student parents that constantly feel guilty. Guilty that they are not spending time with their kids when they are studying and guilty that they are not study when they are spending time with their family. It's such a lot of wasted energy. Set yourself a timetable and try to stick to it. Enjoy the time with your family and make the most of your time studying too. You can have a cup of tea that is still hot and no one is shouting your name or crawling round your feet. 

What advice would you give to parents who are thinking about starting University?
Don't let being a parent hold you back. I try to treat my PhD/study like a job. I have childcare on certain days, so I work 9-5 on those days and then go home and spend quality time with my son. I will work evenings (when he's in bed) and weekends only if I have a deadline it is necessary, otherwise it's good to have breaks. I want my son to be proud of what him mum has achieved, that keeps me going when I'm having a hard day.

If you could have one full day of no studying and no children to look after, what would you do?
I would spend the morning in bed catching up on sleep and then would meet my husband for lunch, go for a nice walk along the coast with the sun shining on our shoulders (can I plan the weather too?) and maybe go for a swim, then dinner and a catch up with friends (I'd pack a lot into that day!!).