White Rose has recently completed a project exploring the experiences of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) with childcare and caring responsibilities. The work was undertaken in support of the GW4 Alliance childcare campaign with the goal of better understanding the challenges faced by doctoral researchers with families and contributing evidence to wider policy and sector discussions.

We are deeply grateful to the researchers who generously shared their time, insights and personal experiences to support this work.

Through interviews and discussions, participants described the complex realities of balancing doctoral study with family life. Their experiences highlighted financial pressures associated with childcare costs, the challenges of managing study alongside caring responsibilities, and the ways in which family commitments can shape decisions about when and how to pursue postgraduate research. These perspectives also pointed to wider questions around equality of access to doctoral study and the importance of inclusive support throughout the research lifecycle.

The project helped build a clearer understanding of the experiences of researchers with caring responsibilities and contributed insights to ongoing conversations across the higher education sector and within our partner institutions about equitable access to research careers.

We are encouraged to see related issues reflected in national policy discussions. In particular, the UK Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper includes commitments to explore disparities in access to PhD study for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and to improve support for new parents in post-16 education. These priorities closely align with the themes raised by participants and reflect growing recognition of the importance of inclusive pathways into research.

While this particular project has now concluded, White Rose remains committed to supporting inclusive research environments and contributing to conversations that promote equitable access to postgraduate study. We are also continuing work focused on supporting researchers returning from parental leave, recognising the importance of consistent and inclusive support across the research lifecycle.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in this work. Their openness and willingness to share their experiences have helped build a clearer picture of the realities faced by postgraduate researchers with caring responsibilities and will continue to inform conversations across the sector.