Part time PhD: fees, funding and what it’s really like
Not everyone can step away from work, family or financial commitments for three or four years to study full-time. That is exactly why a part time PhD exists. It lets you earn the same doctorate and produce the same full-length thesis, but spread over a longer period and around the rest of your life. For working professionals, carers and mature students, it can turn a doctorate from an impossible dream into a realistic plan.
It is not a watered-down version of the full-time route, though. The route comes with its own fees, funding rules, timelines and day-to-day realities, and these differ in ways that genuinely affect your decision. In this guide we’ll cover what the route involves, how it compares to full-time study, how long it takes, what it costs and how to fund it. We’ll also be honest about the challenges, and share what studying part-time is actually like week to week.
What is a part time PhD?
A part time PhD is a doctoral degree completed at a reduced weekly workload over a longer overall period, typically while you work or manage other commitments. The research, the thesis and the viva voce examination are all the same as the full-time version. The main difference is simply how much time you give it each week.
In practice, no two are quite alike. Some students set aside fixed days each week, while others fit research around shifting work patterns. Your schedule depends on your project, your funding and your own circumstances. That flexibility is the whole point, and it’s why this route suits such a wide range of people.
Full-time vs part time PhD: the key differences
Both routes lead to the identical qualification, so the choice comes down to time, money and how you prefer to work. The table below summarises the main differences at a glance.
| Full-time PhD | Part time PhD | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical duration | 3 to 4 years | 6 to 7 years (5 to 8 is common) |
| Weekly hours | Around 35+ | Around 17 to 20 |
| Annual tuition | Full rate | Roughly 50 to 60% of the full rate |
| Funding | Most studentships available | Fewer options; often self-funded |
| Weekly intensity | High | Lower, but sustained over more years |
| Working alongside | Difficult | Designed around it |
The headline trade-off is straightforward. It asks less of you each week but more of you overall, because you commit to a longer journey. Whether that suits you depends far less on the qualification and far more on your life outside it.
Why do a part time PhD?
People choose this route for several practical reasons, and most fall into one of four groups.
- Financial. Keeping your salary while you study removes a lot of pressure. Even a full-time studentship stipend can be tight, especially if you support a family.
- Career. Many working professionals want to apply research skills directly in their field. If that’s you, it’s also worth weighing a professional doctorate, which is a part-time-friendly route built around professional practice rather than a purely academic path.
- Caring and family commitments. It offers the flexibility to balance a doctorate with raising a family or caring responsibilities, which a full-time schedule rarely allows.
- Intensity and wellbeing. Spreading a research degree over more years lowers the weekly intensity. For some students that makes the whole experience more sustainable, both physically and mentally.
If any of these describe you, this route deserves serious thought. It’s a genuine alternative, not a lesser one.
How long is a part time PhD?
In the UK it usually takes six to seven years, roughly double a full-time doctorate. That said, five to eight years is common, and the exact length depends on how many hours you can give it and what your funder requires.
Universities also set registration periods that cap how long you can stay enrolled. For part time doctorates the minimum is typically four years and the maximum eight. If you’d like to understand how these timelines work across both study modes, see our guide to how long a PhD takes.
Weekly hours: what to expect
Because the degree takes about twice as long as full-time, it follows that you work roughly half the weekly hours. Universities generally treat full-time study as around 35 hours a week, so a part-time student might aim for 17 to 20 hours. There’s no fixed rule, though, and the right number is the one you can sustain.
What matters most is consistency. Studying in scattered bursts whenever time appears is inefficient and draining. Setting regular days or hours each week is far more productive, and psychologically easier too. Many students who are doing a PhD while working protect one or two fixed days for research and treat them as immovable.
It helps to hear how this works in reality. Many describe deliberately changing location to switch focus, such as working from home one day a week to separate the PhD from the day job. They also stress the value of short and long-term goals, and of agreeing deadlines with a supervisor to stay accountable. Bear in mind, too, that some doctoral training courses and lab sessions run on fixed dates, so a little forward planning goes a long way.
Part time PhD fees and funding
Money is usually the deciding factor, so it’s worth understanding both the fees and the part time PhD funding landscape clearly.
How much does a part time PhD cost?
It costs roughly the same as full-time study overall; the difference is that the fees are spread out. Annual tuition is typically 50 to 60% of the full-time rate. For home students that currently works out at around £2,500 a year, based on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) indicative fee of about £5,006 for full-time study in 2025/26. International fees are higher and vary widely by university and subject, often falling between £9,000 and £15,000 a year part-time, with lab-based subjects at the upper end.
Tuition is only part of the picture, of course. Travel, equipment and other costs add up, although spreading study over more years and visiting campus less often can ease them. For the full breakdown, see our guide to how much a PhD costs.
Can you get funding for a part time PhD?
Most universities expect you to fund your own studies, largely because most students work alongside their research. Fully funded options exist but are scarcer than for full-time study, so it pays to start your search early for a fully funded part-time PhD in the UK.
Even so, you have several routes worth exploring:
- University and departmental funding, such as subject-specific bursaries and PhD studentships, though many studentships are restricted to full-time students.
- A postgraduate doctoral loan. For courses starting in 2025/26 you can borrow up to £29,390 from the government, according to gov. uk. The loan is not means-tested and is paid in instalments across your course, which spreads neatly across a longer timeline.
- Employer sponsorship. If your research benefits your employer, they may contribute to your fees. This is one of the strongest reasons to align your doctorate with your day job.
- Charities and research trusts, which sometimes fund projects relevant to their field, usually on merit rather than personal circumstances.
Studying part-time as an international student
If you’re an international student hoping to study a part time PhD in the UK, expect extra requirements. Most significantly, the standard student visa route is built around full-time study, so options for those needing a visa are limited and depend heavily on your circumstances.
To study here you’ll generally need to prove you can support yourself financially, and external or departmental funding usually can’t be used as proof of income. You’ll also need to demonstrate English proficiency as part of the application. Because the rules are complex and change regularly, always confirm the current position with the university and with official UK immigration guidance before you commit.
The main challenges to plan for
It is widely considered harder to sustain than the full-time route. None of these challenges should put you off, but knowing them in advance helps you plan around them.
- Detachment. Spending less time on campus can leave you feeling distant from your department and peers. Going to talks, seminars and events, even occasionally, keeps you connected and motivated.
- Time management. Juggling work or family with research is demanding, and over six or seven years there will be busy spells when your studies risk slipping. Setting goals and agreeing deadlines with your supervisor keeps momentum going.
- Motivation. A longer journey makes it harder to keep your passion alight, which is partly why drop-out rates tend to be higher. This usually reflects competing life demands rather than any lack of commitment.
- Missing out. You often can’t take part in everything full-time students do, such as teaching, conferences or research placements. Identify the opportunities that matter most to you and make a case to your supervisor for support to access them.
- Fewer funding options. As covered above, working alongside your studies means fewer funded routes are open to you.
- Relevancy. Because the degree spans many years, there’s a small risk that your research question dates or that someone publishes similar work first. Discussing this openly with your supervisor early on helps you keep your project current.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do a PhD part-time while working full-time? Yes, and many people do. The route is designed to fit around employment, though balancing roughly 17 to 20 hours of research a week with a job takes discipline and a supportive supervisor.
Is it respected as much as a full-time doctorate? Absolutely. The qualification is identical, the thesis is the same length and the viva is no different. Employers and academics judge the doctorate on its merits, not the mode of study.
How long does a part time PhD take? Usually six to seven years in the UK, with five to eight being common. Registration periods typically run from a minimum of four years to a maximum of eight.
Is it cheaper than studying full-time? Not really. The total cost is roughly the same; it’s simply spread across more years, which can make it more manageable. Some students who finish early pay slightly less overall, but it’s unwise to count on that.
Can international students do a part time PhD in the UK? It’s possible but harder, mainly because the standard student visa assumes full-time study. If you need a visa, check the specific options with your chosen university before applying.
Conclusion: is a part time PhD right for you?
A part time PhD opens doctoral study to people who could never commit to the full-time route, and it does so without compromising the qualification you earn. It rewards consistency, planning and a clear reason for choosing it, whether that’s your career, your finances or your family.
Here are the essentials to weigh up:
- Expect it to take six to seven years at around 17 to 20 hours a week.
- Budget for tuition of roughly half to 60% of the full-time rate, spread across more years.
- Funding is scarcer than for full-time study, so explore loans, employer sponsorship and bursaries early.
- Plan for the real challenges, detachment, motivation and time management, rather than hoping to avoid them.
If that sounds like a fit, the next step is finding the right project. When you’re ready, search part time PhD opportunities on DiscoverPhDs to find one that matches your interests and circumstances.
Last updated: May 2026. Fees, funding and visa rules for a part time PhD vary by university, subject and year, and change regularly, so always check the current details with each university and official sources before you apply.
