How to ‘juggle all the competing demands’: advice to PhD mums from the lived experiences of other PhD mums

Doctoral research is not an easy undertaking for anyone, but the challenges of doing this while also navigating the complexities and gendered expectations of motherhood can be intensely and inequitably demanding. Mothers have been historically marginalised in higher education, yet still remain missing from many institutional initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Considering current demographic trends, ‘PhD mums’ are a potentially large cohort in doctoral programmes, but they are often (made) invisible. This study reports on part of a large-scale international exploration of the experiences of PhD mums across five continents. A total of 998 PhD mums provided advice to others who might now or in the future combine the roles of mother and doctoral researcher. Through a thematic analysis of the responses, advice relating to support, self-care, self-belief, role management, and preparation was revealed. The study elevates the voice of PhD mothers, offers advice and provides practical and moral support for those who, despite their unique and nuanced contexts, share the continuing challenge of navigating motherhood during their doctoral candidature.