Working and Studying For a PhD at the Same

Wrote by Applykite

12 October, 2025

The concept of balancing a career that you have created and the urge to do more research is not new. You are committed to your work, and a PhD seems like the next level. The question arises, then, can you work and pursue a PhD at the same time, or is that too much to take?

This is the dilemma that many professionals encounter. Quitting a regular income to pursue a full-time degree may be alluring but dangerous. Although a PhD is intellectually stimulating and provides career development, you cannot do away with your salary or career momentum.

This guide was created to give you an honest and realistic answer. We will provide useful advice that has enabled others to effectively combine work and doctoral studies.

To begin with, Is It Possible to do a PhD While Working Full-Time?

Yes, it is possible to pursue a PhD and work full-time. It has been successfully done by many people and has been rewarding.

It does take planning, consistent motivation, and knowing what you are getting into. The greatest mistake is trying to do a full-time PhD and full-time employment at the same time. That is not healthy, as there is very little free time or sleep.

It is not about working 80 hours a week to be successful, but rather about the strategy that suits your life. The majority of professionals prefer to pursue one of two realistic directions.

Read more: PhD vs. Professional Doctorate

Knowing Your Choices: The Two Big Ways

Working and pursuing a doctoral programme is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The optimal course of action will be based on your situation, career objectives, and financial capabilities. The successful candidates usually adhere to two models.

Path 1: Part-Time PhD While Working Full-Time (The Marathon)

This is the most widespread and generally the most viable for the established professionals. You retain your full-time employment and enroll in a part-time PhD. It is a serious commitment, even with a split schedule, and usually requires 15-20 hours of study per week.

Picture it as a marathon. It typically takes six to eight years to complete, yet it provides you with a number of advantages. You retain your stable income, continue to accumulate professional experience, and can frequently apply what you have learned in school. The biggest problem is to remain motivated throughout the long period and to remain in touch with the research community.

This is the best route to take when one has financial commitments like a family or a mortgage, or just cannot quit his or her job.

Path 2: Full-Time PhD While Working Part-Time (The Sprint)

The other option is to start a full-time PhD with a part-time job. This is the situation that most individuals imagine when they consider a working PhD student. The work is typically limited to 16 hours a week to ensure that it does not disrupt the research.

This is more of a sprint. You are likely to graduate within three to five years and be completely integrated into campus life. A large number of students participate in part-time jobs at the university, including teaching or research assistantships, which can be used to develop a CV and earn additional income.

It is effective when you already have a PhD stipend that will cover most of your living costs, but you still require a little more cash. It requires a fine balance, as you have to maintain research and manage your job at the same time.

Is a PhD Worth It for a Working Professional?

Weigh the pros and the cons before you choose to spend years of your life working. Earning a PhD as a working person is a major life choice that will affect your finances, leisure time, and career. A candid evaluation of the pros and cons can inform you whether it is the correct action plan in the long-term goals.

The Pros and Cons

The following table summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of a PhD during employment:

Pros	Cons
Career Development and Economic Security	Intense Time Pressure
You will be able to spend more on fees, living expenses, and other needs. You will also have a PhD and a few more years of professional experience on your resume. This may result in increased salary and being a professional in your field.	The more time you work, the less time you have to study for your PhD. You will lose much of your free time, which may impact on hobbies and socializing. Your work schedule may also conflict with academic activities such as conferences.
Practical Skill Development	Risk of Burnout and Isolation
Most PhD programs, particularly those financed by Research Councils, demand that students acquire work experience in the industry. Employment will enable you to develop practical skills that will supplement your academic research.	It is difficult to maintain long-term motivation. Working and pursuing a PhD is not an easy task, and it predisposes one to burnout. You can also be out of touch with the academic community, particularly when you are working in a different industry.
Improved Well-being and Networking	Divided Attention
Makes you take the required breaks in your research, which is healthy for your mind. It also makes you not feel isolated, as some PhD students do, because you can make friends and interact with other people at work.	Students usually struggle to balance their jobs and PhD studies equally. The PhD may be pushed to the back burner when work is hectic.

Finally, it is a matter of choice. In case the advantages of pursuing your career and getting a doctorate, and maintaining your income, are more than the difficulties of a hectic schedule, then this option might be a great choice for you. The key is to go in with your eyes open and a solid strategy in place.

Read more: How to Email Professors for a PhD

How to Do a PhD While Working: Your 5-Step Strategy for Success

It is not a matter of being lucky to be successful in this direction, but a clear and consistent strategy. Having several areas in mind, you can come up with a framework that will make you believe that you will be able to balance your job and your doctoral studies. This five-step process will make you stay focused, inspired, and to the finish line.

Step 1: Get Your Employer and Supervisor on Your Side

Your employer and supervisor should support you to succeed. Talk to your employer first. Turn your PhD to your benefit: it sharpens skills and brings in expertise. They may offer flexible working hours or tuition reimbursement.

It is also important to find a supportive PhD supervisor who is aware of your work commitments. ApplyKite’s Professors and Research search engine can be used to find the right match.

As soon as they are on your side, keep the communication open so that you can have stress-free progress.

Step 2: Master Your Time with a Realistic Schedule

The most important thing as a working student is time. Get it under control by developing a study plan that suits you. Regardless of whether you are on 9-to-5 or odd hours, set aside specific, safe time every week to study for your PhD.

These blocks of study are to be treated as valuable meetings that you cannot afford to miss. Be clear on what you will achieve during each session. Instead of a general goal like working on a thesis, a specific goal like summarizing three research articles to add to the literature review.

Learn also to make the best use of your dead time. The time that you spend on a bus or a train, or in silent moments at the workplace, can be utilized in smaller tasks such as responding to emails, reading an article, or brainstorming.

Step 3: Choose the Right Program and Research Topic

The kind of program you take will make a tremendous difference in your work and study balance. Find universities that offer courses that are tailored to working professionals, including part-time courses or online courses. These will provide the flexibility of scheduling that you require.

Your research topic is also important. A PhD is a matter of years of hard work, and therefore, you have to choose a topic that you are passionate about. When you choose a major that you enjoy, you will not regret your PhD in the long run.

Wherever you can, attempt to identify overlaps between your job and your research. When a project at your day job can be used in your dissertation, you can establish a strong synergy. This will enable you to apply your professional work to your academic objectives, and your time will be much more effective.

Step 4: Set Clear, Achievable Goals and Milestones

The PhD may appear as a single huge, undefined project. The only solution to it is to cut it into a sequence of smaller, very specific goals to be able to proceed with it without collapsing. Make sure that the objectives you set are the ones you can control, and they are the ones that can be checked off a list.

An example of a goal that is not within your control would be to recruit 20 participants to my study this month. A more manageable and improved objective is to reach out to 15 potential participants and invite them to an interview. You can check that off, no matter how many people agree. This will assist you in gaining momentum and getting a feeling of achievement, which is essential in maintaining motivation.

Step 5: Build a Strong Support System

You cannot make it alone in this journey. Your family and friends should know what you need in terms of time and help you with your boundaries in terms of your study schedule. There is nothing wrong with seeking assistance when you require it, be it from your supervisor, co-workers, or family members.

Another thing is to keep in touch with the research community. Efforts should be made to attend conferences, seminars, and networking events, although it may be difficult to find time. Such networks will keep you updated and will not make you feel alone.

It is easier to navigate the academic world with the help of a mentor who is able to offer frequent feedback and accountability to keep you on track when you are facing difficulties.

Students who want this kind of organized support can find it in ApplyKite’s Mentoring Service.

PhD While Working in Industry: Field-Specific Considerations

Striking a balance between a PhD and a job may differ greatly depending on the field. The relationship between your work and your research will determine all the steps of your way.

For Computer Science or Engineering

A technical career, such as computer science or engineering, provides you with a special opportunity to combine your work and dissertation. Your day-job projects can be a great source of research, and your time is very productive.

Since the work is directly related to your academic objectives, you can work in the office and continue working on your thesis.

You can also have unique access to industry data or innovative technology that can reinforce your findings.

For Social Sciences or Humanities

The connection between a corporate position and research is less strong in the social sciences or humanities. A PhD in history, sociology, or social work may involve a lot of reading, archival research, or field trips, which you have to fit in with your employment.

The biggest problem is the ability to alternate between professional and academic thinking. It requires strict time management and strict limits to guard research time.

The key to success is clear time blocks, strict work distraction limits, and regular protection of your academic time.

International Students: What You Need to Know

As an international student, you need to comply with certain regulations that are primarily associated with your student visa. These regulations vary widely according to the country, and before you intend to work during your study, it is important to understand them.

Disclaimer: Visa policies change frequently. The following information is a general guideline, depending on the given sources. The most up-to-date and comprehensive rules are to be found on the official government immigration websites and the international student office of your university.

Overview of Work Regulations for International PhD Students

Country	Work Hour Regulations & Considerations
Australia	You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (about 24 hours per week) during the semester. Full-time work is often allowed during university breaks.
Austria	You are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week with a valid work permit.
Denmark	PhD students are typically considered employees and have a standard 37-hour workweek. This includes an obligation to perform academic tasks like teaching for about 7-8 hours per week.
Finland	You can work up to 25-30 hours per week during the academic term. Work is unlimited during holidays.
France	You can work up to 964 hours per year, which averages to about 18-20 hours per week.
Germany	You may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year (approx. 20 hours/week) without a work permit. Work is unlimited during semester breaks.
Netherlands	You can work up to 16 hours per week during the academic year. Full-time work is permitted during the summer months (June-August).
Norway	PhD candidates are generally full-time employees with standard work hours, approximately 37.5 hours per week.
Sweden	There is no legal limit on work hours; however, you are expected to prioritize your studies to ensure you make academic progress.
United Kingdom	You can work up to 20 hours per week during term-time. Full-time work is allowed during official vacation periods.
United States	Students on F-1 visas can typically work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during official breaks.

You can also be restricted in the number of hours you can work in case you are a recipient of a scholarship or sponsorship, and in this case, you should always check the terms and conditions of your funding.

Conclusion

Doing a PhD during employment is a big undertaking. It challenges your commitment, planning, and interest in your profession. It is not an easy task, but it is possible. Being realistic, communicating with your employer and supervisor, and having a strong support system will enable you to balance work and study.

Keep in mind, it is your own trip. Create a schedule that suits you, protects your health, and allows you to move on in a steady fashion. You have the ambition and ability; now you have a plan to achieve your goal.

FAQ: Answering Your Top Questions

How many hours per week does a part-time PhD require?

Part-time PhD requires approximately 15-20 hours per week, which is approximately half of the workload of a full-time program.

How long does a part-time PhD take to complete?

A part-time PhD generally takes twice as long as a full-time one. Most candidates finish in about six to eight years.

Can you get a PhD stipend while working full-time?

No. PhD stipends are only available to full-time students, and the conditions do not allow a full-time job to be held at the same time.

How can I avoid burnout while working and doing a PhD?

Burnout is a fact, but you can deal with it. The main tips include: manage your time well; have real breaks both at work and research; maintain an open channel of communication with your boss and supervisor; and be willing to change your plan in case you feel overwhelmed, like working part-time or changing your PhD to part-time.

Does industry experience help you get into a PhD program?

Yes, it may be a great advantage. Numerous PhD schemes, such as some Research Council studentships, attach importance, or even insist on, work experience in an industry. Your work experience shows that you are mature, practical, and have a strong desire to conduct research, which can be an advantage in your application.