Petition · HM Treasury
Give PhD students full government funded childcare hours
Open for signatures
40 signatures
What the petition asks
Allow doctoral research to also receive the 30 funded hours for childcare regardless of taxable income.
Post-graduate research students fall between the gaps for pre-school age funded hours for nursery places.
With nursery fees at an all time high, even with the funded hours, it leaves many PhD students with young children unable to afford to continue their studies.
Currently, the funded hours are tied to "working hours" (I.e. taxable hours). A majority of PhD stipends are untaxed, and therefore ineligible. Countless brilliant minds have therefore had to leave research in order to "afford" childcare.
With nursery fees at an all time high, even with the funded hours, it leaves many PhD students with young children unable to afford to continue their studies.
Currently, the funded hours are tied to "working hours" (I.e. taxable hours). A majority of PhD stipends are untaxed, and therefore ineligible. Countless brilliant minds have therefore had to leave research in order to "afford" childcare.
Timeline
| 25 Aug 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
40
Status
Open for signatures
Department
HM Treasury
Opened
25 Aug 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Aug 2026.