Making the decision of whether or not to go for a PhD is never straightforward. This subject always tends to evoke mixed emotions in prospective students due to the increasing number of drop-outs and well-documented challenges associated with pursuing a doctorate degree. It’s important to know exactly what you are getting into before making the decision to go ahead with it. The older we get, the more difficult it becomes to balance the demands of work, life and family with the demands of education.