Single parent Vicky swaps night-time scrolling for Master’s studies
A single mother of twins is studying for a Master’s at home while bringing up her children and working full-time.
Vicky Schreiber, 35, has swapped evenings scrolling on her phone and binge-watching TV documentaries for studying MSc Psychology (Distance Learning) at the University of Bradford.
She juggles her daily responsibilities of being a mother of six-year-old twins, working full-time supporting vulnerable adults and studying remotely.
Vicky, who lives in Wiltshire, said: “I was sat on my smartphone in the evening, scrolling and I thought to myself, ‘the amount of time I’m just wasting here, I could be doing something productive’.
“So instead of scrolling, I’m sat on a laptop writing an essay. Any chance I can get a spare minute; I’m on my laptop doing my Master’s.”
Vicky Schreiber is studying MSc Psychology (Distance Learning) at the University of Bradford. Images credit: Vicky Schreiber
Night-time student
Vicky’s typical day:
• 6am: start of each day and gets the twins ready for school
• 8.30am: takes her twins to school
• 9am to 5pm: Vicky works full-time
• 5pm to 7.30pm: After picking up her children from their after-school club, Vicky gives them her full attention before their bedtime
• 7.30pm to midnight: Vicky studies every evening
Routine and discipline
Vicky, who started her two-year course at Bradford in September 2024, said: “I can’t leave the house. I don’t have the luxury of even asking another parent to come in to relieve me at any point.
“You can find a way. It’s about routine and discipline. I have had to fight through. I fall asleep at the laptop. I’m tired all the time, and trying to balance it with self-care, which is really important.
“I have to pay the bills, be there when they’re sick. I have to do it all. There’s no choice.”
Vicky Schreiber juggles motherhood, working full-time and studying for a Master’s. Images credit: Vicky Schreiber
Go against the grain
Vicky’s main motivation is her twins, but she also wants to challenge society’s stereotypes of sole parents.
She said: “I felt a lot of shame when I first became a sole parent, and I think some of that shame motivated me to go against the grain.
“There are huge judgements that society forms when you’re a single parent; that you’re going to be poor, you’re going to really struggle. I wanted to go against that.
“Just because you’re a single parent doesn’t mean that your dreams have to end.”
Future plans
Vicky says Bradford stood out to her as a major university that offered MSc Psychology (Distance Learning). Despite working remotely, she wanted to be a student at a university with a physical campus and look forward to a graduation ceremony. She has previously completed a degree in Psychology and a Foundation degree in Counselling. She plans to study for a PhD in Forensic Psychology next and aims to work in the mental health field of the NHS.
Vicky Schreiber is a sole parent to six-year-old twins. Images credit: Vicky Schreiber
Widening participation
Vicky exemplifies the University of Bradford’s commitment to widening participation and making higher education accessible to all, regardless of personal circumstances. Her ability to study remotely while balancing full-time work and sole parenting reflects the university’s strategic focus on flexible, inclusive learning pathways that empower individuals to transform their lives. By supporting students like Vicky through distance learning, Bradford is delivering on its vision to create a positive social impact and enable lifelong learning for diverse communities.
Vicky’s story is a further example of the University’s commitment to social mobility, as shown in topping the English Social Mobility Index for four years in a row (2021-2024), meaning it does more than any other higher education institution to improve its students’ life chances.