Experiencing motherhood at UAL
- Written byShaneika Asare Simms
- Published date 19 May 2026
Discover Shaneika's story of experiencing motherhood while pursuing her postgraduate study at UAL.
This is an autotheoretical tale of breastfeeding and dissertation prep. Not two words that are typically used in the same sentence, but hey ho, welcome to my world. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that having one child and studying made me feel guilty. I felt the judgment from people as they thought my son was too young to be left with his dad. You know, the other person who is responsible and capable of looking after his needs. However, I did encounter some people who felt I was making the smartest choice, as “there is no perfect time to study with a child.” This statement was more positive, but still had a negative connotation, as being a mother has somehow made everything worth doing harder. (Just like how a holiday with children is a trip.)
I also had a difference with my classmates. But being pregnant, then returning to seminars with my newborn baby? Well, not even I could say I knew that would happen.
Attending university with a toddler only happened because I wanted to self-improve. I enjoyed education and always wanted to return to UAL to study my master’s and found a perfect match of academic and creative flair with the MRes Art: Moving Image course at Central Saint Martins. I applied, got accepted and resigned from my job at an American advertising agency just so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed with my research and mothering duties (oh, if only I knew I would experience overwhelm most days).
But, as I’ve learned, life has a funny way of keeping you humble. You see, the next two years were meant to be more focused on “me.” Then the weirdest thing happened - I got sick, like I couldn’t leave the sofa, sick. I was weak, I started to miss my seminars, all mind you, I had no idea what was wrong with me. It was when my husband said why don’t you take a pregnancy test and I laughed because I got my period every month, without fail, so surely that can’t be it…
But there it was, the two lines couldn’t appear any quicker (on an expired pregnancy test, mind you). And though I was happy, grateful - I feared what that meant for me beyond being a mother of two… under three… In her first year of postgraduate study.
My vision of my postgraduate experience slowly faded before my eyes. Yes, I know I was never going to be the most social butterfly due to my wanting to be present for my son (mum guilt), but I thought I’d at least have time to explore my studies without a baby bump or wearing a baby carrier all day.
My main concern was that I was two months pregnant and I was two months into the course. I knew I had a long road ahead of me as my first pregnancy left me experiencing all day sickness, meaning I was unable to do anything and... you guessed it... the same thing happened, but I got to experience it with assignments and a toddler to look after. Oh yes, my assignments, all those thousands of words. Would you believe me if I told you I wrote two essays in one week? Not because I’m lazy or I love pressure, but because my baby brain won. And not being in classes, I didn’t have the energy, the buzz about the deadline ticking down each week, something that I was missing, the moment, the happening.
It was intense getting the writing done, especially it was my first time doing academic writing with the weight of the first impression of my work to my pathway leader - I was stressed, but got it done, a mantra of sorts during this period. But the fact that I can throw one stone during this timeframe is impressive. (Impressively hard?)
Regardless of how I feel about my situation, I have to say that UAL was more than accommodating. I got access to the quiet spaces to pump milk and breastfeed, I’m allowed to bring my daughter to seminars, additional lift access and I was given assignment extensions due to my circumstances. Paired with academic support and the opportunity to defer for a year (which I decided against), I didn’t feel othered but able to show up as the version of myself, the ever-morphing version of me.
To keep in the loop with my writing and creative practice feel free to sign up to my mailing list and check out my website.
Discover support available at UAL for student parents and carers.
Post-Grad Stories
Post-Grad Stories is a thriving online platform of postgraduate voices. Here you can share thought-provoking experiences, practices, thoughts and articles about what matters to you.
Do you have a story you want to share? You can email us at pgcommunity@arts.ac.uk.