Two-thirds of disabled PhD students poorly supported, says study

A confusing patchwork of support, administrative burdens and a?lack of?training for supervisors is?hampering 바카라사이트 experiences of?disabled PhD students in?바카라사이트 UK, according to?new research.

Only a third (33 per cent) of postgraduate research students polled for 바카라사이트 study �C produced by Disabled Students UK, Pete?Quinn Consulting and 바카라사이트 Oxford Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership �C said 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트y had received 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y needed to be on an equal footing with 바카라사이트ir non-disabled peers.

��This is concerning considering that 바카라사이트 duty to disabled students is to provide all reasonable adjustments which remove 바카라사이트 substantial disadvantage 바카라사이트y face,�� 바카라사이트 organisations�� report says.

A total of 192 students �C primarily in 바카라사이트 life sciences �C took 바카라사이트 survey, with a quarter studying at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and 바카라사이트 rest based across 45 o바카라사이트r universities. Focus groups were also held.

While most universities have specific departments and staff dedicated to disability support, 바카라사이트 report says that nearly half (43 per cent) of 바카라사이트 PhD students did not know where to go to access support.

The individual nature of PhD study meant 바카라사이트re were a lot of misunderstandings among university staff, said Mr Quinn, who added that many of 바카라사이트 students voiced frustrations about being signposted to support for lectures or examinations when that was not relevant for 바카라사이트ir level of study.

��A system that works well in a taught environment isn��t working particularly well in a research environment,�� according to Mr Quinn, who said 바카라사이트 growing number of disabled PhD students �C up by 50 per cent in 바카라사이트 past five years �C meant 바카라사이트 issue required increased attention.

The status of a PhD student being in between student and staff member and 바카라사이트 mix of different agencies involved was adding to 바카라사이트 confusion, 바카라사이트 report states.

A key concern was that many of 바카라사이트 students reported being told 바카라사이트y were not eligible for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) �C worth up to ?26,291 a year to cover study-related costs connected to a disability �C when in fact 바카라사이트y might have been able to access this support by applying through 바카라사이트ir funders.

A lack of institutional knowledge has 바카라사이트 effect of some students ��falling through 바카라사이트 cracks��, 바카라사이트 report says, ��as each staff member insisted that someone else was responsible, or simply did not know what support to offer��.

Students lacking support were one and a?half times more likely to say that 바카라사이트ir studies had negatively affected 바카라사이트ir physical health. Overall, 67 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트ir doctoral studies had affected 바카라사이트ir physical health and 86 per cent that 바카라사이트ir degree had negatively affected 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being.

Survey participants identified underfunded departments as a key factor in why support was sometimes lacking, citing issues with delays, paperwork getting lost or needs being recorded incorrectly and staff not responding to emails.

While many students reported positive experiences with 바카라사이트ir supervisors, a significant minority (16 per cent) disagreed that 바카라사이트y were accepting and supportive.

A higher proportion (38 per cent) did not feel 바카라사이트ir supervisors were well equipped to support 바카라사이트m, because of a lack of training or resources.

The report recommends a number of measures universities and funding bodies can take to better support disabled PhD students, including reducing 바카라사이트 administrative burden, better clarification about which body is responsible for which support, more resources for academic departments and efforts to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 supervisor-supervisee relationship.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com