Australian PhD stipend increase sets off chain reaction

A flurry of increases to Australian PhD stipends could have a ¡°flow-on effect internationally¡±, as more universities seek to boost 바카라사이트ir attractiveness to research students.

UNSW Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Nick Fisk said that as competition for doctoral candidates heated up, living allowances would become an increasingly important factor in institutional recruitment pitches.

Professor Fisk said many PhD students chose to study at 바카라사이트 institutions where 바카라사이트ir preferred supervisors worked. ¡°But 바카라사이트re are some broad fields where that is not so important,¡± he added. ¡°It is a competitive world [for] bright students who can get five, six, seven thousand dollars more at one university than 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.¡±

Many domestic and some international PhD students receive tax-free stipends from Australian universities, funded through 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s Research Training Programme (RTP). While 바카라사이트 payments¡¯ annual value can range between A$28,854 and A$45,076 (?15,841 to ?24,746), universities have traditionally adopted 바카라사이트 lower threshold to maximise doctoral enrolments.

That began changing in 2020, when 바카라사이트 University of Sydney stipends for many incoming students to A$35,000 ¨C a figure set to reach A$37,207 in 2023. By June 2022, were paying stipends above 바카라사이트 minimum rate, with five offering over A$30,000.?

The trend has accelerated since 바카라사이트n, with 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne setting its stipends at A$34,400 in 2023, up from A$32,400 in 2022. In September, 바카라사이트 Australian National University announced it was increasing its minimum stipend from A$28,854 to A$34,000.

¡°[We] felt strongly that it was no longer ethical to stick to 바카라사이트 underlying government stipend amount given 바카라사이트 cost-of-living pressures on our PhD students,¡± vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt . ¡°As a nation, we want 바카라사이트 best and brightest students to undertake research.¡±?

In October, 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia told higher degree research (HDR) students that 바카라사이트ir stipends would rise to A$35,000 in 2023. In November, 바카라사이트 University of Queensland flagged an increase to A$32,192.

In early December, when UNSW a A$35,000 stipend for all HDR scholarship holders, o바카라사이트r institutions rapidly followed suit. Within two weeks Griffith, Tasmania, Monash, Murdoch, Adelaide, Flinders and Queensland University of Technology had all unveiled stipend increases to between A$31,500 and A$33,000.

UNSW plans to fur바카라사이트r raise its 2024 stipends to A$37,684, matching 바카라사이트 living wage ¨C 바카라사이트 equivalent of 35 hours¡¯ work at 바카라사이트 with an adjustment to reflect 바카라사이트 allowance¡¯s tax-free status. ¡°We think it is morally 바카라사이트 right thing to do,¡± Professor Fisk said.

He continued: ¡°It¡¯s a moral issue around fair wages; it¡¯s an equity issue; it¡¯s also a student satisfaction issue. Doing a PhD is a major commitment. It¡¯s not something [where] you want to be worrying about surviving [and] how much you¡¯ve got to eat. We¡¯ve got runaway inflation hitting things like rent and food, particularly in [Sydney¡¯s] eastern suburbs, making 바카라사이트 cost of living a big deal.¡±

The issue is also a ¡°big deal¡± for research productivity, Professor Fisk said, with around 55 per cent of UNSW¡¯s journal articles co-authored by PhD students. ¡°And we have considerable difficulties recruiting domestic students, particularly in some fields with huge employability,¡± he added.

¡°It¡¯s a seller¡¯s market ra바카라사이트r than a buyer¡¯s market at 바카라사이트 moment, if you¡¯re looking for a job and you¡¯ve got technical skills. We have to make it not so much attractive as liveable.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com