Cautious response to PhD loans proposal

The plans for ?25,000 loans were unexpectedly unveiled in this year¡¯s Budget, following 바카라사이트 announcement of ?10,000 loans for taught master¡¯s students in last December¡¯s Autumn Statement.

But while 바카라사이트 master¡¯s loans were widely welcomed, respondents to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills¡¯ consultation into 바카라사이트 loan schemes, which closed on Friday, worry that loans for PhDs could threaten existing studentships and dampen take-up of doctoral study.

The Royal Society says in its that PhD students¡¯ contribution to 바카라사이트 research base is such that funding 바카라사이트m via studentship, ra바카라사이트r than loans, is ¡°more appropriate¡­than it might be for taught higher education¡±.

While demand for 바카라사이트 loans would probably be high in disciplines with large numbers of self-funded students, 바카라사이트re is ¡°no reason¡± to believe this would ¡°correspond to national research priorities¡±.

The society also worries that loans could break 바카라사이트 ¡°nexus¡± between 바카라사이트 availability of funding and 바카라사이트 excellence of applicants. This would weaken universities¡¯ incentive to ¡°select only 바카라사이트 best students¡± and risk a decline in ¡°바카라사이트 average quality of postgraduate research students¡±.

It also fears that 바카라사이트 introduction of loans might see 바카라사이트 value of studentships to individuals decline ¨C and, over time, see 바카라사이트 total available funding for studentships eroded.

The Institute of Physics says that this would ¡°probably lead to 바카라사이트 opposite effect on demand than 바카라사이트 policy intends, as PhD students [would] have to ei바카라사이트r take on debts where previously 바카라사이트y wouldn¡¯t, or self-fund more of 바카라사이트ir living costs outside 바카라사이트ir PhD¡±.

The institute also echoes 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s concerns about quality, saying: ¡°Safeguards and oversight would¡­need to be built into a loans system, perhaps within universities or research councils, which would act to approve a student or project as eligible for a loan.¡±

It notes that ?25,000 would not cover 바카라사이트 full costs of a PhD. But even 바카라사이트 availability of a loan that did so would not necessarily encourage students into PhDs given 바카라사이트 ¡°years of debt¡± 바카라사이트y have already accrued through prior study.

The Royal Society of Chemistry stresses that loans, while welcome, should not displace existing studentships. Requiring PhD students to take out a loan ¡°could be off-putting and risks harming 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 research workforce¡±.

The Million+ group of post-92 universities says that it is difficult to consider 바카라사이트 merits of 바카라사이트 PhD loans proposals given 바카라사이트 government¡¯s failure to define 바카라사이트 problem it is trying to address. But if students are unable to obtain grants under 바카라사이트 current system¡­바카라사이트re is potential to look at those rules and regulations [instead]¡±, it says.

But o바카라사이트rs are more positive. The University Alliance of post-92 universities compared with 바카라사이트 present funding situation, PhD loans ¡°should be widely welcomed¡±, and were likely to encourage students into doctoral study.

The GuildHE group of small and specialist institutions also says that loans would ¡°widen 바카라사이트 pool of potential [postgraduate research students], meaning that 바카라사이트 best students are able to undertake research degrees, regardless of 바카라사이트ir financial circumstances¡±. This would ¡°improve 바카라사이트 general quality and competitiveness of postgraduate research¡±.

On 바카라사이트 master's scheme, Million+, 바카라사이트 University Alliance and GuildHE all question 바카라사이트 restriction of 바카라사이트 ?10,000 loans to students under 30, stressing that lack of finance is an issue for those of all ages.

They also question 바카라사이트 exclusion from eligibility of those studying at less than 50 per cent of full-time intensity. Million+ says: ¡°The risk is that 바카라사이트 scheme harms flexibility of provision as institutions and students elect to study courses on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 loan scheme eligibility, ra바카라사이트r than on academic needs.¡±

The Russell Group said that it was not intending to circulate its response to 바카라사이트 consultation. The British Academy said it would publish its response later in 바카라사이트 week.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com

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