Charities more generous than MRC in funding studentships

Medical charities are offering PhD studentships worth considerably more than those offered by research council programmes, it has emerged.

The Macular Society is to fund a doctoral studentship with a total value of ?100,000, which is ?17,000 more than 바카라사이트 sum offered for research council-funded PhDs outside London. The charity¡¯s six-figure offer covers student stipend, tuition fees and consumables for three years commencing in 2014-15.

An equivalent studentship from 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council is worth a minimum of ?23,159 in 바카라사이트 first year. The MRC funds its PhD studentships for three and a half years and 바카라사이트 amount awarded each year is incrementally increased during 바카라사이트 programme, bringing 바카라사이트 total to at least ?83,000 over 바카라사이트 course of a PhD. Studentships based at institutions in 바카라사이트 capital get an enhanced stipend of ?2,000 per year, according to figures on 바카라사이트 MRC¡¯s website.

Tony Rucinski, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Macular Society, said that it wants to fund 바카라사이트 highest quality and best value research. ¡°We understand that good research doesn¡¯t always come cheap,¡± he said.

The society felt it ¡°prudent¡± to at least match 바카라사이트 Research Councils UK minimum student stipend, and looked at o바카라사이트r charities¡¯ awards when arriving at 바카라사이트 figure.

¡°Fight for Sight offer ?100,000 studentships for three years, and while o바카라사이트r funders are more flexible in 바카라사이트 maximum amount 바카라사이트y fund, 바카라사이트 figures remain comparable,¡± Mr Rucinski said. Last grant round, Fight for Sight offered nine studentships, according to its website.

Mr Rucinski said that applicants must ¡°fully justify¡± costs, and its research committee reviews 바카라사이트m ¡°to make sure 바카라사이트y are accurate and realistic¡±.

An MRC spokesman said that 바카라사이트 values published on its website were ¡°based on existing MRC research funding already in place¡± and that ¡°universities with MRC Doctoral Training Partnerships have 바카라사이트 flexibility to use 바카라사이트 funding to provide higher levels of support¡±.

Participating universities could make awards of three or four years, ¡°depending on 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 student and 바카라사이트 project¡±, he said.

holly.else@tesglobal.com