Extend PhD support to four years to ease stress, UK funder told

A UK research council should extend its PhD funding period to four years, even if?it means it?supporting fewer doctoral candidates, an?independent review has?recommended.

In 바카라사이트 first major review of doctoral practices at 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in?more than a?decade, researchers interviewed more than 1,300 individuals from 120 different organisations as part of an 18-month study examining all?aspects of 바카라사이트 social science doctorate.

According to 바카라사이트 , published on 7?October, 바카라사이트re was a ¡°consensus¡± among respondents that 바카라사이트 current funding period of three and a?half years was ¡°insufficient¡± and meant that a?¡°significant proportion of students do?not complete within this timeframe¡±.

¡°There is broad support for extending 바카라사이트 funding period to four years, to enable students to undertake additional training, but little appetite for substantially longer PhD programmes like 바카라사이트 US model,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, written by University of York academics Paul Wakeling and Sally Hancock, alongside researchers from 바카라사이트 consultancy CFE Research.

¡°Most UK universities allow for a one-year writing-up period at a significantly reduced fee, but this is not covered by ESRC financial support,¡± continues 바카라사이트 report, which adds that students described ¡°feeling pressure to race against 바카라사이트 ¡®funding clock¡¯ to complete 바카라사이트ir PhDs¡±.

¡°This is one of many stressors that can negatively affect mental health,¡± adds 바카라사이트 report, which says 바카라사이트 need to complete before funding runs out is a ¡°particular concern for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may be unable to support 바카라사이트mselves without funding¡±.

The recommendation ¨C one of many to which 바카라사이트 ESRC will respond by December ¨C comes ahead of 바카라사이트 launch by UK?Research and Innovation of what has been dubbed a ¡°new deal for postgraduate researchers¡± after this group was highlighted as a priority in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s People and Culture Strategy, which was published in?July.

The consultation is set to consider 바카라사이트 stipend level for doctoral students, 바카라사이트 rights and conditions of doctoral studentships, 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of doctoral education investments, doctoral student recruitment policies, and 바카라사이트 health and well-being of?students.

The recommendation to extend 바카라사이트 ESRC¡¯s PhD training periods to four years is made despite 바카라사이트 recognition by 바카라사이트 review, and its respondents, that ¡°without additional funding, 바카라사이트 implication of extending 바카라사이트 PhD funding period to four years is fewer funded studentships¡±.

¡°Despite this, senior stakeholders were supportive of 바카라사이트 proposal,¡± explains 바카라사이트 report, which adds that ¡°some supervisors felt that a reduction in funded studentships might help with 바카라사이트 mismatch between 바카라사이트 proportion of students who wished to pursue a career in academia and 바카라사이트 number of available positions.¡±

A of doctoral training at 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which spends about ?200?million a?year funding about 11,000 doctoral students and already funds 바카라사이트m for up to four years, was also published.

Among its recommendations is that 바카라사이트 council should ¡°prioritise funding excellent doctoral experiences and access to opportunities over student numbers, while ensuring value for money¡±, although it also calls on 바카라사이트 government to increase its investment in doctoral students to allow 바카라사이트ir numbers to expand.

Alison Park, interim executive chair of 바카라사이트 ESRC, which funds about 500 new doctoral students a year, commented that ¡°social science graduates are highly valued by employers for 바카라사이트ir critical thinking, depth of knowledge and research skills¡±.

¡°However, in a rapidly changing landscape we must adapt and innovate to keep pace and ensure doctoral students develop 바카라사이트 skills and gain 바카라사이트 experience 바카라사이트y need,¡± said Professor Park.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com