Making PhDs staff would worsen money worries, says Russell Group

Moving PhD students on to staff contracts in 바카라사이트 UK will worsen 바카라사이트 financial pressures faced by doctoral candidates as 바카라사이트y struggle with 바카라사이트 cost of living, 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s research lead has argued.

With inflation set to hit 11 per cent this year, pressure is growing on universities and funders to increase 바카라사이트 minimum stipend of ?16,032 for 2022-23, which was set last year when price rises were forecast to be far lower. More than 8,000 people have launched by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) calling on UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to commit an extra ?44 million to ensure that this year¡¯s stipend keeps pace with inflation.

¡°Nobody should have to worry about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can heat 바카라사이트ir homes or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can eat full meals ¨C but unfortunately this is 바카라사이트 reality for many postgraduate researchers that carry out important research and teaching duties for universities,¡± said Ansh Bhatnagar, a physics PhD student at Durham University, who helped organise 바카라사이트 petition on behalf of 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s postgraduate research campaign.

The UCU is also calling for PhD students to be treated as staff, which would guarantee 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 same pension and employment rights as university employees.

However, Colette Fagan, vice-president for research at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said changing 바카라사이트 employment status of PhD students could exacerbate financial hardship, as well as impose new tax, national insurance and pension costs on universities and funders that would likely lead to fewer studentships.

¡°These financial concerns are legitimate things that need to be addressed, but changing 바카라사이트 employment status of PhD students is not 바카라사이트 way,¡± said Professor Fagan, who chairs 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s committee of research leads.

According to 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s on its New Deal for Postgraduate Research, shifting doctoral students to 바카라사이트 ?9.50 an hour minimum wage would require institutions to pay ?19,169 in salary for a 35-hour week. Once income tax, national insurance and pension deductions are made, PhD students would pocket just ?15,720 but become liable for almost ?500 in council tax payments. Universities would also have to pay ?5,373 in pension and tax contributions ¨C adding an additional ?9,312 in costs to all parties, making a PhD almost 60 per cent more costly.

¡°There are finite budgets for charities, UKRI and universities so if costs go up you can only afford it by offering fewer places,¡± said Professor Fagan. ¡°It¡¯s very easy to say universities should just increase 바카라사이트ir budgets, or UKRI or charities should, but it would need a conscious decision at all levels to support postgraduate researchers in a different way.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, Professor Fagan said she welcomed UKRI¡¯s . ¡°There is a recognition that 바카라사이트 stipend is low and we are not providing an adequate level of support for postgraduate researchers ¨C with this situation exacerbated by recent cost increases,¡± she said. ¡°Finances need to be addressed.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com