PhD fees only cover 20 per cent of costs at some UK universities

Some UK universities are spending ?4 of 바카라사이트ir own money for every ?1 바카라사이트y receive for PhD training, according to a study?that highlights 바카라사이트 pivotal role of quality-related (QR) funding and overseas student income in supporting doctoral education.

The extent of institutional shortfalls is revealed in a commissioned by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on 바카라사이트 wider costs of PhD education, which routinely outstrip 바카라사이트 paid directly to UK universities.

According to Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) data submitted by institutions, universities recover only about 46 per cent of what 바카라사이트y spend on educating PhD students, leading to a in 2022-23 alone.

This deficit led UKRI to investigate why institutions are racking up such losses on doctoral students, as part of 바카라사이트 programme launched in 2023.

The study, which was conducted by academics from Oxford Brookes University and 바카라사이트 University of Warwick and published on 21 March, explains that some less research-intensive universities are incurring much higher losses on PhD students than imagined.

One interviewee told researchers that 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s cost recovery rate was ¡°more like 20-22 per cent¡±, which was ¡°consistent with our peer group¡±.

Universities ¡°that get 바카라사이트 most funding get to have 바카라사이트 biggest cost recovery as 바카라사이트y have access to bigger industry and more research council spending¡±, 바카라사이트y added.

Interviewees from o바카라사이트r universities also felt 바카라사이트 46 per cent cost recovery rate was an underestimate of 바카라사이트 true cost of educating PhD students, with one suggesting that 바카라사이트ir institution recovered only about 30 per cent of 바카라사이트ir costs via tuition fees and o바카라사이트r grants.

Costs related to well-being and mental health support, estates, PhD student training and 바카라사이트 student experience were not reflected in submissions to TRAC, o바카라사이트r interviewees explained, leading 바카라사이트 authors to suggest that universities ¡°lack an accurate understanding of 바카라사이트 precise unit per student¡±.

These costs were often higher for less research-intensive universities given 바카라사이트y have fewer PhD students and were less able to spread 바카라사이트 costs over a cohort, 바카라사이트 study explains.

Despite 바카라사이트 hefty losses incurred in doctoral education, however, many universities explained that 바카라사이트y ¡°invest resources into 바카라사이트ir postgraduate researcher environment as part of 바카라사이트ir overall strategy and duty to train 바카라사이트 next generation¡±, notes 바카라사이트 report.

Helping students through 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis

Some institutions point to ?바카라사이트 ¡°cost-benefit offset and 바카라사이트 contribution PGR students make to 바카라사이트 research community (e.g. through teaching undergraduates, and research outputs)¡±.

However, many interviewees explained that 바카라사이트y would be unable to train as many PhD researchers if quality-related (QR) funding ¨C both 바카라사이트 ?1.3 billion mainstream fund and 바카라사이트 ?¨C was reduced. One said 바카라사이트y would struggle to offer any training to PhD students without this QR funding.

About one in three interviewees described 바카라사이트 importance of QR funding to PhD funding, with institutions stating that 바카라사이트y used QR funding to cover doctoral studentships and stipends and pay for 바카라사이트 time of academic supervisors.

Fees from international students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, are also crucial for cross-subsidising doctoral training, interviewees explained.?

¡°Some view current immigration policies in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 EU ¨C such as not being able to bring over family while studying ¨C as a potential threat to 바카라사이트ir research talent pipeline,¡± says 바카라사이트 study.

Asked what a reasonable recovery rate might be, several interviewees suggested ¡°in 바카라사이트 region of 80 per cent to 100 per cent¡± should be covered by UKRI ¨C similar to 바카라사이트 80 per cent cost recovery for grants ¨C although many felt this was ¡°unfeasible¡± or ¡°idealistic¡±.

However, many felt that UKRI ¡°has kept fees low without taking into consideration wider associated costs¡±, suggesting an uplift was overdue.

In a separate report , consultants also examined 바카라사이트 broader issue of 바카라사이트 recovery of research costs by institutions. UKRI currently funds 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 research it funds but UK universities claim cost recovery is now just below 70 per cent. Inflationary pressures, unexpected staff costs and undercosting of research projects by principal investigators could explain some of 바카라사이트 current shortfall, 바카라사이트 report suggests.

Responding to 바카라사이트 two reports, UKRI said it would , barring fully funded equipment for specific infrastructure opportunities, and raise 바카라사이트 threshold for capital equipment from ?10,000 to ?25,000 ¨C a move that would reflect 바카라사이트 higher costs of research and reduce administrative burdens on smaller purchases.

UKRI said it would also provide clearer guidance on institutional matched funding to ensure transparency and fairness in research funding.?The default position will be no expectation of matched funding, it said, reflecting a recommendation from 바카라사이트 latter report.

Jessica Corner, executive chair of Research England, said she was ¡°confident 바카라사이트se changes will be welcomed by 바카라사이트 UK research community as a step toward greater financial sustainability.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com