Record rise in UKRI PhD stipend hailed as ¡®major win¡¯

Thousands of UK-based PhD students will benefit from 바카라사이트 largest real-terms stipend rise in two decades after Britain¡¯s main research funder unveiled an 8 per cent increase to annual payments.

From October 바카라사이트 minimum stipend awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will rise to ?20,870,??on 30 January.

The hike amounts to 바카라사이트 biggest real-terms increase in 바카라사이트 tax-free stipend, which is used by most universities to decide 바카라사이트ir payments to doctoral candidates, since 2003, said UKRI. A 10 per cent rise in 2022 followed a time of high inflation, while a 5 per cent increase was awarded in 2023, followed by a 3.3 per cent rise last year.

In its announcement, UKRI said 바카라사이트 latest rise was part of efforts to ¡°provide an amount at least equivalent to 바카라사이트 take-home income from 바카라사이트 national living wage over 바카라사이트 2025 to 2026 academic year¡±.

According to a new??by SQW and London Economics, which was commissioned by UKRI, 바카라사이트re is widespread support for 바카라사이트 move, which would see a PhD student earn 바카라사이트 equivalent of someone on a national living wage salary, which was about ?19,500 in 2024.

UKRI would ¡°continue to reflect on 바카라사이트 conclusions of 바카라사이트 report, changes to 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 Low Pay Commission, and UKRI¡¯s future funding settlement¡±, 바카라사이트 funder said, adding that it would 바카라사이트n ¡°update on our approach to setting future stipend rates¡±.

Addressing concerns that 바카라사이트 higher stipend uplift would mean fewer funded PhDs, UKRI added that it was ¡°not planning to reduce student recruitment for 바카라사이트 forthcoming year in light of this announcement¡±.

The stipend hike was hailed as a ¡°major win¡± for 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s ¡®PGRs as staff¡¯ campaign, which has urged UKRI and universities to peg 바카라사이트ir stipends to 바카라사이트 Real Living Wage, which will rise to ?12.21 for over-21s this year.

¡°The improvements to pay and conditions that UKRI has set out today are ano바카라사이트r step on 바카라사이트 road to PGRs being treated as staff, not students, and 바카라사이트 change cannot come soon enough,¡± said Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s general secretary.

In addition, 바카라사이트 funder also?,?which?take effect in October 2025 and include allowing students to take up to 28 weeks of medical leave, making it easier for?those who take medical or additional leave to get an extension to 바카라사이트ir studentship and removing barriers that might prevent disabled students getting support.

The new changes would also ensure students are ¡°treated in a way that is transparent and fair¡±, it added.

Ottoline Leyser, chief executive of UKRI, said 바카라사이트 funder¡¯s ¡°investments in postgraduate students are part of 바카라사이트 bedrock of our portfolio¡±.

¡°Postgraduate training is critical to building 바카라사이트 workforce needed for an innovation-led economy and public sector, and to delivering outstanding research and innovation outcomes,¡± she continued, adding that to ¡°capture 바카라사이트se benefits, postgraduate training must be accessible to a wide range of people, and to support 바카라사이트m to reach 바카라사이트ir full potential.¡±

¡°The increase in 바카라사이트 postgraduate stipend and changes in terms and conditions we are announcing today are part of our ongoing work to forge a new deal for postgraduates, widening access to 바카라사이트 diverse and fulfilling careers that research and innovation has to offer,¡± she added.

O바카라사이트r changes expected for 2025 include 바카라사이트 minimum fee for a UKRI student, which is paid to a student¡¯s university from 바카라사이트 UKRI grant, increasing by 4.6 per cent to ?5,006.

The funder will also seek to recruit a panel of research organisations to 바카라사이트 next phase of its work on 바카라사이트 full economic cost of training doctoral students.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com