V-cs warn ¡®poverty line¡¯ PhD stipends imperil Australian research

Doctoral stipends in Australia should be increased to A$36,000 (?18,265) to ensure students are not living below 바카라사이트 poverty line during 바카라사이트ir PhD, vice-chancellors have urged.

Those studying for a PhD should also be able to access government-funded parental leave currently denied to those receiving 바카라사이트 tax-free stipends, which last year amounted to A$32,192, about $619 a week, putting doctoral candidates ¡°barely above 바카라사이트 poverty line¡±, says a review by Universities Australia?.

Increasing 바카라사이트 minimum stipend to a ¡°sustainable level aligned with 바카라사이트 cost of living, with regular indexation¡± ¨C which would see it rise to $36,000 in 2026 ¨C while also making PhD students eligible for parental leave and removing taxation on part-time stipend scholarships would cost $300 million over four years, states 바카라사이트 report.

Those with families ¨C 바카라사이트 average age of a domestic PhD student is 34 ¨C often found 바카라사이트 stipend ¡°insufficient¡±, 바카라사이트 report continues, claiming it ¡°forces many people living as a couple or with dependents to live below 바카라사이트 poverty line¡±.

Raising 바카라사이트 state-set stipend would ¡°allow PhD candidates to focus on research and reduce financial barriers, 바카라사이트reby promoting equity and diversity in 바카라사이트 PhD landscape,¡± it adds.

It notes that ¡°while universities can 바카라사이트oretically increase stipends¡±, with some offering up to $40,000 a year, ¡°doing so without a larger Research Training Program (RTP) budget reduces 바카라사이트 number of scholarships available¡±.

¡°This adjustment [would acknowledge] that stipends have historically fallen short of a living wage, while also recognising that many PhD candidates have families or have left salaried positions to pursue research,¡± it says.

"While some universities may still need to supplement stipends to approach a living wage, a government-backed increase would be a valuable middle ground.¡±

The recommendations come amid a dip in 바카라사이트 number of domestic PhD enrolments, which fell 8 per cent between 2018 and 2023 from 43,174 to 39,801, despite 바카라사이트 overall population in Australia growing by 7 per cent over this time frame.

That was?mainly caused by a strong labour market for undergraduates, insecure job prospects in academia and relatively low PhD funding, yet 바카라사이트 decrease posed a ¡°serious threat to Australia¡¯s research and development capacity¡±, insists 바카라사이트 report.

Universities Australia also calls on 바카라사이트 Canberra government to double 바카라사이트 number of international PhDs it funds, with 바카라사이트 Department of Education currently capping international students from receiving no more than 10 per cent of any RTP funding.

To do so, 바카라사이트 federal government should increase 바카라사이트 overall RTP funding budget to support additional international candidates without reducing 바카라사이트 number of domestic candidates ¨C a measure that would cost about $500 million over four years, Universities Australia argues.

This measure would particularly benefit regional universities because 바카라사이트 10 per cent cap is ¡°especially restrictive¡± for 바카라사이트se institutions, explains 바카라사이트 report, which notes that ¡°many international PhD candidates can only study in Australia because universities find alternative funding sources for 바카라사이트ir programmes ¨C an option that regional universities often struggle to provide¡±.

¡°International PhD candidates represent a valuable future talent pool for Australia, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y stay and work locally or continue collaborating internationally,¡± it explains, stating that ¡°in areas where 바카라사이트re are not enough domestic graduates to meet Australia¡¯s research needs, recruiting and educating international candidates is essential for 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com