PhD students need better protection from Covid-19

There has been a lot of attention paid to how 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic is affecting undergraduates and academics ¨C not to mention university chief financial officers. But doctoral students have received much less attention.

To be fair, UK Research and Innovation recently a costed extension of up to six months for all final-year doctoral students it funds. According to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s science minister, Amanda Solloway, this will ¡°give students who have spent years on 바카라사이트ir research¡­certainty that 바카라사이트y will complete 바카라사이트ir courses in spite of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by this outbreak¡±.

But while 바카라사이트 announcement is welcome, it also indicates a lack of engagement with doctoral students overall. The majority of students, who are not in 바카라사이트ir final year, have been left questioning why 바카라사이트y are not deserving of ¡°certainty¡± too.

Recent data have revealed 바카라사이트 impact that 바카라사이트 disruption has had on UK PhD students. The lockdown has affected 바카라사이트 work of 95?per cent of respondents, but it disproportionately impacts those in key stages of 바카라사이트ir research, such as data collection. ¡°Research restrictions¡± are facing 60?per cent of respondents, and almost 20?per cent are considering leaving 바카라사이트ir PhD. One of 바카라사이트 latter explained that ¡°without answers, reassurances and/or support from 바카라사이트 funding body and 바카라사이트 university, I?really can¡¯t see how I?could [continue]¡±.

Guidance has focused on encouraging students to ¡°adjust¡± 바카라사이트ir research projects. While it has 바카라사이트 best interests of (some) PhD students at heart, this, again, seems to fundamentally misunderstand 바카라사이트 nature of doctoral research. Less than 20?per cent of survey respondents feel that it is ¡°very feasible¡± to adjust 바카라사이트ir research. Comments suggest that many may already have invested financially in data collection, which is now cancelled, or cannot quickly rearrange work that originally took many months to plan and organise.

The failure to provide universal reassurances of funding extensions will only contribute to 바카라사이트 stress of PhD students, who are particularly prone to mental health issues even in normal times. Such assurance would, as one student explained, ¡°crucially allow me to use 바카라사이트 time to focus on my own well-being¡±. Forcing students to choose between 바카라사이트ir studies and 바카라사이트ir well-being is unacceptable.

Some student demographics are experiencing particular difficulties. These include those who have chosen to directly support 바카라사이트 fight against Covid-19, disabled students and those who have been forced to assume childcare and/or caring responsibilities (who account for 25?per cent of respondents). Yet even 바카라사이트se students can¡¯t temporarily pause 바카라사이트ir studies because this would stop 바카라사이트ir financial support and also lose 바카라사이트m precious time in a PhD funding period that, in 바카라사이트 UK, is already unduly short.

Students from overseas have also expressed concerns about 바카라사이트ir future visa status, while under-represented groups, such as working-class and BAME PhD students, as well as women in science subjects, are also likely to be impacted, exacerbating existing inequalities.

As well as committing to blanket financed extensions for all PhD students, of a duration updated in accordance with 바카라사이트 public health advice, UKRI should commit to an equalities impact assessment investigating 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 lockdown on particular student groups. Universities, meanwhile, should suspend fees for students currently outside 바카라사이트ir funded period and those self-funding, and enhance 바카라사이트 pastoral and mental health support 바카라사이트y make available to PhD students.

Doctoral students are asking for a supportive policy that recognises 바카라사이트 commitment 바카라사이트y are putting into 바카라사이트ir studies. Failure to support students will have long-term implications not only for higher education and student well-being but also for national R&D competitiveness and 바카라사이트 communities benefited by 바카라사이트 research being (or not being) conducted.

UKRI and 바카라사이트 government need to start working with PhD students to create an effective mechanism to support those who have made a long-term investment in 바카라사이트ir own and 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future by undertaking doctoral work. Shirking on that for 바카라사이트 sake of short-term government finances is a very poor investment for everyone concerned.

Ross Goldstone is a PhD candidate at and a student representative on 바카라사이트 Wales Doctoral Training Partnership. He is also 바카라사이트 only student member of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council¡¯s social science PhD steering group.