Following on from my recent response to an open letter from postgraduate research (PGR) students, I wanted to write again, as promised, to provide an update on the work UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has been doing to consider whether we could provide additional financial support to UKRI-funded PGR students.
I am pleased to confirm that UKRI will be raising the minimum stipend by an additional 10% on top of the previously announced 2022 to 2023 stipend level, from 1 October 2022. Please see today’s news story for further details.
We committed to reviewing the stipend and how it is set as part of work we are currently progressing on the New Deal for Postgraduate Research. The response from the community to our call for input and the messages we received from students, supervisors, research organisations and mission groups directly and via social media, made it clear that the work on stipends had to be prioritised ahead of other elements of the New Deal for Postgraduate Research.
Our initial plan was to provide a smaller one-off payment to students; however, we have listened to your feedback and worked up our more substantive proposal. We will implement an uplift to the minimum stipend level to provide greater security to students over the longer term.
This work required time to undertake, as UKRI must ensure there are no unintended consequences of our policy changes, and that we are implementing any changes in a balanced, efficient and effective manner. One theme that came through in comments made in response to my open letter was the recognition that enhancing stipends could see fewer students supported overall. This, and many other scenarios and questions are being explored in the work we are prioritising to inform the stipend rates for the 2023 to 2024 academic year, which we will communicate in the spring of 2023.
Looking to the future
As well as increasing the stipend this year, UKRI has committed to reviewing the stipend and how it is set as part of work we are currently progressing on the New Deal for Postgraduate Research. This work is considering:
- the principles by which UKRI funds PGR students
- how UKRI determines the amount PGR students will be paid in the future
- how UKRI’s policies interact with the activities of other government departments.
UKRI funded students should contact their research organisation if they have questions regarding the payment, noting that research organisations may need a little while to implement this policy.
Melanie Welham
Executive Champion for People, Culture and Talent
UK Research and Innovation