UKRI-funded PhD students whose studies have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic will be provided with additional support
Government announces support for PhD students as a result of #coronavirus disruption
UKRI-funded PhD students whose studies have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic will be provided with additional support, announced Science Minister Amanda Solloway today (Thursday 9 April).
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded doctoral students in their final year will receive an extension to their research with additional grants, known as a costed extension, of up to six months providing them with peace of mind that they will be able to complete their studies.
The extension offer will apply to final year PhD awards that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is in addition to the guidance already published by UKRI, including advising research organisations on how existing grants can be used to support their students.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said:
“The extra six months study funding announced today will give students who have spent years on their research, and who in some cases are helping in the fight against coronavirus, certainty that they will be able to complete their courses in spite of the disruption caused by this outbreak. We are committed to investing in the future of our world-leading science and research community.”
Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, Executive Chair of UKRI’s Natural Environment Research Council, said:
“We know the COVID-19 pandemic has led to major interruptions to research and innovation and we appreciate that many of the doctoral students we support are concerned about completing their studies.
“We have listened carefully to those concerns and have been working to identify the financial support we can provide.
“We will continue to work with government, and with the universities, research organisations, and businesses we support to identify and understand issues and to help provide further support where we can.”
UKRI will continue to engage with the wider sector about the implementation of the extension and to identify and understand future impact.
The extension will be reviewed in four months’ time to ensure that any further impacts to doctoral training are taken into account.
The extension offer applies to students whose course is due to be completed by 31 March 2021.
Further detailed guidance will be made available by UKRI as soon as possible.
Russell Group response to additional support for UKRI-funded PhD students
In response to the announcement that UKRI-funded PhD students whose studies have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic will be provided with additional support, Stephanie Smith, Head of Policy (Research and International) at the Russell Group said:
“We welcome the announcement of additional support for UKRI-funded PhD students. Providing fully costed extensions of up to six months will give much needed stability to final year doctoral students affected by the response to the COVID-19 virus threat. We are pleased to see a commitment to review the extension in four months, giving an opportunity to see if additional support is required.
“Universities will continue to work with government and funders on steps to enable researchers to conduct their work in the face of this unprecedented crisis. UKRI has shown firm leadership at this time and we hope to see support for other researchers whose work has been disrupted by COVID-19. Investing in this workforce will be vital in ensuring the UK’s research and innovation base is maintained and able to recover as quickly as possible from the virus for the benefit of the economy and society.”
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