UKRI have made an important announcement relating to the support for UKRI funded doctoral students affected by the pandemic. Following a review of the ongoing situation, UKRI have announced that:
- As a result of the pandemic, doctoral research students may need to adapt and adjust their research projects to mitigate the delays caused by the pandemic, and should seek to complete their research to a doctoral standard within their funding period.
- UKRI will be making an additional £19 million available to support the doctoral students across the UK who find it most difficult to adapt and adjust their research project and training plan. This new funding will help students who need it the most, targeted at those who have just entered their final funded year of research.
- Additionally, sector engagement found that disabled students, those with a long-term illness or who have caring responsibilities face greater difficulty adjusting their work. This group may be eligible for additional support, at whatever stage they may be in their studies.
The University is awaiting further communications from UKRI with regards to the governance steps required to obtain the funding, the amount that will be allocated to Southampton and the conditions attached to it.
The University is rapidly working through the practical implications of the revised UKRI policy (including for our own scheme) and will issue further communications as soon as it is practicably possible.
