Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced a national review of state support for Ph.D. researchers.
The study will begin next month and will be concluded early next year. A robust evidence base is to inform the review.
The scope of the review will include:
- Current Ph.D. researcher supports including financial supports (stipends, SUSI supports and others)
- The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements across research funders and higher education institutions, including equity and welfare considerations
- The status of Ph.D. researchers (student, employee) including a review of international comparators and models
- Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports
- Graduate outcomes for Ph.D. graduates including return on investment/benefits to the researcher
- Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students
The stipend given to most doctoral researchers in higher education is a standard rate of €18,500.
There are about 4,000 research students in receipt of externally funded stipends from the exchequer and 2,000 more who are internally funded through the budgets of individual universities.
Payments for most Ph.D. researchers were cut after the financial crash as an austerity measure but were never fully restored.
“I am pleased to announce a national review of the supports for Ph.D. researchers. I have met with these researchers over the past year who have made it clear there are a range of issues facing them. Some of these are financial but there are broader issues too,” Harris said.
“This review will hear from the frontline. Its first step will be to engage with relevant stakeholders including Ph.D. researchers, host institutions, research funders, employers and relevant Government departments such as Health, Agriculture, Food & Marine and Justice,” he said.
“We want Ireland to be a leader in talent. In order to do that, we have to ensure that our brightest talent here in Ireland can pursue their research ambitions in a supportive environment. I look forward to receiving the report’s recommendations in early 2023.”