Government announces support for PhD students as a result of coronavirus disruption

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 2020).

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.

Further information on the impact of coronavirus on UKRI-supported research is available at https://www.ukri.org/news/coronavirus-impact-on-ukri-supported-research/