UK Research and Innovation’s Post

Fantastic news for research students in the UK!   UKRI have made a substantial increase in stipend for UKRI studentships by 8% from 1 Oct 2025 and some significant changes to the doctoral training terms and conditions, that will help support research students with financial, flexibility of study and EDI challenges. And there are more changes coming in 2025.   For those of you who are research supervisors, you can help your students as their first port of call by knowing what support is available to them when life throws challenges their way.   A quick way to keep on top of the latest developments and receive invites to webinars is to sign up to UKRI's new newsletter, in the link below.   Well done, Ewan Nicholas and UKRI colleagues on this big new step forward.   https://lnkd.in/ezRE6t4A

UKRI PhD stipends increasing "to provide an amount at least equivalent to take-home income from the national living wage" 🙃 🙂

Last year UKRI commissioned EDICa to help provide an evidence-based assessment of the likely impact of adopting a set of recommendations from an Advance HE report. We conducted qualitative research in the form of interviews and focus groups, with more than 125 participants. You can now read our full report here: https://lnkd.in/ecWtVAEz We're pleased to see UKRI announcing some improvements to PhD terms and conditions in today's announcement, including medical leave and removing barriers for disabled students getting support. Thank you to everyone who participated in this study, and well done to the report authors James Richards, Kate Sang, Jemina Napier, Dong Lin, Beth Wedgwood and Rebecca Kennedy.

UK Research and Innovation has today announced a series of updates to training grants - including an 8% increase in the minimum stipend paid to UKRI students, and changes to terms and conditions to provide better support for students. Find out more about today's announcements 👇

Fully Funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, United Kingdom Intended beneficiaries: High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire. Each scholarship provides: -Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award -Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by the agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee. -Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,378 per month, or £1,690 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels) – paid and funded by the university. -Warm clothing allowance, where applicable – paid and funded by the university. -Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – paid by the university, funded by the CSC. -Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – paid by the university, funded by the CSC. -Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – paid by the university, funded by the CSC. If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £590 per month for the first child, and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK. If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC. The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK. https://lnkd.in/gnxJfsbD

Finland: Government proposes full-cost fees for non-European students (News reported by University World News) The Finland Government, Ministry of Education and Culture, has proposed amendments to the Universities Act. These include as key highlight to introduce full-cost tuition fees and an application fee for non-European Union (or non-EEA) students. The amendments also address "commissioned education regulations", provision of fee-based training by colleges of vocational education and training and commercial organisations. The proposals are in general scheduled to enter into force on October 2024, but those discussed here regarding application fees and commissioned education, and provisions on the amount of tuition fees to be charged non-EU/EEA students, will enter into force on August 2025. The proposals have faced criticism from universities, student organizations, unions, and businesses. The relevant Minister stated that the aim is to improve financial sustainability and encourage international students to stay in Finland. The ministry also intends to reduce the number of low-quality applications, easing the administrative burden on higher education institutions. Despite concerns about the impact on attracting international students, some stakeholders remain optimistic, believing that the changes will not significantly deter "non-European" (i.e. non-EU/EEA) applicants. Note also the continuing and relentless use of the word "Europe" to mean EU/EEA (or at best Erasmus+ European countries in some contexts). https://lnkd.in/ejhwsiNa

Flinders University Open Door leading in RPL/CPL for veterans in higher education Flinders University Transition to Teacher Package for Veterans – Accelerated Pathway $120,588.89 Department of Veterans' Affairs   OFFICIAL THE HON MATT KEOGH MP MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL   MEDIA RELEASE 18 November 2024 ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION MADE EASIER FOR VETERANS The Albanese Labor Government is making it easier for veterans to pursue higher education through the Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program. Veterans gain valuable skills and experience during their service in the Australian Defence Force however, these are not always readily recognised by education providers. Through the Recognising Prior Learning Grant Program, universities can develop initiatives to better recognise these skills, adapt tertiary credit-mapping frameworks, and create entry pathways for veterans. In this second round of the RPL Grant Program, six universities across the country will share in $700,000 funding, supporting veterans in metropolitan and regional areas. Part of the Government’s $24 million Veteran Employment Program, the RPL Grant Program is providing a total of $1.65 million, over three grant rounds. Applications for the third round of the RPL Grant Program will open in 2025. For more information on the RPL Grant Program and other grant programs, or to receive notifications of future grant opportunities, visit GrantConnect. Learn more about how the Australian Government is supporting veterans’ education and employment at the Veteran Employment Program website.  Recipients of the Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning Grant Program Round 2 (2024-25) MEDIA CONTACT: DVA Media: media.team@dva.gov.au 

Flinders University Open Door leading in RPL/CPL for veterans in higher education Flinders University Transition to Teacher Package for Veterans – Accelerated Pathway $120,588.89 Department of Veterans' Affairs   OFFICIAL THE HON MATT KEOGH MP MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL   MEDIA RELEASE 18 November 2024 ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION MADE EASIER FOR VETERANS The Albanese Labor Government is making it easier for veterans to pursue higher education through the Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program. Veterans gain valuable skills and experience during their service in the Australian Defence Force however, these are not always readily recognised by education providers. Through the Recognising Prior Learning Grant Program, universities can develop initiatives to better recognise these skills, adapt tertiary credit-mapping frameworks, and create entry pathways for veterans. In this second round of the RPL Grant Program, six universities across the country will share in $700,000 funding, supporting veterans in metropolitan and regional areas. Part of the Government’s $24 million Veteran Employment Program, the RPL Grant Program is providing a total of $1.65 million, over three grant rounds. Applications for the third round of the RPL Grant Program will open in 2025. For more information on the RPL Grant Program and other grant programs, or to receive notifications of future grant opportunities, visit GrantConnect. Learn more about how the Australian Government is supporting veterans’ education and employment at the Veteran Employment Program website.  Recipients of the Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning Grant Program Round 2 (2024-25) MEDIA CONTACT: DVA Media: media.team@dva.gov.au 

"I...wonder, given the state of many UK HEIs finances, whether institutions are all too ready to accept overly ambitious projections of online student recruitment and growth." #onlinelearning #onlineeducation #distancelearning #distanceeducation #elearning #highereducation #highered #universities