Cost-of-living crisis hitting PGRs hard

Postgraduate researchers and the cost-of-living crisis [736kb]

This report was written in response to a call for evidence from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Students into how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting students, launched by APPG Chair Paul Blomfield MP in January 2023. We wanted to make sure the voice of PGRs, holding 'student' status, was included in this inquiry, as they are too often left out.

Key findings:

• 58% of respondents say they are feeling the pressure of rising costs 'to a great extent', and a further 39% say 'to some extent'
• Self-funded/unfunded PGRs, international/migrant PGRs and disabled, chronically ill and/or neurodivergent PGRs are feeling the pressure more
• Energy costs, groceries and rent are the most pressing costs for PGRs, and they are also facing pressure from mortgage payments, healthcare costs, travel costs, childcare costs, university fees and visa/immigration fees
• Almost 40% of respondents had experienced some kind of problem with getting their stipend and pay for other work paid to them. Problems included late payment, incorrect payment, and universities and funders refusing to match the UKRI stipend uplift for 2022/23
• PGRs reported a lack of information about the availability of hardship funds from their universities. Of those who had applied to a hardship fund, 80% said their experience was either negative or very negative. They told us about restrictive rules and means testing that made it impossible to apply, and a high burden of proof which left them feeling humiliated and exhausted
• 80% of PGRs had another job alongside their PhD, rising to 90% for self-funded/unfunded PGRs, but falling to under 75% for international/migrant PGRs, possibly because of visa restrictions on permissible hours of work. Many PGRs were looking to take on more work in response to the crisis, but the impact of this could be substantial: over a third of respondents told us they were very worried about being able to balance their PhD with other work responsibilities, and a further 42% said they were worried to some extent
• We asked PGRs what one thing they would tell government, universities and/or funders to do to support them during the cost-of-living crisis. Responses most commonly referenced raising pay, increasing other financial support, offering help with housing including rent caps, extending rights and entitlements, including access to state benefits, to all PGRs, cutting fees and addressing the impact of heavy and stressful workloads coupled with financial stress on health and well-being.

Postgraduate researchers and the cost-of-living crisis [736kb]

For more information please contact Ellie Munro, UCU PGRs as Staff Campaign Co-Lead.