Permanently expand hardship funding to cover postgraduate research students
Category: University Petition
Voting closed
Education President
I presented this petition to the vice-chancellor in November, where I laid out the key arguments for expansion to PGR students.
The additional hardship funding we secured last semester for level 3, international and masters students has now been used up. The only funding currently available is for restricted purposes and can only be used for UK undergraduate students . When more funding becomes available we will be pushing for this to include PGR students.
We are calling for the immediate, permanent expansion of the university hardship fund to postgraduate research students.
Despite the recent expansion of hardship funding to international and masters students, postgraduate research (PGR) students are still unfairly excluded from this support.
Just like undergraduate and master's students, PGR students also face financial hardship, often due to unpredictable, unexpected and unmanageable circumstances.
SMSU’s recent cost-of-living report found that 43% of PGR students are worried about their ability to manage financially, with the same number also worried about the effect the cost-of-living would have on their academic performance. 40% took on debt to make ends meet at some point during the previous academic year.
PGR students are an important part of the St Mary’s community. They bring in tuition fee revenue, support teaching and make a vital contribution to the research profile of the university. It is only fair they have access to the same support as other students.
Provision of hardship funding to PGR students is also common among other small universities.
Comments
To be frank, most undergraduates I have met who applied for/got the hardship fund, do so to subsidize their drinking/party habits. All of the postgraduates who have reached out to me regarding the looking for help have been in real need. Whether it was taking care of an ill family member whilst working and studying at the same time, or because of personal illness and inability to work, when your average postgraduate student asks for help, it because they need it. Whereas -- and this comes from over 4 years at St. Mary's in leadership roles -- 3 years living in halls -- most undergraduates who apply are abusing the system and are not actually in need.