University of Leicester supports postgrad researchers facing cost of living rise

Postgraduate researchers at the University of Leicester will receive a welcome boost in the face of rises in the cost of living.

Leicester is one of the first universities to match the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) stipend increase for postgraduate researchers (PGRs). A stipend is the equivalent of a salary paid to PGR scholarship holders, and is usually non-taxable.

The UKRI will increase the minimum stipend for PGRs by a further 10% to help combat the rising cost of living, from 1 October 2022.

This means, for both UKRI and University of Leicester-funded PGRs, the minimum stipend for the 2022/2023 academic year will now be £17,668 full-time equivalent, an increase of 10% on the previously announced £16,062. 

Around 300 Leicester PGRs will benefit from the stipend increase.

Professor Philip Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, said: “We have matched UKRI’s minimum stipend increase of 10% to help our post-graduate researchers with the challenges presented by the rising cost of living. This increase reflects our commitment to ensure that post-graduate research remains sustainable.

“However, we also recognise that many of our post-graduate researchers are self-funded and will not benefit from this stipend increase, but will still face those rising living costs. To assist those individuals, the University will be increasing its support for them over the coming weeks and months.”