Studentships - Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers on MRC studentships regarding eligibility, stipends, and DTGs.
Last modified: 21 Sept 2012
Prospective students
Q: Can MRC fund my PhD project?
A: The MRC does not fund students on an individual basis. Instead we fund universities directly, who then allocate the funding to students as they see best. If you would like your PhD to be funded by the MRC, please first check if your institution receives MRC funding.
Q: Is funding available for Masters courses?
A: The Advanced Course Masters competition offers funding for MSc courses which fit within MRC’s scientific remit. The competition is open to course organisers, and funds a number of studentship places over a three years.
Individual student applications are not considered; More details can be found on the Advanced Course Masters competition page and the list of current MRC funding.
Q: Does MRC offer voluntary work placements?
A: There is no centralised scheme to provide voluntary work experience at MRC labs; please contact the centre or unit you would like to spend time at directly to see if opportunities are available.
Doctoral Training Grants
Q: How is a research organisation’s DTG calculated?
A: DTG calculations are based on a research organisation’s MRC funded research grant and fellowship income.
Each year the MRC measures the total funds remaining in grants and fellowships at each research organisation. Those organisations whose total income is above a threshold (set yearly) will then be sent a list of grants and awards which the MRC intends to use in its calculation of the DTG.
The RO has approximately six weeks in which to query the list of grants, after this period the MRC applies an algorithm to distribute available funds amongst the qualifying research organisations.
You do not need to apply for a DTG; by receiving MRC funding from other sources you will automatically be assessed to see if you qualify.
Q: What is the difference between a DTG and a DTA?
A: Each year, qualifying research organisations receive a Doctoral Training Grant (DTG). This grant lasts for four years, so a research organisation may have up to four DTGs running at any one time. It is the combination of these grants that makes up the Doctoral Training Account (DTA). Each DTG starts on 1st October and finishes on 30th September four years later. Once a DTG has finished funds cannot be carried over to another DTG.
Q: How do MRC expect the organisation to allocate funds?
A: MRC encourages research organisations to be strategic with their DTA and not necessarily allocate the funds based on how they were originally determined. That is, the studentships can be used for any research within the remit of MRC; it does not necessarily have to reflect the research being carried out on the qualifying grants.
Q: Who is responsible for the confirmation of awards to students?
A: The research organisation is responsible for the selection of and confirmation of awards to students, according to MRC-set stipulations regarding eligibility and minimum stipend levels.
Q: What can the DTG be used to fund?
A: DTG funds may be used to cover student stipends, fees, project costs and the incidental costs of research training, such as travel and conference attendance. The amounts for each of these headings are decided upon by the individual research organisation and not by the MRC.
Students may be full or part-time. The research organisation may decide on the period of support for individuals (up to four years full time support). Part time awards should not normally be less than 50 per cent of full time. Where the period of support for a student extends beyond the end date of a grant, the balance of support can be provided by the next or subsequent grant or from another source.
Where a student is eligible for a stipend, the stipend awarded must be at least equal to the research councils’ minimum rates for the relevant academic year. The research organisation may, if it wishes, pay a higher level of stipend, provided that it does not overspend the value of the grant.
The allocation of funds for the incidental costs of research training should have regard for the nature and complexity of projects and the need for fieldwork, conferences, broadening training and industrial placements. Individual organisations determine their own policy on how these funds are allocated to students.
Q: Can we use an element of the Doctoral Training Grant to cover additional administrative costs incurred in managing the students?
A: No. The issue of “topslicing” to make provision for the additional costs which may be incurred in staff time administering the awards was discussed at the Training and Career Development Board in July 2007 who did not find it an appropriate use of MRC funding
Eligibility
Q: Who decides on the eligibility of students to receive a stipend?
A: The use of funding to provide full awards or fees-only awards should be in accordance with student eligibility as determined by the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997 and subsequent amendments. An equivalent set of regulations exists for Scotland.
Decisions on a particular student’s eligibility should be made by the research organisation’s registry. Eligibility criteria can be found under student eligibility requirements. When necessary, further guidance may be sought from the MRC Studentships Department.
Q: Are EU students eligible for DTA funding?
A: Yes, students with a relevant connection to an EU country other than the UK are eligible for fees only awards. No stipend is payable and all the fees must be paid from the DTA of a single research council.
An EU national with a relevant connection to the UK may be eligible to receive a stipend. A relevant connection can be established if an individual has been ordinarily resident in the UK throughout the three years preceding the date of application.
Whilst the onus to determine the eligibility of a student is on the research organisation, the studentships section at MRC headoffice may be consulted in more difficult cases.
Q: Are non-EU students eligible for DTA funding?
A: If a student does not have a relevant connection with an EU country they will not be eligible for funding from a DTA.
Q: Can we fund a student who wants to start in September or earlier?
A: Yes, but the research councils will not start the grants earlier on this account, so such students will need to be paid out of other funds until 1st October.
Q: Can part-time students be supported?
A: Part-time studentships from those who wish to combine their research training with work or domestic responsibilities should be encouraged. It is expected that the period of study will reflect the percentage of time spent pursuing doctoral studies; for example, if a typical full-time duration is three years, a part-time student might expect support for up to six years. Part-time studentships should usually be awarded for no less than 50 per cent of full-time, and on the understanding that the approved programme of research training can be carried out effectively.
Part-time arrangements may be particularly suitable for those returning from a career break or who have domestic responsibilities that preclude full-time training.
Stipends and additional funding
Q: How much do we have to pay students?
A: Students receiving a stipend must be paid at least the minimum research council recommended amount (£13,590 outside London and £15,740 in London for 2010-11). Maximum stipend levels, should you wish to pay more, must be agreed with your local tax office. You should allow for about a 2.5 per cent increase each year; exact stipends will be published as soon as they are known. It is not permissible to award a fees only studentship to a student who is eligible to receive a stipend.
Q: Can a student be paid out of the DTA of more than one research council?
A: Where a student is eligible for a full award, at least 50 per cent of the annual cost of the studentship must be drawn from a DTG of a single Research Council. The remaining costs may be funded from other sources such as, another DTG, the research organisation’s own funds, or research partners and industry.
Joint Research Council funding of multidisciplinary awards is possible on the basis of 50:50 funding from two Councils' DTGs; in that case one of the Councils must be designated as the majority funder for monitoring and information purposes.
For a fees-only student, the Councils expect that all of the fees, for the whole PhD period, are paid from the DTA of a single Research Council. Therefore, an EU student who is halfway through their studies can not be supported for only a part of their course.
Q: How can students claim Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA)?
A: Disabled students who, because of their disability, are obliged to incur additional expenditure in connection with their postgraduate training, may be eligible for a Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA). Students should contact the research organisation's Disability Support Officer (DSO) to discuss and agree their needs before applying to the MRC. The DSO may recommend that the student undertakes a needs assessment at a recognised access centre. The assessment, along with the recommendations for support required and exact quotes for all costs, should be submitted to the MRC by the DSO. The MRC will then determine what contribution it is prepared to make.
The allowance varies according to each student’s particular needs. In some circumstances, students may also be eligible to claim an allowance for non-medical personal helpers. Where the student needs to purchase a major item of specialist equipment, it may be possible to reclaim this expenditure.
The DSA will be paid to the institution as a supplement to the DTA.
For further information and the current reclaimable rates, please contact mrcstudents@ssc.rcuk.ac.uk.
Q: Can students claim expenses for overseas fieldwork?
A: Where it is an essential part of a student's training, the MRC will consider contributing towards the costs of overseas fieldwork or visits to foreign organisations. However, the MRC will contribute only in respect of projects that provide students with research training opportunities that are not available in the UK, and where the overseas training was clearly identified from the outset as part of the original studentship project.
Details of the proposed country, proposed dates and length of time where the fieldwork is to take place must be included in a covering letter with the relevant form.
Q: Can we replace students who leave early?
A: Yes, if you have sufficient funds to support a replacement award and adhere to the 50 per cent funding rule.
The research organisation must make suitable arrangements for coping with absences of students for illness, maternity, paternity and holidays. The research organisation must ensure that it is aware of unauthorised absences by students, so that future payments may be stopped and those already made in advance can be recovered where necessary. The period of a student’s support may be extended at the research organisation’s discretion to offset a period of genuine absence, subject to finding the necessary funding from within the research organisation’s Doctoral Training Account.
Q: I have other questions - who can I ask?
A: All student queries regarding funding should be directed to the Host University’s Registry or DTA Coordinator, who will be best placed to advise on available MRC funding.
More detailed queries please contact the studentships department
Email: GPSD@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk