The Students' Union is supporting a campaign for financial equality for Queen Mary PhD students. Find out more and sign the open letter and petition
At a recent Student Council, the Students' Union approved support for a campaign to help Queen Mary PhD students struggling with the cost of living crisis in the context of financial inequality within the Queen Mary community.
This crisis has exacerbated economic hardship for all of us, especially for international and self-funded students, resulting in many PhD students being left behind. Following a successful student-led campaign, UKRI announced an increase of PhD stipends exceeding £2000pa with respect to the previous year. Queen Mary followed suit for internally funded PhD students. Whilst this is a welcome advancement, not all Queen Mary PhD students are UKRI or internally funded, and therefore may not benefit from this increase.
The work of all PhD students should be evaluated on the same basis. However, when a multi-tiered stipend system is in place, and financial hardship (which leads to distress) is not taken into account, this necessary parity amongst PhD students ceases to exist.
Please stand in solidarity with your fellow students by signing this petition and open letter to Queen Mary's Senior Leadership Team:
Sign the petition and open letter
For further information please contact;