COVID-19 information for PhD/Professional Doctorate students and supervisors May 2020

Update from Lindsay O'Dell, Graduate School Director:

The University has agreed a commitment to provide a package of support for postgraduate research students during this uncertain and difficult time.

Funding

The situation, particularly concerning funding for postgraduate research, is complex and has evolved over the past few weeks.

For OU-funded students, the University has put in place a commitment to provide up to 6 months additional funding for students whose funding ceases between 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2021 and who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. This matches the commitment made by UKRI to students funded through Research Council Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training in this cohort. Information for OU-funded students and the form required are available on the COVID-19 – How to Apply for an Extension to PhD Studentship Funding form on the GSN.  

There are further sources of financial support. The University’s hardship funds  supports students who have faced unexpected financial hardship. All directly registered postgraduate research students are able to apply, priority will be given to self-funded students. There is specific hardship funding for international students who are finishing their studies out of their funded period. Students in this category will have already been notified about this. Students whose funding ended recently but before the 1 March this year will also be contacted shortly by the Graduate School.

Research Training, Support and Community

The health and wellbeing of our students is our priority. There are weekly virtual social events and resources for managing health and wellbeing, including counselling services available to all directly registered postgraduate research students. These can be accessed through the Graduate School Network.

The Graduate School has developed resources to support all students during this time, including a special lecture series ‘Researching in lockdown’. The aim is to support students who may be thinking through possible amendments to their project plans. The lectures explore research using online and/or remote methodologies and data collection or discuss issues in rethinking an existing project. Researchers will discuss how their work is undertaken or being adapted. The aim is to showcase research approaches across the disciplines to illustrate the diversity and breadth of approaches rather than to provide subject-specific advice to students. 

Further information and advice will be provided through the Graduate School Network.