SLSA urges stipend uplift for all postgrad students
The SLSA Board has issued the following statement with regard to postgraduate funding.
Doctoral researchers are vital and valued members of the socio-legal community. Their success and development is essential to the future of our field. The SLSA is concerned that the current economic crisis is having a severe effect on the ability of many doctoral researchers to sustain themselves and those to whom they have caring commitments. Consistent with our commitment to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion within the legal academy, we note in particular the threat that growing financial hardship poses to the participation of under-represented groups in postgraduate training and research. The disproportionate impact of care labour on women researchers is a specific area of concern.
Promoting the interests and welfare of postgraduate students and other precariously engaged researchers is a key focus for the SLSA, one which is the subject of a current survey and workplan led by our PGR Reps – e
The SLSA notes, however, that a majority of doctoral students in socio-legal studies are not so funded, although they too are affected by the cost-of-living crisis. As such we call on universities and other funders to ensure that these stipends for all students are increased consistent with UKRI’s approach, where they have not done so already. We acknowledge that financial resources are constrained all round, but urge this essential measure of support as a matter of fairness and an investment in the future of social science research.