 By Graham Trickey, Editor, Prospects. Studentships that include teaching responsibilities are one of the main channels of institutional support for a fortunate minority of postgraduates. Teaching undergraduates certainly beats shelf-filling at Tesco as an activity that complements study. The drawback is that although studentships tied to teaching exist in many university departments, they come up in ones and twos and are usually only for research students. Some part-time hours may also be offered on an ad hoc basis to research students as there are increasing numbers of undergraduates who need teaching. Six hours a week is the maximum in order to leave time for study. The other way in which institutions support their postgraduates from their own funds is through bursaries. These may pay for course fees or contribute to living costs, and the most generous ones do both. Again the numbers are very small although this time the funding is not restricted to research students. A rash of bursary schemes are currently being created but, gallingly, these are for undergraduates who are now regarded as being even more deserving than postgraduates. Generally the chance of postgraduates receiving any institutional support is much greater in scientific and technological subjects, where departments’ links to private companies and commercial work yield resources. This month’s spending review settlement for science of £1.25 billion will further strengthen the position of science and technology in universities as well as increasing support for science postgraduates from the centrally funded Research Councils. At present, many university departments, including those pursuing scientific subjects, are suffering because of cuts previously imposed on funding for research by staff. As a result of the spending review, research funding in departments will be restored from 2003. If lecturers are able to spend more time on research, departments will need to buy in cover for teaching - and poverty-stricken research students will be very willing to offer their services. Related topics
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