Media Releases 2008

30 April 2008

Financial support for research students now on the innovation agenda

Universities Australia supports the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations’ (CAPA) call for the Government to address the need for greater support for postgraduate research students, as part of the Review of the National Innovation System.

According to the figures reported by CAPA, by the end of 2008 the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) stipend will drop below the poverty line.

“The 2006 Student Finances Survey and the recently released Equity and Participation study, both commissioned by Universities Australia, show the difficulties all students, including postgraduates, face in supporting themselves while studying,” Universities Australia CEO, Dr Glenn Withers said today.

In 2006 full time Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students had mean annual expenses of $21,610 while APA scholarships were only funded at $19,231. This means to survive students have had to take on part time work, rely on support from their partner or parents, or take a bank loan. In addition the Student Finances Survey found that:

• 38.3% of HDR students had insufficient savings as back up in the event of serious financial difficulty;
• 45.9% of HDR students used up savings in order to continue their studies; and
• 22.6% of HDR students had some form of loan, with a mean debt level of $7,340.

“Universities Australia has been calling on the Government to exempt all scholarships and bursaries, irrespective of their source of funding, from inclusion as assessable income for the purposes of Centrelink or other benefits. Universities Australia is strongly supportive of CAPA’s call for this change to be implemented,” Dr Withers said.

“Universities Australia is pleased that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation have just announced a new inquiry into Research Training in Australia, that will consider the adequacy of support available to research students as part of its terms of reference,” Dr Withers said.

“If Australia wants to support innovation and redress skills shortages, it is essential that university students have adequate financial resources to complete their degrees and graduate. These people are our future leaders, researchers, academics and professionals,” Dr Withers said.

“The recommendations put forward by CAPA represent an immediate intervention to secure the future of postgraduate students,” Dr Withers said.

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Media Inquiries Rebecca Harris – phone: (02) 6285 8106 or 0400 166691