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Original poster

Removal of PhD stipend due to part time study. Can they do this?

94 replies

ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 10:16

Hi all,

I am a fully funded (fees and stipend) PhD student just about to return from interruption due to maternity. I am returning part time due to child care. My university administrator has today informed me that my stipend will be stopped if I return part time. This is paid by the university, not an external funding body.

Is there anything I can do? Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
thunderstruckk · 09/01/2023 10:23

Do you have any T&Cs for the stipend at all? If the university has this in their conditions I'm not sure much can be done - did you expect the full stipend or less to be paid? Returning part time will double the remaining time left to get your PhD so I can understand them not being willing to pay the full amount for you to be part time, but I'd maybe expect them to pay half of it for being part time!

Is there a research council you can reach out to for funding options?

Original poster
ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 16:19

Hi @thunderstruckk thank you for replying. There are no T&C’s applied to the stipend as far as I can find in any of the documents, such as the contract or offer letter.

I was absolutely not expecting to be paid the full stipend. But I’m amazed that they won’t pay part of it, proportionally to part time hours.

The head of postgraduate research has confirmed that they are withdrawing my stipend if I chose to go part time.

It’s not a choice though, as I can’t afford to put my baby into nursery full time. It costs more than my monthly stipend is.

This feels like I’m being discriminated against because I had a baby.

OP posts:
Rainbowshine · 09/01/2023 16:49

This feels like I’m being discriminated against because I had a baby.

I am flabbergasted that they think that this is reasonable in this day and age! It disproportionately impacts women. I’d ask if they have carried out an equality impact assessment on the full time requirement for the stipend as this could amount to direct or indirect discrimination towards women and carers or older workers (E.g. the groups that dominate the part time workforce).

UsingChangeofName · 09/01/2023 16:55

I presume the money for your stipend will be part of a much wider grant application to which the person or team who applied for the grant is having to meet deadlines.
Presumably your maternity leave has already put the research behind where it should be (or others have had to pick up the work they had been expecting you to do) whilst you were on maternity leave.
Equality laws mean they have had to suck that up.
However, the work and research you have been engaged to do will still need to be done. I am not convinced that anyone has the right to work half the hours they were engaged to work, where it has a detrimental effect on the business - in this case the research they need you to do.

drpet49 · 09/01/2023 16:58

UsingChangeofName · 09/01/2023 16:55

I presume the money for your stipend will be part of a much wider grant application to which the person or team who applied for the grant is having to meet deadlines.
Presumably your maternity leave has already put the research behind where it should be (or others have had to pick up the work they had been expecting you to do) whilst you were on maternity leave.
Equality laws mean they have had to suck that up.
However, the work and research you have been engaged to do will still need to be done. I am not convinced that anyone has the right to work half the hours they were engaged to work, where it has a detrimental effect on the business - in this case the research they need you to do.

Exactly this.

KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 16:59

This feels like I’m being discriminated against because I had a baby.

Yes, that's what it is- in other words, indirect sex discrimination. This wouldn't be acceptable if you were an employee- they would have to give an application to go PT proper consideration and provide reasons for refusal.

I'd be making a formal complaint and, if that got nowhere, taking legal advice. Can your student union provide any support?

titchy · 09/01/2023 17:03

As @UsingChangeofName said they will have received say 3 x £20k for your fees and stipend over the term of the project. Once the project has ended, and they are fixed term projects, they have to have shown all the £ has been used. Obvs if you're only PT, then you cannot be paid as a FT.

Essentially it's the equivalent of asking to reduce your hours if you were an employee and the employer saying they have business reasons for not accommodating you.

caroleanboneparte · 09/01/2023 17:06

How did you not know this?

It's a huge barrier to women/mothers doing postgrad. You only get funding for full time. If you want to do part timer you have to self fund.

Just go back full time and claim childcare costs.

blitzen · 09/01/2023 17:08

Speak to Pregnant then Screwed

EdithWeston · 09/01/2023 17:10

If employment, when you return from maternity leave, you have the right to your previous post (in your case a full time role)

And you have the right to request flexible working (such as going part time). But your employer does not have to agree to that, provided there is a sound business reason why your request cannot be met.

So this will not necessarily be a discrimination case, even though this isn't employment as such. Have you found out the reasons they are not supporting a part-time return?

If it's a blanket policy, then you should seek to appeal against it. If however it's been decided on the basis of your specific role, it's still worth an appeal but you need to be realistic about the outcomes

Original poster
ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 17:11

caroleanboneparte · 09/01/2023 17:06

How did you not know this?

It's a huge barrier to women/mothers doing postgrad. You only get funding for full time. If you want to do part timer you have to self fund.

Just go back full time and claim childcare costs.

Claim them from where?

OP posts:
titchy · 09/01/2023 17:36

caroleanboneparte · 09/01/2023 17:06

How did you not know this?

It's a huge barrier to women/mothers doing postgrad. You only get funding for full time. If you want to do part timer you have to self fund.

Just go back full time and claim childcare costs.

Actually yes as a FT student you should I think be able to claim a lot of your childcare costs. Or use the PhD loan?

titchy · 09/01/2023 17:37

Claim the same way UG claim the housing and childcare bits of UC.

Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:40

It is only discrimination if they allowed other part timers to be paid the stipend. If they do not then it’s not discrimination.

tne fact the op cannot afford child care is not a reason foe her to be entitled to it. She will only be entitled based on the policy and what others have had for part time study

Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:44

Rainbowshine · 09/01/2023 16:49

This feels like I’m being discriminated against because I had a baby.

I am flabbergasted that they think that this is reasonable in this day and age! It disproportionately impacts women. I’d ask if they have carried out an equality impact assessment on the full time requirement for the stipend as this could amount to direct or indirect discrimination towards women and carers or older workers (E.g. the groups that dominate the part time workforce).

It disproportionately impacts anyone who cannot afford to or does not wish to work full time. Having a baby and being skint is sadly not a magic entitlement card.

op habe you checked all your benefits you’re entitled to?

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 09/01/2023 17:46

Did you not discuss this before your maternity leave? Stipends are for full time PhDs and not part time. I am part time and am not entitled to anything. It's not a job where you get paid a salary, it's funding for academic research. I am not 100% sure but it might be a legal thing as full time student status means you are entitled to certain things in tax, council tax discounts etc, but part time you cannot legally be considered a student.

tappinginto2023 · 09/01/2023 17:48

Can you share the childcare/childcare costs with the father of your child?
I know of (mainly couples to be fair) where the childcare costs out-way the salary of one of the parents, but not across the couple if that makes sense?

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 09/01/2023 17:49

Plus they might need the research completing (for academic or government funding reasons) and can't just double the timescales!

daisyjgrey · 09/01/2023 17:56

Can you apply for a partial amount of the phd loan? You can't receive it as well as a stipend but if there's no stipend then you may get a % of it.

JudyGemston · 09/01/2023 18:02

ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 16:19

Hi @thunderstruckk thank you for replying. There are no T&C’s applied to the stipend as far as I can find in any of the documents, such as the contract or offer letter.

I was absolutely not expecting to be paid the full stipend. But I’m amazed that they won’t pay part of it, proportionally to part time hours.

The head of postgraduate research has confirmed that they are withdrawing my stipend if I chose to go part time.

It’s not a choice though, as I can’t afford to put my baby into nursery full time. It costs more than my monthly stipend is.

This feels like I’m being discriminated against because I had a baby.

Is the baby’s father in the picture? If not can you make a claim with CMS? Childcare is an expense that should be shared between both parents.

Zodfa · 09/01/2023 18:03

titchy · 09/01/2023 17:03

As @UsingChangeofName said they will have received say 3 x £20k for your fees and stipend over the term of the project. Once the project has ended, and they are fixed term projects, they have to have shown all the £ has been used. Obvs if you're only PT, then you cannot be paid as a FT.

Essentially it's the equivalent of asking to reduce your hours if you were an employee and the employer saying they have business reasons for not accommodating you.

Except that in this case the "business reason" is entirely down to university funding bollocks. Nobody would be any worse off if things were organised differently.

Viviennemary · 09/01/2023 18:09

Does the university offer any kin of subsidised childcare. Its a difficult position but even employed people dont have the absolute right to return part-time. Did you not discuss this before your leave. From their point of view the grant will be for a fixed period.

Original poster
ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 18:09

I’ve just checked on the government website. I’m not entitled to any childcare help.

Baby’s dad and I are married. It still isn’t affordable.

OP posts:
KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 18:10

Essentially it's the equivalent of asking to reduce your hours if you were an employee and the employer saying they have business reasons for not accommodating you.

Employers have a duty to consider a PT application and provide reasons for refusal. There's no suggestion that this has been done for OP- it sounds more like a flat no.

Hard to say much more without knowing a lot more about the nature of her work. PP seem to have assumed that she's part of a larger 3y research project but she hasn't said that anywhere. Arts/humanities PhDs are often solo projects with a lot more flexibility.

Original poster
ElfHasBeenSilly · 09/01/2023 18:11

KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 18:10

Essentially it's the equivalent of asking to reduce your hours if you were an employee and the employer saying they have business reasons for not accommodating you.

Employers have a duty to consider a PT application and provide reasons for refusal. There's no suggestion that this has been done for OP- it sounds more like a flat no.

Hard to say much more without knowing a lot more about the nature of her work. PP seem to have assumed that she's part of a larger 3y research project but she hasn't said that anywhere. Arts/humanities PhDs are often solo projects with a lot more flexibility.

It is a solo project in the humanities.

The request has not been considered and reasons have not been given for the refusal. It is a flat no.

OP posts: