Phd Studentship in Scotland - Maternity Support??

[Alby16]

Wondering if anyone has been in the same situation.

Currently in my first year of my PhD. It is a Studentship so I am awarded funding once a month which is on recorded on a payslip.

I have contacted the uni re maternity leave, in which they have told me my payments will be suspended until I return. Am I entitled to any support? Has anyone been in this situation?

Any help appreciated x

Hi Alby. I'm a full time PhD student in England. As we are not technically counted as 'employed', full time PhD students are not entitled to the same rights as employed women.

Who are you funded by? I have a scholarship from my university and they match what the research councils offer (ESRC, NERC, etc), which is 6 months stipend. I am entitled to a 6 month suspension of studies by my university's policy and can apply for more (without funding) if I want. But all of this is discretionary on the part of your funder/university, there aren't any statutory rights at all.

If you have been working in the last year, you might be entitled to Maternity Allowance - you can check for that here www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance I think you have to have worked 26 weeks in the last 66. There's an outside chance that if you're paid through a payslip that could just count as employment and then you'd be entitled to Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay.