UTAS PhD researchers unite to call on the federal government to increase stipend

‘If we continue to let PhDs suffer, people are going to drop out’ is the message from one UTAS academic calling for an increase in stipends for him and his peers.

UTAS Sandy Bay campus signage. Members of Save UTAS campus supporters group in relation to the Hobart City Council elector poll gauging public support of the campus move from Sandy Bay to the city. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A University of Tasmania (UTAS) PhD researcher says he knows colleagues who have resorted to bin diving for food as they struggle to survive on their current stipend.

The federal government determines the rates universities pay their PhDs through its Research Training Program stipend.

The stipend base rate for 2024 is $32,192, and the maximum is $50,291, with Australian universities able to pay their PhD researchers anywhere between those amounts.

When asked by the Mercury, UTAS did not reveal the rate it paid, but PhD candidate Micah Landon-Lane said he was given the minimum stipend.

UTAS PhD candidate Micah Landon-Lane. Picture: Supplied.

He and some of his other colleagues have formed a group called Fair Go For PhDs.

Mr Landon-Lane said he and his peers struggled on the current stipend, which is around $619 weekly.

“What it looks like day-to-day is that people are really having to cut costs wherever they can. I’ve met PhDs who have been bin diving for food.”

He said there was a misconception that PhD researches were “students sucking up resources”.

“To do a PhD, you need to have studied for at least four years, and it’s a competitive process to get a PhD.

“It’s essentially like a job, but it’s just that we’re not treated like employees. We’re not asking for charity.

“We are responsible for more than half of Australia’s research output, so we’re actually productive, and we are the people that are being employed in industry, academia and NGOs with specialist expertise as well.

“If we continue to let PhDs suffer, people are going to drop out.”

UTAS Professor Graeme Zosky after a new study has shown silica is not the only component found in engineered stone products which can pose serious concerns for lung health. Picture: Chris Kidd

UTAS Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Graeme Zosky said it had been pushing the federal government to increase the PhD stipends.

“The university has a range of supports available to our PhD students, including access to emergency grants for those facing financial hardship as we understand that the current cost of living pressures are making the financial situation particularly acute for many PhD students,” Professor Zosky said.

“Our PhD students are integral to the university’s research environment and to the fabric of our university culture, and we have argued for an increase to the funding provided via the Research Training Program to universities to allow for an increase of PhD stipends.

“The implementation of the Australian Universities Accord provides the ideal opportunity to make this change.”

Minister for Education, Jason Clare during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Education Minister Jason Clare said the accord was “a blueprint for higher education for the next decade and beyond”.

“Funding it and implementing it is going to take more than just one budget,” Mr Clare said.

“This year’s budget is the first stage, responding to 29 of the 47 recommendations, in full or in part.

“The government will consider other recommendations in due course.”

Originally published as UTAS PhD researchers unite to call on the federal government to increase stipend