<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336580</docID> <postdate>2025-01-17 08:20:34</postdate> <headline>PhD students living ‘in poverty’, risking research</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336581" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20160922001283992525-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>PhD enrolments in Australia dropped eight per cent between 2018 and 2023, according to research. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Australia's brightest minds are being forced to live in poverty as they pursue PhDs, a report says, risking Australia's research output and future economic growth.</strong></p> <p>Domestic PhD enrolments dropped eight per cent between 2018 and 2023, despite Australia's population growing by over seven per cent in the same period, a report released by Universities Australia and the Australian Council of Graduate Research reveals.</p> <p>Despite an increase in the PhD stipend, the payments are still inadequate for many prospective candidates.</p> <p>For Kate O'Hara, who is undertaking a PhD in biological sciences at the Australian National University, even a $10,000 top-up payment from the CSIRO was not enough to survive, given the rising cost of living.</p> <p>"I mean, it's still not even going to be minimum wage," she told AAP.</p> <p>"Unless you work significant hours on top of the stipend, you're just not going to be able to get by unless you've got family or your partner supporting you.</p> <p>"A lot of people work, and they work quite a lot on top of it, and of course, that just increases the length of time that it takes."</p> <p>With students often required to spend more than 40 hours a week on their PhD, taking on extra work on top of caring for a family is simply not an option.</p> <p>As a result, many potential candidates were being deterred from pursuing a PhD, Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said.</p> <p>"PhD students contribute enormously to Australia's research output and innovation," he said.</p> <p>"It is unacceptable to expect them to live in poverty while driving breakthroughs that fuel our economy and progress.</p> <p>"Without urgent reforms, we'll continue to see PhD enrolment numbers decline, something Australia can ill afford at a time when we need to produce more skilled workers."</p> <p>He called for an increase to the stipend to make research degrees more accessible, as well as enabling students to access government benefits like paid parental leave.</p> <p>"The average enrolled PhD candidate is 37 years old, juggling significant financial responsibilities like families and mortgages," Mr Sheehy said.</p> <p>The PhD stipend was just $32,192 a year in 2024, well below the average annual full-time salary of more than $100,000.</p> <p>Australian Council of Graduate Research president Louise Sharpe said fixing the financial barriers for PhD students would allow untapped potential to boost the nation's research efforts.</p> <p>"With the right incentives, these students could address critical workforce shortages and strengthen our research and innovation sectors," Professor Sharpe said.</p> <p>Ms O'Hara said more flexibility for students to pursue their PhDs part time would enable candidates to work or care for family members outside of their study.</p> <p>She also said students would benefit from more opportunities to teach at universities alongside their PhDs as an extra source of income.</p> </body>