All international postgraduate students can now apply for funded PhD programmes under the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) from the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. The public funder updated the eligibility criteria that hold such students eligible for a stipend to ease the cost of living and pay fees at research organisations UK rate.
Coming into effect in August 2021, the change will help the UK attract more research and innovative talent from across the world. Further, UKRI said that it would limit the proportion of international students coming to the country for doctoral training to 30% of its total appointments.
UK science minister Amanda Solloway, referring to the funding, stated that international research scholars play a significant role in supporting the country's leading research in various disciplines which advance new ideas, energy and creativity. Adding to that, she also said that its R&D Roadmap will pave the way for global science and research talent to come to the UK to make the country a science superpower.
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The funding will not cover the fees set by universities for international students. However, students are allowed to look for financial aid from other sources.
UKRI students who enrolled themselves in previous academic years will not be affected by this change. UKRI has notified that more details about the funding will be announced later this year.
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Earlier in 2020, the UK announced that no EU, Swiss nationals and other EEA students will be eligible for home fee status from August 2021. UKRI also launched a new external advisory group for the development of the Global Talent Visa on August 7, 2020. The group will advise and assist UKRI in the Global Talent Visa's endorsed funder route.
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