Minimum payments
The national minimum stipends for EPSRC-funded PhD students are:
| Academic year |
Minimum stipend |
| 2012-13 |
£13,590 |
| 2011-12 |
£13,590 |
| 2010-11 |
£13,590 |
| 2009-10 |
£13,290 |
| 2008-09 |
£12,940 |
| 2007-08 |
£12,600 |
| 2006-07 |
£12,300 |
| 2005-06 |
£12,000 |
| 2004-05 |
£10,500 |
Stipends are paid to students to cover their living costs. The national minimum stipends are agreed each year by all the research councils.
Increases to Payment above Minimum
For students funded through a doctoral training account, universities can choose to increase the student stipend above the minimum payment. This may because it is difficult to recruit students in certain research areas or because of location. See flexibility for more information.
Engineering Doctorate
For research engineers at Engineering Doctorate centres, the rates are:
| Academic year |
Minimum stipend |
| 2012-13 |
£15,090 |
| 2011-12 |
£15,090 |
| 2010-11 |
£15,090 |
| 2009-10 |
£14,790 |
| 2008-09 |
£14,400 |
| 2007-08 |
£14,100 |
| 2006-07 |
£13,800 |
| 2005-06 |
£13,500 |
| 2004-05 |
£12,000 |
Further information on how the minimum stipend level has been set can be found on the RCUK website.