Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1483. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a comprehensive summary of the funding allocated to PhD researchers broken down by State aids, higher education institution contributions, and other resources; the number of researchers benefiting from each category of funding; the corresponding stipend each researcher receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36934/23]
View answer1484. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many part-time PhD researchers receive stipends; how many PhD students work with the backing of an employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36935/23]
View answer1486. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide or a complete tally of how many non-EU/EEA PhD researchers are enrolled in Ireland; the estimated calculation for the aggregate fees these non-EU/EEA PhD researchers pay to Irish higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36937/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1483, 1484 and 1486 together.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of all student and graduate data returned to the HEA from all HEA-funded institutions via the Student Record System. The latest data available relates to the academic year 2021/2022.
There were 2,677 Non-EU PhD enrolments in that year: (hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/students/). Data on fees paid is not available as the matter rests with the individual higher education institutions (HEIs).
With respect to funding allocated to PhD researchers, the table below (extracted from the Review Co-Chairs' first report) outlines public expenditure on stipend supports for PhD researchers.
|
Funded by |
Enrolments |
Stipend |
|
SFI/ IRC |
3,000 |
€19,000 |
|
Higher Education Institutions |
2,000 |
€9,640* |
|
Other Competitive Funders** |
1,000 |
€18,500 |
|
Self-funded (may be in receipt of external financial supports (from home country, etc), employed, or self-financed)) |
4,000*** |
- |
|
Total |
~10,000 |
* HEI awards are wide-ranging, typically anything from €5,000 to €18,500. The estimated average per awardee was €9,640
** EU Marie Curie excluded; assumed to be not significant.
*** Excluded on the basis that these are not publicly-funded.
With regard to part-time enrolments, according to the HEA statistics, 1,660 part-time PhD researchers were in Irish HEIs for the academic year 2021/2022. The HEIs also reported 331 part-time Research Master students to the HEA for the same time period. Data on their funding sources are not available. Those who are supported by their employer, home country, etc., i.e. not publicly funded, may be in receipt of some form of financial assistance from these other sources but this data is not collected centrally by the HEA or by the individual HEIs.
