Top universities push back against postgrad students as staff

Russell Group argues students would be “worse off” as employees and appeals for extra funding

The group representing the UK’s top research universities has argued against treating postgraduate research students as staff, saying it is not in their interests.

The Russell Group, which represents 24 universities, was responding to a call from UK Research and Innovation, the national funding agency, for views on the future of postgraduate research training as part of plans for a ‘new deal’ to improve the experience of junior researchers in the UK.