Postgraduate research students’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and student-led policy solutions

ABSTRACT

In response to the rapidly deteriorating pandemic situation, a national lockdown was imposed in March 2020 which had profound effects for students across the UK higher education sector. Given their precarious and isolated position in UK higher education, understanding how the pandemic has affected postgraduate research (PGR) students, relating to their mental wellbeing, social lives, and study experiences is very timely. This article explores the experiences of PGR students during the COVID-19 pandemic and potential policy solutions, drawing on a national online survey on the “Impact of COVID-19 on Doctoral and Early Career Researchers” (N = 3,432), and qualitative data collected from students during the initiation of public lockdown in the United Kingdom (N = 882). Specifically, this article investigates student experiences in five indicators using multilevel modelling: (1) mental wellbeing, (2) loneliness, (3) access to research resources, (4) social connection, and (5) training availability. Primary qualitative data is then used to draw policy solutions from students, who were offered an opportunity to suggest how they might best be supported during the pandemic. In doing so, student-led policy suggestions at both national and institutional levels are provided drawing on the lived experiences and voice of PGR students. The findings demonstrate the need for generalised and specific support combining financial assistance, mental health and pastoral support, communication, and academic study support.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher education
• PGR students
• coronavirus
• mental health
• mixed methods

Acknowledgments

The authors extend thanks to Dr Mark Connolly and Professor David James for their feedback on early versions of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. SMARTEN is a network that supports and encourages better research into student mental health “based at the King’s College London and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)” (Byrom, 2020).

2. The Russell Group is a group of 24 research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom that occupy a prestigious position equivalent to the Ivy League in the United Status. Universities included are: University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Durham University, University of Edinburgh, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, King’s College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University College London, University of Warwick, and University of York.

3. The main funding councils in the United Kingdom are brought together by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a non-departmental public body responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions. It is sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The seven UKRI research council are: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Research England, and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).