Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on equality of access to postgraduate funding for full-time and part-time students.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides funding to higher education institutions (HEI) for postgraduate study: £240m to support the costs of postgraduate research supervision; and £120m to contribute to the costs of providing postgraduate taught programmes. Postgraduate taught funding is based on a calculation of full-time and part-time student numbers.

HEFCE allocations to HEIs are subject to the conditions of the grant set out in its Memorandum of Assurance and Accountability, which requires that HEIs should, as a minimum, comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. HEFCE monitors HEIs’ progress with regard to equality and diversity.

Research Council funding for postgraduate research training is through research organisations, who undertake the selection and recruitment of students. The Research Council UK (RCUK) terms and conditions for training grants require that research organisations should meet the RCUK Expectations for Equality and Diversity in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of students. Students may be full-time or part-time.

Research Councils collect and analyse data on the gender, ethnic origin and age of supported students to monitor the effectiveness of their policies and initiatives.