Can You Afford to Research? The Financial Strain of Ph.D. Students in Spain
Published in Precarity and Instability in Academia Symposium (PIAS), 2024
Recommended citation: C. Fuster-Barceló and A. Guerrero-López, 'Can You Afford to Research? The Financial Strain of Ph.D. Students in Spain,' Proceedings of the Precarity and Instability in Academia Symposium (PIAS), 2024. https://pias.cc/proceedings/afford-to-research.pdf
Can You Afford to Research? The Financial Strain of Ph.D. Students in Spain
Published in: Proceedings of the Precarity and Instability in Academia Symposium (PIAS)
Authors: Caterina Fuster-Barceló, Alejandro Guerrero-López
Abstract:
This study examines the financial challenges affecting the decline in Ph. D. candidates and completions in Spain, focusing on Ph. D. scholarships and rising living costs. Using government data, we analyse FPU and PIF scholarships compared to national salaries, inflation, and housing affordability in recent years. We find that scholarships are significantly below national salary averages, with housing costs often unaffordable. Financial strain, worsened by limited scholarship increases, contributes to low doctoral completion rates and reduced interest in academic careers. We conclude that current funding is insufficient, pushing Ph. D. candidates towards better-paying jobs outside academia. Policy reforms are needed to provide adequate support and sustain the academic workforce.
Publication Details:
- Event: Precarity and Instability in Academia Symposium (PIAS), December 13, 2024
- Location: Madrid, Spain / Virtual
- Full Paper: Read here