From Oct. 1, doctoral researchers will receive a minimum annual stipend of £21,805 (US$29,804), an increase of nearly 5% from the current £20,780.

For students based in London, the minimum stipend will rise by 4.5%, from £22,780 to £23,805.

UKRI has also increased the minimum tuition fee it pays to universities for each funded student by 4.6%, raising the amount from £5,006 to £5,238, according to Times Higher Education.

While UKRI stipends are paid on an equal basis regardless of nationality, international PhD students often face additional financial pressures, including higher visa costs, healthcare surcharges, relocation expenses, and limited access to external funding and paid work compared with their domestic peers.

The move follows calls from London students’ unions late last year for a £2,500 increase in stipends, amid concerns that without higher funding, pursuing a PhD in the capital could become affordable only for the wealthiest students.

The latest increase comes after an 8% real-terms rise in tax-free stipends last year, part of UKRI’s broader effort to bring PhD take-home pay closer to the national living wage.

In addition, UKRI has previously introduced new rules allowing doctoral students up to 28 weeks of medical leave, aimed at simplifying access to study extensions and reducing barriers for disabled students.