A message from the DTP Director Professor Li Wei
To all UBEL ESRC studentship holders,
The fast-changing situation regarding COVID-19 is impacting significantly on all of us as we have to adapt to living our lives in ways that were unimaginable even a few days ago. No doubt that the impact will evolve and increase over the coming weeks and months. Your health and safety are of paramount concern to us as a DTP. We urge you to follow the guidelines and advice from Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance, and the specific guidance by the university where you are registered. General guidance on the impact of COVID-19 on research community from ESRC can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/news/coronavirus-impact-on-ukri-supported-research/
We recognise that some of you will not be able to complete your overseas fieldwork as planned, and working from home may impact on the progress of your PhD. If your planned completion date is within the next 3-6 months but you are unable to progress as much you intended to, please discuss it urgently with your supervisor and your university’s registry to explore the possibility of an extension. Once you have had an agreed, revised timetable, please get in touch with us so that we can keep your record updated.
Anyone with interrupted overseas fieldwork or interrupted progress, please also discuss with your supervisor to explore an alternative approach or a revised timetable.
In both cases, we are very happy to discuss the implications for your studentship with you.
Under the circumstances, we have been advised to suspend further awards for overseas fieldwork and international institutional visits.
Please stay safe and stay connected.
