STFC Education and Training Programme

STFC Council's announcement on 16 December of its five-year investment strategy included a 25% reduction in the funding provision for new studentships and fellowships from 2010-11. This decision was taken on the advice of Science Board as part of the refocussing of the entire STFC programme.

STFC's Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) has now considered the implementation of the decision on studentships and fellowships, as part of the wider managed implementation of the five year programme. ETCC has decided that its top priorities should be the PhD studentships and advanced fellowship programmes, and has therefore decided to preserve as far as possible the number of new awards in these two areas.

ETCC has accordingly recommended that STFC should not award any new postdoctoral fellowship awards in 2010, rather than the 12 fellowships initially proposed. The decision to not award new postdoctoral fellowships applies only to 2010, and ETCC will consult with heads of departments on options for future years.

ETCC believes this action will allow STFC to limit the reduction in the number of new studentships and advanced fellowships from 25% to around 15% in 2010.