Sorry saga of PhDs

Public funding of postgraduate research in arts and humanities has a threefold purpose:

* To provide resources for research and scholarship

* To support training for students who wish to prepare for academic careers

* To support training in high-level scholarly and analytical skills for students who will use them in many other careers.

These purposes are made clear to everyone who applies for a postgraduate studentship award from the Arts and Humanities Research Board. In pursuing doctoral research, students develop deep levels of knowledge and understanding and a range of skills and competences that are attractive to employers. Universities need to help students identify and articulate these skills. To this end, the AHRB is working with the UK Council for Graduate Education on a framework of best practice for institutions in the support and training of doctoral students. A report will be published later this year.

Michael Jubb, Director of programmes, Arts and Humanities Research Board