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A Studentship Agreement sets out the terms between a university and a postgraduate research student who receives funding for their studies. It covers both the financial support (like stipends and fee payments) and what the university expects from the student during their research period.

These agreements protect both parties under English law by clearly spelling out key details like payment schedules, research obligations, intellectual property rights, and conditions for maintaining the funding. Most UK universities use them for PhD students with Research Council funding or university scholarships, making them essential documents in British higher education.

Use a Studentship Agreement when offering funded research positions to postgraduate students in UK universities. This becomes essential at the start of any PhD or research master's program where the institution provides financial support, research facilities, or access to specific funding streams.

The agreement needs to be in place before the student begins their research work or receives any funding. It's particularly important for Research Council funded positions, university scholarships, and industry-sponsored research programs where clear terms about intellectual property, publication rights, and funding conditions must be established from day one.

• Research Council Funded: Most common type for UK PhD students, covering UKRI funding terms, research obligations, and intellectual property rights
• University Self-Funded: Used when the institution provides its own scholarship funding, typically with more flexible research terms
• Industry-Sponsored: Includes additional clauses about commercial confidentiality, patent rights, and publication restrictions
• Joint/Split-Site: Designed for students working across multiple institutions, detailing shared supervision and resource access
• International Partnership: Modified agreements for overseas collaborations, addressing cross-border funding and research requirements

• Universities: Draft and issue the agreements through their legal teams and research offices, setting out funding terms and research requirements
• PhD Students: Review and sign the agreement before starting their research, committing to academic requirements and funding conditions
• Research Councils: Provide funding guidelines and requirements that must be reflected in the agreement terms
• Industry Sponsors: May contribute to agreement terms when funding research projects, especially regarding IP rights
• University Legal Teams: Review and update agreements to ensure compliance with UK education law and research regulations

• Funding Details: Confirm exact stipend amount, payment schedule, and duration of financial support
• Research Parameters: Gather specifics about the research project, supervision arrangements, and required deliverables
• Student Information: Collect full contact details, academic history, and visa status if applicable
• IP Rights: Define ownership of research outputs, publication rights, and any commercial restrictions
• Compliance Requirements: Check Research Council guidelines, university policies, and relevant UK education regulations
• Support Services: List access to facilities, equipment, training, and other research resources

• Party Details: Full names and addresses of the university, student, and any funding bodies
• Financial Terms: Stipend amount, payment schedule, fees coverage, and funding duration
• Research Obligations: Project scope, supervision arrangements, progress reviews, and completion timeline
• Intellectual Property: Rights assignment, publication permissions, and commercial exploitation terms
• Termination Conditions: Circumstances for ending funding, notice periods, and appeals process
• Data Protection: GDPR compliance, research data handling, and confidentiality requirements
• Governing Law: Explicit statement of English law jurisdiction and dispute resolution procedures

A Studentship Agreement differs significantly from a Student Agreement, though they're often confused. While both involve educational institutions, their scope and purpose are quite distinct.

• Funding Focus: Studentship Agreements specifically cover research funding and stipends for postgraduate researchers, while Student Agreements handle general enrollment terms for all students
• Research Obligations: Studentship Agreements include detailed research commitments, supervision arrangements, and intellectual property rights; Student Agreements don't address research requirements
• Duration and Terms: Studentship Agreements typically run for 3-4 years with specific research milestones; Student Agreements usually cover a single academic year of study
• Legal Complexity: Studentship Agreements require more sophisticated IP and funding clauses, making them more complex than standard Student Agreements