To ask the Minister for the Economy what provisions her Department will make for PhD students in medical or biological disciplines who need an extension of their current funding beyond September 2021 to complete their fieldwork.

My Department allocated £2m to NI universities to provide funded extensions for final year PGA Scheme students whose funding is due to finish by 31st March 2021.

There is recognition that many students other than final year students, most notably second year students, on the PGA scheme may also require funded extensions in order to be able to complete their studies to an appropriate standard. The Department is keen to facilitate such extensions and will seek additional budget in 2021/22 to cover the associated cost. The process of administering the funded extensions is managed by the universities on the Department’s behalf.