Universities, including the University of Nottingham, are refusing to give blanketed unpaid extensions to all lab based students who are in large dependant on university facilities for their research. Their justification for not providing blanket extensions is that everyone will not require the extra time and that this is situation dependent. Yet the majority will. Even those with guaranteed funding must still apply, for an extension at their university for example those provided by UKRI. This is not to say that other PhDs are less important, of course they have been impacted too, but not to the same extent as people who require laboratory facilities and other facilities that cannot be found at home or on the internet.  

While yes, this is completely unexplored territory for all, universities will not make the right decisions first time and need to listen to the people who are most impacted. We propose that a system whereby students can opt out of extensions, and this is not to say that all extensions will be funded as we recognise the economic impact. However we find it is simply unacceptable to suggest that not all researchers have been impacted and therefore are not entitled to an extension. While we recognise that individual circumstances differ, this lockdown will have impacted the majority of PhD students with regards to mental health and the act of having to justify why they deserve an extension will further add to a series of detrimental events. 

Furthermore, it is people such as VCs and government officials telling us what is best for us and that we are all in the same boat, yet they sit very comfortably on their extortionate salaries while many PhD students can barely make ends meet. Along with PostDocs and Fellows, we bring in the data for grants and funding applications through working tirelessly, often without weekends, the least we deserve is an unpaid extension. 

Universities refusing blanket extensions should follow suit with the likes of KCL who are offering 3 month blanket unpaid extensions.