The University of Sussex and the University of Sussex branch of the University and College Union (UCU) are pleased to announce the 2024 Collective Agreement on Doctoral Tutor Terms and Conditions, agreeing improved terms and conditions for all Doctoral Tutors at the University.

The sector-leading changes to Doctoral Tutor contracts reflect the University’s commitment to invest in staff and demonstrate the ongoing partnership work between the University and the Sussex UCU branch. Together we have taken a further step to progress the University’s journey to become an employer of choice.

This agreement recognises the important role that Doctoral Tutors play in undergraduate teaching at Sussex, and ensures a sustainable teaching model for the future.

Taking effect in the coming 2024-25 academic year (with the exception of the increase to Grade 6 for Doctoral Tutors previously on Grade 5, which was implemented in the current 2023-24 academic year), the agreement will make a material difference to the working conditions of Doctoral Tutors across the University. They will now receive an increased sick pay entitlement, 10 hours of paid training per year, and a new tariff system to calculate workloads that better reflects time spent on different activities, providing a fairer and more consistent system for calculating workload.

The agreement is the culmination of many years of campaigning and negotiation, emerging from strong foundations built by the University and the Sussex UCU branch during the 16-week negotiations.

We will continue to work together in a spirit of positive collaboration to ensure that Sussex achieves its aim to provide the best possible working environment for staff.