The number of PhD students funded by PPARC is likely to be increased by 10 per cent to 20 per cent by 2000

* The number of PhD students funded by PPARC is likely to be increased by 10 per cent to 20 per cent by 2000, depending on a vote taken at today's PPARC council meeting.

PPARC also has plans to reward those physics departments whose students complete their PhDs in just three years and to penalise those departments whose students take more than four years.