How to apply

Entry requirements

Academic qualification

Admissions to the PhD programmes at the School of Architecture and Landscape are primarily decided on academic ability but also recognise the value of practice-based experience.

You will need at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or its equivalent) and will also need to have (or be doing) an MA at a university recognised by the admissions department.

English language

Students whose first language is not English must have passed the IELTS (minimum score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the written components).

Postgraduate research Bridge Programme for international applicants

Submitting your application

Applicants are encouraged to start by approaching prospective supervisors, before submitting formal applications via the University's postgraduate online application form.

When you submit your application, please give special attention to section J, as we like you to provide us with a particular range of information. The form asks you for details of:

• previous relevant experience
• the relevance of previous studies (eg specific modules, projects or dissertations)
• how these studies fit into your long-term plans.
• why you wish to undertake these studies at Sheffield

In addition, please supply us with further information about your proposed research topic, including:

• Title
• Main aim
• Up to four main research objectives and/or research questions
• A brief summary of relevant literature setting your research in context (about 300 to 500 words)
• An outline of your proposed methodology – even if you do not know this in detail, it is useful to explain whether it will involve field experiments, surveys, interviews, computer-aided design etc.
• The anticipated outcomes of the research – what you hope to accomplish and why you consider it to be useful.
• A bibliography
• A clear timeline towards submission

Applicants for the Doctorate by Design in landscape architecture should also submit an electronic portfolio of creative works, which will be used to assess your visual and creative skills. This should be no more than 20 pages, in PDF format.

Choosing a topic

Research proposals can cover any relevant topic. Proposals can be submitted independently, in which case (and if feasible) they will be discussed and developed with relevant staff.

Staff will usually also have a range of graduate research projects that fit directly with their ongoing research programmes, for which specific funding may be sought.

In many cases, staff may be interested in working with you in your general area of interest, but may not feel that your specific research proposal offers great scope for further development. In this case, we may negotiate a revised project that fits more closely with the current activity and research programmes of the school.

Contact us

Initial contact to discuss potential PhD research projects should be made with the Director of Graduate Research, Dr Nicola Dempsey.

If you are interested in applying to do a Doctorate by Design in landscape architecture, please contact Dr David Buck.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with the individual member of staff whose research interests most clearly match your own.

What happens next?

Following submission of your application, our PhD Admissions Tutor will contact you if you are selected for an interview.

An offer of a place to study on the PhD programme will be issued by the University's Admissions Office following a successful interview.