Scholarships and funding
There are a number of scholarship competitions you can enter to gain funding to study a PhD in the School of Journalism, Media and Communication with an October 1, 2025 start date.
There are a number of different schemes listed below. These are all highly competitive and you will need to tailor your application to the criteria for that particular scheme. Depending on your topic, however, you may be able to apply to more than one scheme. Before you apply, please check the award details, eligibility criteria for the scheme and timeline.
Most scholarships cover tuition fees and provide a stipend (student living allowance), plus a Research Training Support Grant to cover research costs and consumables. However, you should check the details of each scholarship when you apply.
The School of Journalism, Media and Communication deadline for all scholarship applications is the 13th December 2024.
Contact the School through the email journalism-pgr-admin@sheffield.ac.uk as soon as possible if you are thinking of applying, as the application process is complicated and we are able to support you.
ESRC White Rose DTP (WRDTP)
These are for studies in the Social Sciences linked to pathway themes for the WRDTP, several of which are relevant to the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, but particularly “Data, Communication and New Technologies (DCT)”.
AHRC White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) Awards
These are in the Arts and Humanities, including journalism, media studies and visual communication (which falls under the WROCAH Creative Arts and Media cluster).
AHRC White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities awards
Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)
This scheme provides academically excellent Chinese students with the opportunity to study for a PhD at the University of Sheffield. The scholarships are supported jointly by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Sheffield. These are highly competitive scholarships and the School is only able to shortlist one student per year.
Information about this scholarship will be available in late November.
Project funding
In addition to these open scholarships, sometimes we have a specific project which already has funding attached. You need to demonstrate that you are better qualified to complete the project than other applicants.
You will not usually be asked to write a complete research proposal, but you may be asked to write a short personal statement, or provide a description of how you would approach the project.
Funded projects can be announced at any time of the year. You can sign up for alerts for these projects at jobs.ac.uk.