PhD scholarships
Externally-funded scholarships
Externally-funded scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are assessed on academic success and qualifications, experience, research background, a clear well-articulated research proposal, the potential impact of the research and a good match with supervisor/School/Faculty expertise.
Current opportunities
PhD Studentship: Developing a Democratic Culture of Voice and Participation for Employee-owned Businesses (EOBs): A Critical Action Research Approach
This exciting research opportunity will contribute to developing an effective and sustainable model of democratic culture of voice and participation for Employee-Owned Businesses (EOBs). It will take the form of a collaborative doctorate which will involve working with scholars at Sheffield University Management School and GLIDE – a group of EOBs located in Sheffield, UK. Through a critical action research approach that involves working with employees within two selected members of GLIDE you will co-design methods (interview questions, surveys, observation) and interventions (e.g. an EOB “voice” program) that enable a deeper understanding of the possibilities and tensions of developing a democratic culture in EOBs. The findings will have transferable lessons across the EOB sector, driving sustainable economic growth and productivity in a way that prioritises the health and well-being of employees. The project thus responds to calls for an interventionist and engaged approach within management studies whilst exploring democratic working practices that have the potential to transform working relationships by shifting ownership and control into the hands of workers, creating opportunities for them to learn to negotiate power and voice.
The project is driven by three research questions:
- How do EOB members cultivate and sustain democratic cultures of participation and voice for their employees and what challenges do they face in doing so?
- What interventions might work within EOBs to overcome these challenges to further develop democratic culture?
- What are the wider lessons and implications for EOB practice and policy?
We are looking for outstanding candidates committed to democratic organizing and fairness within the workplace. Experience and expertise within (or in conducting research upon or with) EOBs, democratic or alternative organizations broadly conceived, and action research are all desirable, but not essential to the candidate. A bespoke training programme will be developed in collaboration with GLIDE. We particularly welcome applicants from the Employee Ownership sector who might also wish to consider conducting the doctorate on a part-time basis.
The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr Martyn Griffin, Prof Rachael Finn and Dr Stephen Allen (University of Sheffield) with Ed Stubbs (Group Managing Director of Gripple) acting as the central link at the collaborating organization, GLIDE.
The funding amount covers home or international tuition fees, an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) plus a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG).
How to apply:
Visit our How to Apply page for information on our entry requirements and a link to our application form. You should submit an application for the Management School PhD programme and cite the title of this studentship in the funding section to be considered for this opportunity.
Your research proposal is vital to the success of your application, the supervisors are looking to receive a proposal of up to 1,500 words which covers:
- the strengths and weaknesses of action research,
- how you will try to benefit from and respond to these strengths and weaknesses in relation to this project for understanding and improving democratic culture in Employee Owned Businesses, and
- what potential challenges you foresee in doing so.
In addition to the required documents for your application, you should also include:
- A one-page personal statement explaining how your skills, experiences, interests and career plans make you a suitable candidate.
- A 500-word statement explaining why this research is important.
We encourage you to reach out to Dr Martyn Griffin to help refine your application and research proposal.
To be considered for this award applicants will need to have submitted their application by the deadline of Monday 17th March 2025. Interviews will take place in Sheffield week commencing 24th March 2025.
Past opportunities
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Commonwealth PhD scholarships contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact. They also enhance individual teaching and research capacity leading to increased institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries.
- Commonwealth PhD scholarships are for high-quality graduates who have the potential to undertake world-class research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries.
- Please read the terms and conditions carefully and to ensure they meet the full eligibility criteria as stated in the terms and conditions. Not all Commonwealth countries are eligible.
- To be considered for this award applicants will need to have secured an unconditional offer to study for a PhD in the academic year 2025-2026 by the 22nd January 2025.
- ESRC White Rose Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership scholarships
- These scholarships are awarded to UK and international students wishing to start in October 2025. The competition provides the following awards:
- WRDTP Pathway Awards
- WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods Awards
- WRDTP Advanced Data Analytics (ADA) awards
- To be considered for this scholarship award applicants will need to have submitted their application by the Management School’s internal deadline of Monday 6th January 2025.
- Further information on these scholarships can be found on the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnerships website.
- These scholarships are awarded to UK and international students wishing to start in October 2025. The competition provides the following awards:
If you have any questions about scholarships please see our FAQs or email pgr-scholarships@sheffield.ac.uk.
University-funded scholarships
Applications for scholarships for 2024-25 entry have closed.
Awards will cover tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate (£19,237 in 2024-25). Please consult with your chosen department as to whether funding will cover only Home tuition fees or the full International fee, and what support is available for research costs.
These scholarships are funded by Research, Partnerships and Innovation for up to three and a half years full-time or seven years part-time study, subject to satisfactory progress. Part-time studentships are paid at 50% of the full-time rate.
Eligibility
- You should have, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second class UK honours degree or equivalent, and meet any other entry requirements stipulated by your chosen department.
- You should be applying to start your first year of study on a full-time or part-time PhD in the 2024/25 academic year.
Read about the University of Sheffield Research Scholarships
Management School PhD scholarship
The Management School funded PhD scholarships for 2024-25 have now closed.
These open around the summertime, and will be updated on this webpage. Information on this scholarship can be found below.
The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are assessed on academic success and qualifications, experience, research background, a clear well-articulated, fully-developed research proposal which contributes to knowledge or society and a good match with supervisor expertise.
This scholarship provides the following funding:
- Fees: Full payment of tuition fees across the course of study at the Home or International rate.
- Maintenance/stipend: Paid at the basic UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25), the stipend will be paid quarterly in advance.
- Research Training Support Grant: £7,250 per funded year. Restrictions apply to the use of these funds and there must be a clear connection to supporting the research project.
The above will be pro-rated for a part-time student.