PhD Studentship to support doctoral research in the Arthur Scargill Archive at the University of Sheffield
Applications are invited for three doctoral studentships in History commencing on 1 October 2026.
The studentships are generously supported by the Hossein Farmy endowment, and will cover UK tuition fees, stipend and a research support and training grant.
The studentships will support doctoral research at the Arthur Scargill Archive, which was opened in October 2025 at the University of Sheffield Library’s Special Collections and Archives. This significant collection covers Scargill’s whole career, including his periods as President of the NUM Yorkshire Area (1973–1981) and President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) (1982-2002).
The three studentships will focus on three distinct topics that draw on materials at the Scargill Archive and relate them to a broader range of primary and secondary research. Each project will be led by a supervisory team based at the University of Sheffield’s School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Fractured Labour: Arthur Scargill and the Politics of the Left in Britain, supervised by Professor Julia Moses & Professor Adrian Bingham
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) the welfare state & embodied experience (1970s-2000s), supervised by Dr Chris Millard & Dr Esme Cleall
The Rhetoric of the Radical Left: Arthur Scargill and the Languages of Socialism in Post-Industrial Britain, supervised by Dr Colin Reid & Dr Joshua Forstenzer
Please follow this link for full details of each project.
Eligibility
The studentships are open to UK applicants who qualify for Home fee status.
Strong applicants will have a good first degree in an appropriate subject (e.g. History, Philosophy, Politics, English, Sociology, or Law), and a Master’s degree (or be working towards one), normally at Distinction level, or equivalent professional experience relevant to the scope of the project.
This opportunity is offered as a full-time studentship; part-time study may be possible subject to agreement with the supervision team.
How to Apply
The application deadline will be 16 March 2026.
- Applicants can apply for more than project, but should clearly list their preference. Applicants are advised to contact the lead supervisor for the project in which they are interested in the first instance. Contact details can be accessed via the project advertisements.
- Complete an application for admission as a postgraduate student via our online application form. On the application form, applicants must select the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities.
- Your application should include a CV including academic record (no more than 3 pages); academic transcript; two references; and a 500 word statement of purpose.
- As the projects are already defined, the 500 word statement of purpose should explain why you would be interested in undertaking the programme of research and what experience and skills you would bring to the position. The statement should also include details about previous research experience and training and anything else that you feel is relevant.
- Applicants may be asked to attend an interview in person or online.