About the scheme

The DLA will recruit up to 54 fully funded studentships for 2026 to deliver training for the next generation of engineering, health and physical science researchers.

Successful candidates will engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of engineering, health and science disciplines that fall within the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) remit.

Explore available opportunities

The University of Sheffield is one of the leading Russell Group universities in the UK. We carry out cutting-edge research with strong links to industry. When you enrol to do a PhD with us, you will be working with world-leading academics and have access to top of the range facilities.

As a PhD student you will have the opportunity to gain skills not only to conduct research, but also to take your career to the next level, whether you want to stay in academia, go into industry or the public sector, or set up your own company. You will have access to a range of training and support services to help you excel in your studies and beyond. 

What training will I receive?

Research training is a fundamental part of your student experience and we provide you with a range of opportunities to develop key research and transferable skills via the Doctoral Development Programme (DDP).

You will develop an extensive range of skills to be competitive in the employment market and you will be encouraged to reflect on how the skills can be applied to different situations and problems.

Our Research Student Proposition ensures that our doctoral researchers graduate with skills that are important intellectually, societally and economically. These include:

• the confidence to lead
• the willingness to challenge ways of thinking
• a lasting refusal to accept the ordinary
• a commitment to applying their research for the public good.

You will be introduced to the support and breadth of training through the Welcome and Induction event in your faculty. You can also access:

• support to help you understand expectations and deliver each of your research degree milestones
• regular social events organised by the PhD committee
• conferences and symposia
• outreach and Knowledge Exchange training
• opportunities to explore teaching and gain a teaching-related qualification
• careers advice and support for thesis writing.

What funding will I receive?

Please review the funding details section of individual projects for any project-specific funding information.

These studentships are sponsored by EPSRC and cover the full UK tuition fee, as well as a stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £20,780 in the 2025-26 academic year).

You’ll also receive a Research Training and Support Grant of £4,500 to cover research expenses for the duration of the studentship.

Collaborative projects in partnership with industry co-sponsors may include additional funding for research costs and a stipend enhancement.

Additional information for international applicants

Please note that EPSRC only allows up to 30% of studentships to be awarded to international applicants. As such, we will be reviewing international applicants only after reviewing home student applications, and we anticipate only around 10 places being awarded to outstanding international students.

The University of Sheffield will cover the international tuition fees for these candidates. The competition for these places is therefore extremely high. 

To ensure your application is given full consideration, please read our information around English language requirements for postgraduates before completing all sections of the form, as outlined in our application guidance. Your attention to detail is important. 

Please note that the award does not cover funding for costs related to relocation to the UK, such as visa fees or the NHS surcharge. 

The EPSRC DLA studentships are either standard three and a half-year awards, or collaborative (industrial and non-academic collaboration) awards, which offer three and a half or four years of funding and joint supervision with an industry/non-academic partner and with the opportunity to undertake a placement at the partner organisation.

Please refer to the individual project advertisements for details of each project.