Funding and scholarships

Before applying for funding, you will first need to apply to the PhD programme. You will then need to follow the application process for your chosen form of funding. Funding application processes may vary so please carefully check the information for each source of funding below. You do not need to have received an offer before you submit your funding application.  

If you are planning on applying for funding you will need to submit your application in advance of the funding deadline. You should make sure your referees are aware of the time-frame and that the reference will form part of your funding application.  

PhD Scholarships and Funding for 2020 entry

AHRC White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities Scholarships

Deadline: he 2020 deadline for this has now passed.

The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) is a Doctoral Training Partnership of the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. It is responsible for the distribution of AHRC-funded doctoral studentships for these universities and for the coordination of a doctoral training programme.

WRoCAH has around 50 AHRC studentships that will be awarded through open competitions. Of these WRoCAH expect the majority (up to 85%) to be student-led project applications.

Award Details: The WRoCAH studentships cover UK/EU tuition fees and, for eligible students, provide an annual maintenance grant (£15,009 in 2019/20). More information on the award details and eligibility criteria are available through the WRoCAH website. 

Guidance notes: applicant guidance notes are available here. You should read the guidance notes carefully before beginning your application, paying particular attention to the Grade Descriptors (from p18).

Applying: You should apply to WRoCAH funding through the WRoCAH website - please note that this is a separate process to funding applied for through the University. 

You will be able to save and return to your application and can make amendments up until the deadline. You must indicate when the final version of your application has been submitted and this must be done before the deadline for your application to be considered. 

Please note that you can only apply for one studentship at one of the above universities.

University Post Graduate Research Committee Scholarships - Arts and Humanities

Deadline: the 2020 deadline for this has now passed.

The University of Sheffield invests a significant amount of funding each year in order to support the very best postgraduate research students. For entry in 2020-21, each Faculty is offering a small number of University of Sheffield Research Scholarships on a competitive basis.

Eligibility: These awards are open to UK, EU and Overseas applicants who are applying to study either full or part-time.

Applying: You should complete the funding section of the course application form. This can be done at the same time as your course application or you can log back in later to add your funding details - you do not need to wait until you have received an offer. Your supporting documents i.e. references and transcripts will form part of your funding application.

Heinz Cassirer Postgraduate Legacy Fund

Applications are now welcome for the Heinz Cassirer Postgraduate Legacy Fund. £1000 is available for a new MRes or PhD student interested in carrying out further research on any aspect of interdisciplinary biblical studies, with an emphasis on ‘translation’ — how are biblical texts made accessible in new formats, genres, and contexts? While applications that focus on translation from one language to another are welcome, SIIBS is particularly interested in proposals that re-envision what translation can mean in creative, interdisciplinary ways.

Heinz Cassirer (1903-1979) was a Jewish philosopher who became interested in the New Testament. He taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford. His work explored the notion of evil in Kantian thought as well as the rhetorical methods employed by Paul in his letters. Cassirer translated the New Testament himself, exploring the intersection of Classical philosophy, biblical studies, and the influence of different cultures in the text, especially the New Testament as a Jewish text. Cassirer’s legacy donation to the Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies enables us to nurture his interdisciplinary approach to biblical studies, and to enable students to carry on his legacy of translation.

Proposals for funding will be considered until 1 June 2020. For more information, please email siibs@sheffield.ac.uk

Henry Stephenson Endowment Trust Educational Grants

The Trustees of the Sir Henry Stephenson Endowment Trust for taught and research Post Graduate education encourages applications for financial support from:

• Undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Sheffield who wish to undertake postgraduate study in religion at the University.
• Graduates of the University training for ordained ministry in the Church of England (or continuing their ministerial education) who wish to undertake postgraduate study in religion at the University.

Applications for funding are welcome from those undertaking one year full-time or two years part time study at Masters level.  Where possible, the trust will guarantee funding for the normal duration of the degree. Awards vary, but are in the range of £1,000 per year for full-time students or £500 per year for part-time students.

Applications for support for MRes/PhD studies for a longer period may be considered in exceptional circumstances, but an enquiry to the chair of the funding group is necessary in the first instance. Please write to Rev Dr Jeremy Clines at j.clines@sheffield.ac.uk for further details.

Applications for awards are to be submitted by one of two deadlines: 15 December for studies beginning in the Winter/Spring and 15 May for studies beginning in the Autumn.

Submit and application. 

Hossein Farmy Scholarship

The Hossein Farmy Scholarship is available for entry for students pursuing research relating to mining including historical aspects of mining and the mining industry.

Award Details: The Hossein Farmy Scholarship covers tuition fees at the standard UK rate and provides an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UK research council rate.

Eligibility: This award is open to UK applicants who are applying to study full-time. Applicants should be pursuing a course of research relating to mining.

Applying: Full details of the Hossein Farmy scholarship, eligibility and how to apply can be found here.

China Scholarship Council

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.

Award details: The scholarship will cover University tuition fees, a grant for living costs and one return flight from China to the UK. Funding for each award will be up to 48 months. Successful candidates will be expected to have submitted their thesis and defended it via oral examination by month 48.

Eligibility: You must be applying to start a new full-time PhD programme at Sheffield. You must be a national of and ordinarily resident in mainland China (not including Hong Kong or Macau). You must also be intending to return to China once your programme is completed. You will require an unconditional offer from the University of Sheffield so will be required to meet both academic and English language criteria.

Applying:  You must first apply for postgraduate research at Sheffield. Applicants must have an unconditional offer in place, therefore please ensure you apply for postgraduate research early.

Apply for a scholarship from Sheffield by completing the funding section of the online postgraduate application form. This can be done at the same time as your course application or you can log back in later to add your funding details - you do not need to wait until you have received an offer. Your supporting documents i.e. references and transcripts will form part of your funding application.

Apply to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for this scholarship. Please review the CSC's scheme introduction and Making an application webpages for more information. Applicants must be successful with applications to Sheffield and to the CSC in order to be accepted on this scholarship programme.

Full details can be found here.

Other funding bodies

Many charities, foundations and trusts provide funding for postgraduate study, from small grants to full scholarships. Some are in specific subject areas while others have more general eligibility criteria. Please see our external funding page for a list of funding bodies and search sites which may help you to find other scholarships.

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan Scheme

Government loans are available for postgraduate students studying doctoral level courses.

Loans will be to a maximum value of £25,700 over the full course of study. Loans are non-means tested i.e. your incoming will not effect the amount that you receive and are available to students studying either part-time or full-time.

More information including eligibility criteria

Funding PhD study through a student loan is a big commitment and we would strongly recommend talking about this option with your proposed supervisor.

International students

Please note that international students are eligible to apply for many of the PhD scholarships listed above. Check the eligibility criteria for each section to see if you can apply. 

International Students Alumni Rewards

Rewards are available for all University of Sheffield graduates. Students must be self-funding and classified as overseas for fee purposes. Find out more here.