Fees and scholarships
We are committed to the development of our postgraduate research community, and we provide a range of funding and scholarship opportunities to our PhD students.
Thinking about PhD study?
On 7th November 2024, the Academic PGR Admissions Lead and PGR Director hosted a virtual PhD information event. If you weren’t able to attend, please watch the video below for information about:
- What is a PhD?
- What does a PhD involve?
- How do I apply?
- What funding is available and how do I apply for it?
Please email scs-pgr@sheffield.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Postgraduate research tuition fees
Home students
The tuition fee you pay in your first year will increase (in line with inflation) for each subsequent year of study. Tuition fees for part-time degrees are usually charged at half of the rate of full-time degrees across twice the number of years (subject to an increase in subsequent years in line with inflation).
Overseas students
The tuition fee you pay in your first year will be the same for each subsequent year of study. Tuition fees for part-time degrees are usually charged at half of the rate of full-time degrees across twice the number of years.
Postgraduate research scholarships
All scholarship applications are made through the University's Postgraduate Online Application Form. When you start the application, you will see a drop down box that asks you which scholarship/s you are interested in. You should tick all that apply. The system will then open the appropriate application form based on your selection.
Scholarship Opportunities for 2025/26 entry
You must have a study offer (a PhD place) in place to be considered for a scholarship. You must apply for the PhD place no later than Wednesday 8th January 2025 if you intend to also apply for a scholarship. This is a strict deadline. See how to apply for further details.
The scholarship opportunities for 2025/26 can be found below.
- White Rose ESRC DTP Open Competition Scholarships
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The White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP), accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is a collaboration across the social sciences at the Universities of Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, Sheffield Hallam and York.
The following scholarships will be available for doctoral research students commencing their studies in October 2025.
WRDTP Pathway Awards (including the Interdisciplinary Research Awards and the WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students); WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Awards; iii)) WRDTP Advanced Data Analytics (ADA) Awards.These awards are available on a +3.5, +3.75 or 1+3.5 basis, and can be held full-time or part-time. Further information about each of these award schemes can be found on the WRDTP website, including assessment criteria which should be carefully consulted. Please direct queries to: enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk
The deadline for applications is 22 January 2025 at 17:00 (GMT) but please note that a PhD place must be secured in advance of your scholarship submission. Scholarship applications are submitted via the University's Postgraduate Online Application system.
- WRoCAH AHRC DTP Open Competition Scholarships
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Since 1997 the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York have built on their individual strengths by collaborating through the White Rose University Consortium. The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) is one of 10 Doctoral Training Partnerships supported by the AHRC.
WRoCAH will have approximately 45 AHRC Open Competition Studentships to award across the three institutions (Leeds, Sheffield and York) for October 2025 entry. You can make one application for funding through the open competition at either Leeds, Sheffield or York.
Full guidance notes can be found on the WRoCAH website. Please direct enquiries to: enquiries@wrocah.ac.uk
- Other PhD Scholarship Opportunities
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For information about, and the status of, other scholarship opportunities available through the university, please visit this webpage.
Funding opportunities for international students
The University holds a range of funding opportunities for international PhD applicants.
Where country specific scheme exist, they will be listed on the country pages here.
Our PhD finder also lets students search by funding status here.
PhD training in the Faculty of Social Sciences
As part of the Faculty of Social Sciences you will have access to world class training alongside your doctoral study. The Social Sciences Doctoral Training programme is tailored to your individual needs to ensure you have the right skills you need to develop your research.
The training programme is designed to exceed current UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) training and development guidelines, and gives all our social science PhD students access to ESRC-funded White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership cohort activities, regardless of your source of funding.
All our students receive interdisciplinary training and experience opportunities via the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, and additional discipline specific training is provided in each of our departments.