Scholarships

About the funding process

There may be other scholarships available within the University and externally that are not included here.

You must have applied for PhD study and been accepted for a place at the University before you can submit an application for a PhD scholarship.

You should discuss the most appropriate scholarship for you with your supervisor or department. Scholarships are very competitive, and your application will need to be tailored to the most appropriate source.

There are also different routes for scholarship applications, and your supervisor/department will be able to advise once you have established the most appropriate scholarship application for you.

The main scholarships competition in the University closes at the end of January, and decisions are made and communicated to applicants between the end of February to the end of April, depending on the scheme.

Most scholarships cover tuition fees and provide a stipend (student living allowance), plus a Research Training Support Grant to cover research costs and consumables. However, you should check the details of each scholarship when you apply.

If you're applying for a project in one of our departments, check if you're eligible for any funding it comes with.

---

Scholarships which fund PhD study developed by the applicant 

Scholarship	Organisation	Application process	Eligibility
ESRC Pathway Scholarships	White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership	Department nominates applicants for scholarships	Home/ Overseas applicants
ESRC AQM Pathway Scholarships	White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership	Department nominates applicants for scholarships	Home/ Overseas applicants
AHRC Scholarships	White Rose College of Arts and Humanities	Direct application to White Rose College of Arts and Humanities	Home/ Overseas applicants
University Postgraduate Research Committee Scholarships	University of Sheffield	Department nominates to Faculty selection process	Home/ Overseas applicants
China Scholarship Council Scholarships	University of Sheffield / China Scholarship Council	Department nominates to Faculty; Faculty nominates to University for final selection	Chinese nationality applicants

Scholarships offered with an existing research project 

Scholarship	Organisation	Application process	Eligibility
ESRC Collaborative Studentships	White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership / University of Sheffield	Apply for PhD project	Home/ Overseas applicants
ESRC Network Studentships	White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership / University of Sheffield	Apply for PhD project	Home/ Overseas applicants
ESRC CDT Data Analytics Scholarships	ESRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Analytics	Apply for PhD project	Home/ Overseas applicants (overseas self-funding)
AHRC Collaborative Scholarships	White Rose College of Arts and Humanities	Apply for PhD project	Home/ Overseas applicants

---

The Faculty of Social Sciences is currently accepting applications for the University of Sheffield Research Scholarships for Black or Black British (of African or Caribbean heritage), Asian or Asian British (of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian heritage) or multiple ethnic background including one of the ethnicity groups listed above. 

The University of Sheffield is committed to increasing opportunities in doctoral research for particular minoritised students who are currently under-represented in our postgraduate research student population.

For 2024 entry, we are delighted to offer one fully-funded University of Sheffield Research Scholarships for students who are UK National, classified as ‘Home’ for tuition fee purposes and identify as Black or Black British (of African or Caribbean heritage), Asian or Asian British (of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian heritage) or are of multiple ethnic backgrounds including one of the ethnicity groups listed above.

These awards are funded via philanthropic donations raised by the University of Sheffield's Campaigns and Alumni Relations (CAR) department.

Candidates will be required to complete a declaration form and upload it to their application.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate that they meet the same eligibility criteria as for any other applicant to their chosen department.

Award details

The scholarships cover tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £18,622 in 2023), as well as a generous training and development allowance. 

These scholarships fund 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.

How to apply

All applicants are required to submit a study application via the Postgraduate Online Application Form. 

Applications must be submitted by Friday 14th June 2024.