Frequently Asked Questions
What information does the prospectus give me?
The prospectus highlights our research areas, research centres and groundbreaking research projects. It also includes interviews with our research students and their supervisors, and explains how to prepare for your PhD.
You can find out more about research areas, potential supervisors and existing PhD projects on department web pages.
What qualifications do I need?
The minimum requirement is a good bachelors degree – a 2:1 or a First. Sometimes professional qualifications would be accepted, but this would need to be discussed with the relevant department. Requirements vary depending on what you study.
Admission information for International students
Non-native English speakers will also need to provide evidence of their English language ability.
Our list of acceptable English language qualifications
What is the closing date (deadline) for applications?
For research you can start at any time during the year. You can state your preferred start-date on the application, this will however be subject to departmental approval.
How long does it take for a decision to be made?
This varies from department to department. As a rough guide it would normally be six weeks.
Can I research by Distance Learning?
It is possible to undertake the majority of the research for a PhD degree away from the University at an approved location. There are two schemes dependent upon the student's candidature and fee status:
- The Joint Location Scheme for International and EU Students is available for full-time study. A minimum of one year must be spent in Sheffield.
- The Remote Location Scheme for International and EU Students is available for part-time study. You will be required to attend the University to meet certain statutory requirements, including all viva voce examinations.
UK Students (full- or part-time) who wish to pursue part of their programme of research away from the University must gain faculty approval.
For more detailed information on these schemes please see our Research away from the University pages:
Research away from the University
Ask Sheffield
If you have any further questions please Ask Sheffield: