Making an Application
To apply for a PhD place in the Department, you need to:
- complete an online application form
- compose a detailed research proposal (see below)
- provide two references and other supporting information (see below)
Application Forms and Supporting Documentation
All applications must be submitted on the official University application form, which can be completed online (via the links on the right).
Your application will be dealt with promptly as soon as it arrives in the Department. In order to assess your application, we will also require the following documentation:
- two letters of reference (preferably from academics who can judge your ability to research and write, e.g. a dissertation supervisor);
- transcripts of previous qualifications;
- your CV;
- an indication of how you intend to fund your studies; and,
- for international students, evidence of English language proficiency.
Research Proposal
Applicants should provide a 1500 word outline research proposal, setting out:
- an overview of the topic and the main research aim
- a brief literature review of relevant research in the field (including the key academic and theoretical debates)
- the specific research questions to be answered in the thesis
- suggested research methods
- the expected contribution to knowledge
Although people can, and often do, slightly alter their research topic after registering, a thesis proposal helps us to make sure that the topic is viable and you are suitable for admission.
If you are applying for a pre-defined project you do no need to provide a proposal. Instead you will need to provide a personal statement which explains why you are a suitable candidate, setting out relevant knowledge, skills and experience, and indicating the intellectual approach you would like to bring to the topic.
Deadlines and Starting Date for Study
We accept applications at any time of year, though note that most of the studentships have application deadlines in February or March.
If successful in your application you will usually be expected to start your studies in mid-September. This is so that you can take advantage of the inductions sessions in September and the taught research training modules which start in the last week of September.
International applicants should take account of the time needed to obtain the necessary documentation, permissions, visas, and so on, which can take several months.
Further Information
More information on how to apply for a research degree, and about postgraduate study at the University of Sheffield, can be found at: