Postgraduate research funding

We are delighted to invite applications for postgraduate research funding. We cannot guarantee funding, but we are happy to offer advice, support, and feedback on funding applications and research proposals.

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Fees

Information about fees for our research programmes can be found on the PhD fees page.

Funding competitions

The following funding competitions are now open for 2024 entry. 

Humanitarian NGOs and Trade Unions: a history of conflict and collaboration

Deadline for expressions of interest: 12 noon Thursday 28 March 2024

This is a Collaborative Doctoral Award project scholarship funded by the AHRC White Rose College of Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH).

Project summary

This project examines the changing relationship between humanitarian NGOs and trade unions across the twentieth century, with a particular focus on the archives of Save the Children. In recovering the contours of this past relationship, it revitalises historiographies on political participation in contemporary Britain, and provides strategic insight for project partner Save the Children in the present day. Full project description.

Award Details: WRoCAH CDA studentships cover UK/home tuition fees and an annual stipend (£18,622 in 2023/24). International students are eligible to apply for this Studentship and the difference between the UK/home and International fee will be met by the University of Sheffield for a successful international applicant. More information on the award details and eligibility criteria are available through the WRoCAH website

Applying: Expression of interest, including CV and covering letter, should be submitted through the WRoCAH website

Please note that you do not need to apply for a PhD course place at Sheffield ahead of expressing interest in this project. Short-listed applicants will be advised to submit a course application prior to interview.

For more information about this project contact:

Dr Emily Baughan, Department of History, University of Sheffield (emily.baughan@sheffield.ac.uk)
Dr Juliano Fiori, Save the Children UK (j.fiori@savethechildren.org


External funding sources

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

Government loans are available for postgraduate students studying doctoral level courses. 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 research study through a student loan is a big commitment and we would strongly recommend talking about this option with your proposed supervisor.

Alternative sources of funding

There are many external funding bodies, such as charities and trusts, who offer support for postgraduate study. Funding may be limited and eligibility criteria will vary. Find out more about additional funding for postgraduate study.


Closed funding competitions 2024

The below 2024 funding competitions are now closed. 

AHRC White Rose College of Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH) Open Competition Scholarships

Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Wednesday 24 January 2024

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 45 AHRC studentships that will be awarded through open competitions.

Award Details: WRoCAH studentships cover UK/home tuition fees and an annual stipend. 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 p22) as well as the step-by-step guide to the questions in the form (from p6). 

Applying: You should apply to WRoCAH funding through the WRoCAH website

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.

Find out more on the WRoCAH webpages

ESRC White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP) 3+ Pathway Award Scholarships

Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Wednesday 24 January 2024

The White Rose DTP is a regional consortium of seven universities with social science research excellence and involves the universities of Sheffield, Leeds and York as well as Bradford, Hull, Manchester Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam. The WRDTP has been accredited by the ESRC to offer PhD scholarships across a range of schemes.

There are 45 WRDTP ESRC Pathway Awards for student-designed projects submitted via open competition. The WRDTP is organised around seven Thematic Interdisciplinary Training Pathways and applications to all schemes must be able to articulate their fit with at least one of these pathways:

Cities, Environment, and Liveability (CEL) Security, Conflict, and Justice (SCJ) Education, Childhood, and Youth (ECY) Data, Communication, and New Technologies (DCT) Wellbeing, Health, and Communities (WHC) Sustainable Growth, Management, and Economic Productivity (SMP) Civil Society, Development, and Democracy (CDD)

We recommend that you discuss your eligibility for WRDTP funding with your supervisor before beginning the application process. You are also welcome to contact Dr Colin Reid (c.reid@sheffield.ac.uk) as Postgraduate Director. 

Award Details: WRDTP studentships cover UK/home tuition fees and an annual stipend. More information on the award details and eligibility criteria are available through the WRDTP website

Guidance notes: applicant guidance notes are available here

Applying: If you have agreed with your supervisor that you should submit a WRDTP application, you should also submit this via your Sheffield PhD course application by 17:00 GMT, 24 January 2024. You should complete the ESRC WRDTP specific application form and upload this to your scholarship application (available to download from the scholarship application section of the PhD course application). 

You will be able to make amendments up until the deadline.

Find out more on the university scholarship webpages

To be eligible for a +3 award, applicants must have a minimum of 60 credits of research methods social science training (not including the dissertation) at masters level.

University of Sheffield BAME awards

Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Wednesday 24 January 2024

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities will have one BAME award available for 2024 entry. These awards are aimed at home students who are 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. 

Award Details: BAME studentships cover UK/home tuition fees and an annual stipend.

Applying: You should also submit this via your Sheffield PhD course application by 17:00 GMT, 24 January 2024. You should complete the declaration form and upload this to your scholarship application (available to download from the scholarship application section of the PhD course application). 

You will be able to make amendments up until the deadline.

Find out more on the university scholarship webpages

China Scholarships Council

Deadline: 17:00 GMT, Wednesday 24 January 2024

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: China Scholarships Council studentships will fund a grant for living costs including one return flight from China to the UK. Full eligibility and award details available here.

Applying: You should also submit this via your Sheffield PhD course application by 17:00 GMT, 24 January 2024.

You will be able to make amendments up until the deadline.

Find out more on the university scholarship webpages

WRoCAH Collaborative Awards

Feminising the Archive and the Women of Derbyshire’s Country Houses, c. 1700-1850

Deadline for expressions of interest: 12 noon Wednesday 6 March 2024

This is a Collaborative Doctoral Award project scholarship funded by the AHRC White Rose College of Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH).

Project summary

This project aims to contribute to the fields of women’s history, public history, and archival science. It centres on a largely unknown collection of women’s letters at Derbyshire Record Office, uncovering for the first time the domestic lives and experiences of women at Derbyshire’s country houses. Alongside completing a PhD thesis, which will be based on this archival material, the successful candidate will carry out important cataloguing and indexing work at the Record Office, taking new steps to ‘feminise’ the archive and finding aids that have traditional prioritised male lives and experiences. The project will also involve outreach and engagement activities with the project partners. Full project description.

Award Details: WRoCAH CDA studentships cover UK/home tuition fees and an annual stipend (£18,622 in 2023/24). International students are eligible to apply for this Studentship and the difference between the UK/home and International fee will be met by the University of Sheffield for a successful international applicant. More information on the award details and eligibility criteria are available through the WRoCAH website

Applying: Expression of interest, including CV and covering letter, should be submitted through the WRoCAH website

Please note that you do not need to apply for a PhD course place at Sheffield ahead of expressing interest in this project. Short-listed applicants will be advised to submit a course application prior to interview.

For more information about this project contact:

Dr Kate Davison, Department of History, University of Sheffield (kate.davison@sheffield.ac.uk)
Sarah Chubb, Derbyshire Record Office (sarah.chubb@derbyshire.gov.uk)

Applying for funding 2024

The referenced 2024 funding competitions are now closed. 

Your first step should be to get in touch with the member of staff you are hoping to work with. The funding application process is very competitive and, in addition to holding a first class BA degree, your proposal will need to be very carefully crafted.

We would, therefore, suggest this contact is made at least eight weeks before submitting a final funding application. This will allow your proposed supervisor to discuss your research proposal with you and offer advice on your application.

We would then strongly encourage you to submit your draft application - taking into account your discussions with your supervisor and their feedback - to the us by our internal deadline, so that we can provide final overarching feedback ahead of the final funding deadline. 

Expression of interest form - please use this form to let us know you are interested in PhD funding. We will be able to share some example applications and information from recent funding workshops. 

Key steps:

  1. Contact your proposed supervisor to discuss their availability and your initial proposal 
  2. Apply to the History PhD programme - please ensure your referees are aware of the funding deadline
  3. Submit a draft of your funding application by 17:00 GMT, Wednesday 3 January 2024. If you are unable to access Google Apps you can email your draft funding application form to r.hasnip@sheffield.ac.uk. Your draft will be reviewed by our Postgraduate Committee and feedback will be emailed to you by the end of Monday 15 January 2024.
  4. Submit the WRoCAH funding form through the WRoCAH website by 17:00 GMT, 24 January 2024.
  5. If you have agreed with your supervisor that you should also submit a WRDTP application, you should also submit this via your Sheffield PhD course application by 17:00 GMT, 24 January 2024.

 

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