Applying for PhD and MPhil Research
The Department welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates wishing to undertake research for a PhD or MPhil by thesis. Applications are considered at regular intervals throughout the year and may be made at any time.
How to Apply
In order to process your research application, we require three pieces of information from you:
- Research Proposal
- Method of Funding
- Prior Qualifications (including English language qualifications if English is not your first language)
You should follow the following procedure in order to ensure that the application process progresses as smoothly as possible:
Prior Qualifications
Ensure that you fulfil the entrance requirements for research study. Applicants whose first language is not English are likely to be asked to take the University´s USEPT test in English prior to commencing study if they have not already taken an English test and passed at an accepted level. This will normally be indicated if and when an offer is made. We also expect that you will have a first degree or ideally higher level qualification. During the application process we will ask to see copies of your original certificates.
Entrance requirements for research study
Proposal
Read the following information on our research groups, research heads and current projects:
Information Studies Research Groups
Consider how your interests would fit in with the research of the department. Once you have decided on an appropriate research group, you will need to create a proposal outlining your research idea. You should email your proposal to matthew.l.jones@sheffield.ac.uk stating clearly which research group you are applying to. You should also include (but do not need to provide documentary evidence at this stage):
- Summary details of previous academic and English language qualifications, if applicable.
- Details of how you intend to fund your study (e.g. self-fund, state scholarship). Details of University fees can be found here:
Financial information for Prospective Postgraduates
Information on generating your proposal can be found here:
The Research Proposal
If your proposal is deemed to be relevant and of a suitable standard, you may then be asked to apply formally with the University. During this process you will be asked to arrange for two referees´ forms to be completed, to provide transcripts and certificates of relevant qualifications and to provide evidence of your source of funding if applicable. If your proposal is not accepted you will receive an email explaining that the department will not be able to offer you a place.
Candidates accepted to study for the degree of PhD are normally registered initially in the first year for the degree of MPhil. Students will then be re-registered in year two of study for the degree of PhD upon satisfactory completion of the first year of study. Exceptionally, students may be registered for a PhD in the first year of study.
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