Prospective Postgraduates

How to apply for a Research Degree

You can apply for postgraduate study using our online application form. It is a quick and easy process. Your application can be with us and considered by an academic department within 24 hours.

Medicine graduates:
Please note that if you are a graduate in Medicine and wish to apply for an MD research degree, you will need to apply via a different route. To make an MD research application, please visit the School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences website.

MD Research Degrees - how to apply (link will open in a new window)

Supporting Documents

When you apply, please include the relevant supporting documents for your application. Typically we will require the following documents:

Proof of your previous qualifications
This would normally be in the form of an academic transcript or certificate of your undergraduate and/or higher degrees. If these documents are not written in English, please include an official translation.

If you have not yet graduated from your studies, please send your most recent transcript, showing your results to date.

Academic references
The University of Sheffield requires two references to support your application. These should be supplied by academic staff at institutions where you studied previously. If you have been out of education for the last two years, you can send one academic reference, plus one from your current employer if you wish.

Please provide signed references on headed paper from your referees' institutions or on the Reference Form (available as a download from the box on the right of this page). Your referees should either email electronic or scanned copies of their references directly to shefapply@sheffield.ac.uk, or post the originals to us at the address below.

English language certificate (EU and Overseas applicants)
This will usually be your IELTS or TOEFL certificate. For further information about acceptable English language qualifications, please see our English Language requirements web page.

A supporting statement
You should provide a statement giving your reasons for applying for the course and any other information you wish to supply in support of your application.

Curriculum vitae (CV)/Resume
This is particularly useful if you have professional experience that is relevant to the course you wish to apply for.

Supplying Your Supporting Documents

The quickest and easiest way to send these documents to us is by attaching them to your online application, either when you apply or by logging back into the form using your email address and password. You can log into your application at any time and add additional documents, even after it has been submitted.

If it is not possible to attach your documents to the online application form, you can send your documents to us by post:

Admissions Service
The University of Sheffield
9 Northumberland Road
Sheffield S10 2TT
UNITED KINGDOM

If your application is successful and you have supplied electronic or photocopied copies of your documents, please be aware that you will need to supply the original documents before being allowed to register.

Please remember to write your name and application number on all correspondence that you upload or post in support of your application. DO NOT email us any supporting documents if you have applied online. You must either attach them to your application or post them.

If you have any further questions about the application process, the supporting documents we require, or about studying at the University, please contact us.

Use the following link to enter the online form:

Postgraduate Online Application Form

Paper Application Form

Order a prospectus

For more information about studying at Sheffield, please see our prospectus. You can order a prospectus by following the link below:

Order a postgraduate prospectus