Fees and scholarships

We are committed to the development of our postgraduate research community, and we provide a range of funding and scholarship opportunities to our PhD students.

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Thinking about PhD study? Hear from our PGR Director and the PGR Admissions Tutor

This video is from our PhD study virtual event in 2022. It will answer a range of questions, such as:

  • What is a PhD?
  • What does a PhD involve?

  • How do I apply?

  • What funding is available and how do I apply for it?

The event was led by the PGR Director, Dr Kate Weiner, and the PGR Admissions Tutor, Dr Laura Connelly. Kate and Laura were joined by PhD student Tom Wright.

Postgraduate research tuition fees

Home students

The tuition fee you pay in your first year will increase (in line with inflation) for each subsequent year of study. Tuition fees for part-time degrees are usually charged at half of the rate of full-time degrees across twice the number of years (subject to an increase in subsequent years in line with inflation).

Overseas students

The tuition fee you pay in your first year will be the same for each subsequent year of study. Tuition fees for part-time degrees are usually charged at half of the rate of full-time degrees across twice the number of years.

PGR tuition fees


Postgraduate research scholarships

All scholarship applications are made through the University's Postgraduate Online Application Form. When you start the application, you will see a drop down box that asks you which scholarship/s you are interested in. You should tick all that apply. The system will then open the appropriate application form based on your selection.

Scholarship Opportunities for 2024/25 entry

You must have a study offer (a PhD place) in place to be considered for a scholarship. You must apply for the PhD place no later than Thursday 11th January 2024 if you intend to also apply for a scholarship. This is a strict deadline. See how to apply for further details.

The scholarship opportunities for 2024/25 can be found below:

White Rose ESRC DTP Open Competition Scholarships

The White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP), accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is a collaboration across the social sciences at the Universities of Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, Sheffield Hallam and York.

Subject to confirmation of ESRC funding, the following scholarships will be available for doctoral research students commencing their studies in October 2024.

WRDTP Pathway Awards (including the Interdisciplinary Research Awards and the WRDTP/Stuart Hall Foundation Awards for Black British students) WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) Awards WRDTP Advanced Data Analytics (ADA) Awards

These awards are available on a +3.5, +3.75 or 1+3.5 basis, and can be held full-time or part-time. Further information about each of these award schemes can be found on the WRDTP website, including assessment criteria which should be carefully consulted. Please direct queries to: enquiries@wrdtp.ac.uk

The deadline for applications is 24 January 2024 at 17:00 (GMT) but please note that a PhD place must be secured in advance of your scholarship submission.

WRoCAH AHRC DTP Open Competition Scholarships

Since 1997 the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York have built on their individual strengths by collaborating through the White Rose University Consortium. The White Rose College of the Arts & Humanities (WRoCAH) is one of 10 Doctoral Training Partnerships supported by the AHRC. 

WRoCAH will have approximately 45 AHRC Open Competition Studentships to award across the three institutions (Leeds, Sheffield and York) for October 2024 entry. Full guidance notes can be found on the WRoCAH website. Please direct enquiries to: enquiries@wrocah.ac.uk

University of Sheffield Research Scholarships

Applications are now open for the University of Sheffield scholarships. Awards will cover tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £18,622 in 2023). These scholarships fund up to three and a half years full-time or seven years part-time study, subject to satisfactory progress. Part-time studentships are paid at 50% of the full-time rate. Further details can be found here.

For 2024 entry, there will be five fully-funded University of Sheffield Research Scholarships ring-fenced for students who are UK National, classified as ‘Home’ for tuition fee purposes and identify as Black or Black British (of African or Caribbean heritage), Asian or Asian British (of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian heritage) or are of multiple ethnic backgrounds including one of the ethnicity groups listed above.


Applicants to the Faculty of Social Science must ensure that they complete the additional 'Scholarship Application' section of the Postgraduate Online Application Form. The deadline is 5pm GMT on 24 January 2014. Please note that a PhD place must be secured in advance of your scholarship submission.

Sheffield-China Scholarship Council PhD Scholarship

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. 

The University of Sheffield will fund tuition fees for 3.5 years. Students are expected to submit their thesis within this period. CSC will fund a grant for living costs for up to four years, and one return flight from China to the UK.

Further information about eligibility, research areas and the application process is available here.

All applicants are required to submit a study application via the Postgraduate Online Application Form no later than 5pm GMT on 24 January 2024. Please note that a PhD place must be secured in advance of your scholarship submission.

Funding opportunities for international students

The University holds a range of funding opportunities for international PhD applicants.

Where country specific scheme exist, they will be listed on the country pages here.

Our PhD finder also lets students search by funding status here.
 


PhD training in the Faculty of Social Sciences

As part of the Faculty of Social Sciences you will have access to world class training alongside your doctoral study. The Social Sciences Doctoral Training programme is tailored to your individual needs to ensure you have the right skills you need to develop your research.

The training programme is designed to exceed current UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) training and development guidelines, and gives all our social science PhD students access to ESRC-funded White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership cohort activities, regardless of your source of funding.

All our students receive interdisciplinary training and experience opportunities via the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, and additional discipline specific training is provided in each of our departments.

Find out more about our Social Sciences Graduate School

Flagship institutes

The University’s four flagship institutes bring together our key strengths to tackle global issues, turning interdisciplinary and translational research into real-world solutions.