PhD Research Council scholarships

About the project

UK Research Councils are a major source of financial support for research postgraduates.

Applications for Research Council scholarships are made through the University, either through a central process, via the academic department or directly through a Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)/Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)/Doctoral Focal Award (DFA).

A summary of the opportunities available at the University of Sheffield are outlined below.

We recommend that prospective students contact their intended school in the first instance to find out what opportunities may be available. Please also check your eligibility for Research Council scholarships prior to application.

Eligibility criteria for Research Council-funded scholarships

Scholarship opportunities for each Research Council can be found below:

• AHRC (Arts & Humanities Research Council)
• BBSRC (Biotechnology & Biological Research Council)
• EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
• ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)
• MRC (Medical Research Council)
• NERC (Natural Environment Research Council)
• STFC (Science and Facilities Technology Council)

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA)

The University of Sheffield has received an AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) to support postgraduate researchers in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Sheffield’s DLA studentships will be associated with the AHRC North/Northwest Hub, in collaboration with nine other regional universities.

Applications for the AHRC DLA for 2027 entry are open . Please visit this page for details on how to apply.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships (CDP)

The AHRC also work with key partners to make Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) Awards.

These are recruited on a project by project basis and any that are available are advertised on the PhD Projects Directory .

Yorkshire Biosciences DTP

The Yorkshire Biosciences DTP awards Project and CASE scholarships supported by the BBRSC and the partner Universities of Leeds, York and Sheffield.

Students are recruited to pre defined projects. Details about the application process can be found on the DTP webpages

BBSRC iCase and CTP Awards

The BBSRC funds projects in collaboration with external companies.

These are recruited on a project by project basis and will be advertised on the PhD Projects Directory .

EPSRC Doctoral landscape Award (DLA)

The University benefits from a large DLA grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to support Research Studentships within their portfolio . These are allocated to departments and to certain projects (including Collaborative DLA awards which are run in conjunction with an industrial collaborator).

Applications for 2026 entry to the EPSRC DLA are now closed.

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

The University of Sheffield also recruits to several EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).

These EPSRC-funded Centres bring together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today's evolving issues, and future challenges. They also provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, create new working cultures, build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry.

Students are funded for four years and include technical and transferrable skills training, as well as a research element. Many centres leverage additional studentships from other sources (eg university funding, EU funding, industrial funding, private funding etc).

CDTs recruiting students based at Sheffield include:

EPSRC iCASE awards

The EPSRC works with key partners to fund Industrial CASE awards.

The majority of these awards are made directly to students by eligible departments within the University. Projects recruiting with EPSRC funding will be advertised on the PhD Projects Directory .

• Centre for Doctoral Training for Water Infrastructure and Resilience (WIRe)
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy and the Environment (AURA) (with the Natural Environment Research Council)
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semi Conductor Manufacturing
• Centre for Doctoral Training in SATURN (Skills and Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear)
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 with the Henry Royce Institute
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber-physical systems for Medicines Development and Manufacturing (CEDAR)
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Sound Futures
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Machining, Assembly, and Digital Engineering for Manufacturing

ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership

Economic and Social Research Council funding for PhD scholarships at Sheffield is predominantly awarded by the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership . This is a partnership between the seven Universities of Leeds, York, Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, Sheffield Hallam and Manchester Metropolitan.

Information about all awards can be found on the White Rose DTP webpages .

Discovery Medicine North Doctoral Training Partnership (DiMeN)

The Discovery Medicine North (DiMeN) Doctoral Training Partnership allocates Medical Research Council funds across the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.

ACCE DTP

ACCE+ (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment) is a NERC funded Doctoral Landscape Award with the Universities of Sheffield, Liverpool and York and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

At Sheffield, students are recruited to the DTP from the Schools of Biosciences; Mathematics & Physical Science; Geography & Planning; and Mechanical, Civil & Aerospace Engineering.

AURA Centre for Doctoral Training

The AURA Centre for Doctoral Training is jointly supported by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council.

ECOSOLUTIONS DOCTORAL FOCAL AWARD

The ECOSOLUTIONS Doctoral Focal Award combines science, policy, and societal engagement to transform chemicals policy and management, enabling a safe, sustainable chemicals sector and non-toxic environments.

STFC Scholarship funding

The STFC provides fundings to students at Sheffield, predominantly to students within the School of Mathematics & Physical Science. Please contact your department directly for details on potential STFC funding opportunities.

Further information

If you have any questions about scholarships please see our FAQs or email pgr-scholarships@sheffield.ac.uk .

Find a PhD

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

Research areas