Call for applications for White Rose funded PhD scholarships

Overview

The Sheffield Institute of Education welcomes applications for White Rose funded PhD scholarships, starting in October 2025. Applicants are advised to submit their own project ideas on any topic aligned with the Education, Childhood and Youth pathway (see research clusters below). Scholarships are available for both full-time and part-time PhD study. Please refer to our doctoral applications page and the WRDTP website pages for detailed information about the awards, eligibility and materials to support putting together an application. Successful applicants will join Sheffield Hallam's highly active community of researchers and doctoral students in the Sheffield Institute of Education, based at City Campus, close to the city centre and transport links. 

Postgraduate research at the Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE)

We are a vibrant doctoral community. The postgraduate research forum at the Sheffield Institute of Education provides opportunities for students to meet, collaborate and socialise. The forum runs training sessions on a range of topics (e.g., writing the thesis, attending conferences, research methods) in addition to those run by the Sheffield Hallam University Doctoral School, a hub for researcher development and networking. Doctoral researchers run the annual SIoE doctoral research conference where postgraduate researchers are encouraged to present their work in progress. In addition, the SIoE research seminar series provides opportunities to share research with scholars at the SIoE and beyond. White Rose funded students also benefit from the training programme and extended networking opportunities offered by the scheme.

Research clusters in the Sheffield Institute of Education

The Sheffield Institute of Education is a national centre of education. We are recognised for our excellence and innovation in teaching, learning and research. Our work is embedded in practice and delivered by working in partnership. Our research activity can be broadly grouped into five clusters with the following aims:

(i) Improving the efficacy of educational professionals and enhancing curriculum and pedagogy
Our research in this area explores the practices, experiences and professional lives of teachers, further and higher education lecturers and other practitioners working in educational contexts. Topics include teacher recruitment, retention, working conditions, wellbeing and identities; the role of professional development, models of professional learning and mentoring; evidence-informed practice including the development and evaluation of curriculum and pedagogical innovations or interventions. 

(ii) Enhancing language and literacy education 
Projects in this cluster investigate all facets of language and literacy, reflecting the complexity, diversity and dynamism of communicative practices. Potential topics include learners' language and literacy experiences in varied settings; language and literacy in the digital world; multimodal literacies; early years literacy; workplace literacy; English for Academic Purposes; English for Research and Publication Purposes; TESOL; and global literacies. 

(iii)  Improving Childhood and young people’s educational and social experiences 
Our research in this area pertains to early years and childhood policy, practices and provision; childhood, children and young people’s health and wellbeing; young people’s participation in education; and friendships and play.

(iv) Promoting social justice and inclusion by addressing disadvantage, discrimination and oppression 
Projects in this cluster focus on educational practices that foster social justice; the impact of racism on educational outcomes and experience; the life-experiences of LGBTQ+ children, young people and adults; higher education policy pertaining to social justice; participation and student experience, including international student experience; internationalisation; and the problematisation of concepts, constructions and experiences of youth, disability, education and society. 

(v) Innovating in theory and methodology 
The goal of this cluster is to develop new and original perspectives on established and emerging theories and methods in education research. Topis include the analysis of materialities and digital technologies in educational practice; evaluation theory, methods and policy; enhancing anti-oppressive methodologies and creative research practices; and advancing randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental and mixed methods methodology. 

*Note that we welcome applications that do not sit within these clusters provided we have relevant supervisor expertise in the institute*

Research quality at Sheffield Hallam University

Here at Sheffield Hallam, we generate high quality research with real world outcomes that transform lives. Our moto is “knowledge applied”. The high standard of our educational research was recognised in REF 2021; Sheffield Hallam is now ranked 11th for research power out of a field of 83 universities.

• Our research environment was recognised as the best in any modern university
• 70% of our research outputs are world leading or internationally excellent
• Almost 90% of our research impact is world leading or internationally excellent

You can find out more about our 2021 REF submission and our impact case studies on the Sheffield Hallam University website.

A message from Ellie Long, one of our current White Rose PhD students in the SIoE:

“My thesis project explores the experiences of education staff undertaking trauma-informed professional development and the implementation and creation of trauma-informed change in primary school settings. The WRDTP studentship has enabled me to focus full time on my PhD, offering multiple and varied training opportunities in research skills and professional development. My supervisory team have supported me throughout, offering their expert advice on my project and helping me to structure my academic writing, and the postgraduate research team at Hallam have also supported on the practical aspects of the project. The overall experience has been amazing, and I would recommend the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership to anyone wanting to undertake post graduate research.”

Next Steps

If you would like to apply for a White Rose funded PhD scholarship, please access information about the application process via the research degrees White Rose DTP scholarships page and the White Rose DTP website.

Before you apply, we recommend that you discuss your proposed research topic with a potential supervisor. We have academic staff working across each of the research clusters who are interested in supervising new PhD students and you can read more about their areas of research interest and expertise on the Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange webpages.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview w/c 3 February 2025.  If successful at this recruitment stage, you will be offered a PhD in principle and nominated for the DTP competition.  You will work closely with the proposed supervisor to develop your research proposal further in preparation for the DTP application deadline of 26 February 2025.

Please contact Dr Lisa McGrath l.mcgrath@shu.ac.uk if you have specific questions. Lisa will also be able put you in contact with a potential supervisor to support you in putting together your application.