Sheffield Institute of Education
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 2026. 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 application page for full-time study or part-time study 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; multilingualism 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. Topics 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 motto 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
“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.”
How to apply
Applications for the WRDTP awards are not submitted directly to the WRDTP but to Sheffield Hallam University.
1. Pre-application stage:
Please contact Dr Lisa McGrath if you are interested in applying. Lisa will be able to put you in contact with a potential supervisor to support you in putting together your application.
Key Date: Please submit a working proposal via email to Dr Lisa McGrath by 17:00 on October 6th 2025.
2. Application stage:
You will need to make a formal application for a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University.
Key date: The closing date for Sheffield Hallam applications is 17:00 on 14 November 2025. No late applications will be accepted.
Full details about the application process is located here: Sheffield Hallam WRDTP and the WRDTP website pages.
To make an application please visit our application page for full-time study or part-time study.