39 PhD programmes offered by the university

The Electronic and Electrical Engineering research we do at the University of Sheffield provides solutions to real world problems and we are proud of the working relationships we have with leaders of industry and academia.

From a strong history of tackling problems in structural and water engineering, our Civil and Structural Engineering research at the University of Sheffield has grown to support the future development of sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure in all its forms.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield is internationally renowned for its high-quality research. The expertise of our staff covers a wide range of specialist areas and our mission is to carry out research in fundamental science through to practical industrial applications.

The University of Sheffield provides a vibrant and friendly environment for postgraduate study, offering you the change to carry out research at the cutting edge of Physics and Astronomy.

Automatic Control and Systems Engineering PhD students at the University of Sheffield become members of our research community, enjoying excellent research facilities in a rich intellectual environment.

The School of Clinical Dentistry is proud to provide a world-class research environment for our PhD students and the University of Sheffield is in the Russell Group Top Ten for research output.

Scientists and researchers across the School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield work in collaboration with a wide range of interdisciplinary research institutes and centres.

Our Chemistry research clusters at the University of Sheffield span chemical biology, polymers, materials and nanoscience, molecular design and catalysis, and theory and light-matter interactions.

The PhD programme in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sheffield is your chance to join the next generation of world-class researchers in mathematics and statistics, to contribute to knowledge and develop transferable research skills.

Our research ethos underpins and stimulating and dynamic environment in which to study. As a PhD researcher in the School of English at the University of Sheffield, you'll be joining a community of world-leading researchers who are pushing the boundaries of literary and linguistic study. 

Join our large, thriving PhD community at the University of Sheffield investigating topics in a wide variety of archaeological specialisms: Landscape, Funerary and Mediterranean Archaeology, Medieval Europe, Bioarchaeology and Archaeomaterials.

The Information School at the University of Sheffield is the UK's leading centre for library and information management research. It explores the role that information plays in society and the tools that are needed to support information systems within organisations.

World-leading staff, an active and international student community, and an exceptionally diverse range of modules makes the University of Sheffield one of the world’s most exciting places to study Philosophy.

Finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges is at the heart of the world-leading research we do in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield. Our staff are experts in their fields, from new vaccine production methods to climate change and sustainability research.

Ophthalmology and Orthoptics at the University of Sheffield trains expert eyecare specialists, offer professionals the skills and expertise to take the next steps in their careers, and contribute to major new advances in the field.

Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Sheffield an ambitious interdisciplinary research agenda which is driven by the need to examine how knowledge about the world is turned into actions designed to make it a better place.

The School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield is renowned for the quality of its PhD degrees. It has a vibrant research environment where PhD students can enjoy strong links to larger research groups.

At the University of Sheffield's Department of Journalism Studies, communication and journalism are at the heart of everything we do.

The University of Sheffield Management School offers you the opportunity to study for a PhD in a stimulating and rewarding collegiate environment, committed to delivering an outstanding student experience and impactful socially-responsible research.