PhD in 2027

Sheffield Hallam University, established in 1843 and based in Sheffield, is a large modern university serving around 31,000 students, including approximately 3,100 international learners. The university is known for applied teaching, industry-aligned courses and strong professional links across disciplines from business and health to engineering and the creative industries. Students benefit from modern facilities, well-equipped labs and specialist studios tailored to career-focused learning.

The campus ethos emphasizes employability: placements, work-based projects and employer partnerships are embedded across many programs, helping students gain practical experience and build professional networks. Academic staff work closely with industry and regional employers on applied research and innovation, creating pathways into internships and graduate roles. Dedicated student support services assist with academic skills, careers advice and wellbeing.

Sheffield itself is a friendly, affordable student city with good transport links to the north of England and easy access to green spaces and cultural venues. International students often highlight the city’s welcoming community, active student societies and opportunities to balance study with outdoor activities. For those seeking a practical, career-oriented university experience in the UK, Sheffield Hallam offers strong employer engagement, supportive services and an accessible urban lifestyle.

Graduates of this programme often pursue high-level academic careers, including teaching at the higher education level, or leverage their advanced analytical and project management skills to excel in museums, archives, media, libraries, and public policy sectors. By joining the Humanities Research Centre, you become part of an active, interdisciplinary community where 77% of research has been rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Specialist Research Areas

The programme offers a supportive environment to undertake an original doctoral project. You will work closely with expert supervisors to develop your research in areas such as:

• Creative Writing
• English Language (including social structure and stylistics)
• Eighteenth-century and Romantic literature
• Renaissance studies
• Modern and contemporary literature
• Performativity, theatre studies, and practice

Beyond your core project, you will engage in researcher development training, participate in interdisciplinary conferences, and learn how to disseminate your findings to diverse audiences. The university provides excellent infrastructure for your work, including 24-hour library access, dedicated postgraduate office spaces, and specialist recording and editing facilities for those whose practice requires them.