Philosophy PhDs
A PhD is likely to be the most challenging type of academic work you have ever done, but it will also be the most rewarding. It's an independent piece of research and writing that presents an original contribution to existing philosophical knowledge.
We have over 30 members of academic staff, specialising in Philosophy from all across the discipline.
Key areas of specialism include:
- Environmental Philosophy
- Epistemology
- Ethics, Meta-Ethics and Moral Psychology
- Philosophy of Education
- Social Philosophy
- History of Philosophy
- Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science
- Political Philosophy
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of the Arts
Get involved
Our staff offer expertise in a wide range of areas; there are up to a dozen reading groups going at any given time, the majority of which are student-led, and students present work in progress at weekly postgraduate seminars and at the annual reading weekend.
There are special events for women in philosophy and lots of conferences and other events. Many PhD students are involved in Philosophy in the City, a student-run organisation that brings philosophy into local schools and homeless shelters. We have a strong placement record for our graduates. Our building in Victoria Street has plenty of study space, as well as a kitchen for postgraduates.
Entry requirements
You will need an MA at Distinction level from a UK University or equivalent grade from overseas. Contact us on pgrphilosophy@sheffield.ac.uk if you have any questions about your qualifications.
Admissions decisions are based mainly on:
- What your referees say about you
- Your writing sample
- Your record of academic achievement
English language requirements for 2024 entry
Overall IELTS grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.
Entry requirements for international students
Tuition fees and funding
91Ö±²¥ offers scholarships to PhD students to support their studies and you can also apply for British government (AHRC) funding via the of which 91Ö±²¥ is a part. Our funding page gives more details, and you can contact our Funding Advisor, Jimmy Lenman with any questions: j.lenman@sheffield.ac.uk.
Disabled applicants
We welcome disabled students. We're committed to responding effectively and appropriately to individual support needs. We take all practicable steps to ensure that disabled students can participate in their studies without disadvantage, and can make full use of the University's academic and support services. Information for disabled applicants
How to apply
You are welcome to contact us to discuss your application, but for formal consideration, you must complete the University's application form. Our academic skills centre, 301, offers advice on how to write a research proposal.
Supervision
We make every effort to ensure that students receive full support and guidance throughout their studies. You will meet monthly with your primary research supervisor. Each student is also assigned a secondary supervisor, with whom you will meet less frequently, to give you the benefit of a broader range of advice.
Our research
We have a lively research culture. Find out more about our research activities.
International
We welcome international students. Many of our graduate students and many of our staff are from other European countries, Asia and America.
There is lots of information for international students on our international and EU Philosophy applicants page and our University wide EU and international students webpages.
Recent PhDs
Our PhD students have strong placement records. For those seeking academic jobs, the usual first post is as either a postdoctoral researcher or a temporary lecturer/teaching fellow, with permanent posts coming a little later. Our students have secured jobs in the UK at departments like Antwerp, Birmingham, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Kent, Kings, Leeds, LSE, Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham, Open University, Oxford, Roehampton, 91Ö±²¥, and UWE. And they have secured jobs in many countries around the world including Austria, Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. See below for a list of recent PhD topics.
Recent placements our students have secured