Applications are invited for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) PhD scholarships in the Sheffield Institute of Education, commencing 1 October 2025.

The GTA scholarship scheme aims to develop highly skilled postgraduate researchers with further information on the University’s PhD scholarships available in the Conditions of Award document.

Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE)

SIoE Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre is the home for all funded RKE in the Institute. We have been developing and delivering educational innovations and evaluations locally, nationally and internationally for over 25 years. SIoE Research and Knowledge Exchange brings together experts in research, knowledge exchange and professional development. We are statisticians, social researchers, curriculum designers, teacher trainers and so much more. You can learn more about research in the Sheffield Institute of Education here .

Proposed PhD projects should be aligned with one or more of our areas of expertise:

(i) Improving the effectiveness of educational professionals and enhancing curriculum and pedagogy by researching the practices, experiences and professional lives of teachers and educational practitioners, including in higher education; teachers' recruitment, retention, working conditions, Flexible working, wellbeing and identities; the role of professional development, trauma informed practice, models of professional learning and mentoring and the key features of effective professional learning; mathematics and/or science teacher professional learning; evidence-informed practice including the development and evaluation of curriculum and pedagogical innovations, including in science and mathematics education. Contact: Professor Mark Boylan ( [email protected] ).

(ii) Enhancing language and literacy education by researching language and literacy, reflecting the complexity, diversity and dynamism of communicative practices; learners' experiences in varied settings encompasses the breadth of contemporary life, increasingly including the digital world, early years literacy multimodality, workplace literacy and global literacies, language learning and Teaching English as a Second Language/English for Academic Purposes. Contact: Dr Karen Daniels ( [email protected] ).

(iii) Improving Childhood and Young people’s educational and social experiences by researching Early Years practices and education provision, Early Years CPD, childhood, children and Young People’s health and wellbeing in educational contexts, including formal and informal learning about gender, sex, sexualities, sexual practices, and sexual health, youth transitions, and young people’s participation in education. Contact: Dr Caron Carter ( [email protected] ).

(iv) Promoting social justice and inclusion by addressing disadvantage, discrimination and oppression by researching educational practices that foster social justice, the impact of racism on educational outcomes and experience and the life-experiences of LGBTQ+ young people and adults; analysing higher education policy, participation and student experience; and problematising concepts, constructions and experiences of youth, disability, education and society, climate change and sustainability, neurodiversity. Contact: Professor El Formby ( [email protected] ).

(v) Innovating in theory and methodology by developing original perspectives on established, new, and emerging communicative practices; analysing materialities and digital technologies in educational practice; critically examining evaluation theory, methods and policy; enhancing anti-oppressive methodologies and creative research practices; and advancing randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental and mixed methods methodology. Contact: Dr Chris Bailey ( [email protected] ).

Our funders include UK and international government departments and policy organisations, Research Councils, schools and other educational institutions, major charities, learned societies and subject associations, business, and voluntary and community organisations. Our leading academics and expert practitioners develop collaborations and deliver activities with external and internal partners; contribute to the work of practitioner and scholarly organisations; and implement a range of research, scholarship and knowledge exchange activities designed to ‘make a difference’ to our students, our partners, and to our wider community in both the UK and internationally.

GTA scholarships are open to Home, EU and International applicants. The scholarship is for three and a half years full-time study (pro-rata part-time) and covers PhD fees and pays an annual stipend at the living wage foundation rate of £20,974 per year in 2024/25.

To apply you need to meet our entry requirements and provide:

·        A complete online application form for the October 2025 intake, available here . This includes:

· A research proposal . Maximum word count: 1,500 words.

· A personal statement . We want to learn more about you. In the personal statement you must answer these four questions. Please include the title of the project you are applying for in the Personal Statement section of the application form. We recommend no more than 200 words for each question and including specific examples from your previous experiences (academic and professional):

1.    What relevant skills and experience do you have which you feel would help you undertake this research project?

2.    How did you come up with your project proposal?

3.    What opportunities do you think the doctorate will give you?

4.    Provide an example demonstrating your approach to engaging with new experiences or ideas. This can be an example from your studies, work, or personal experiences.

· Copies of qualifications, certificates, and results transcripts (All applicants should hold a strong, relevant undergraduate degree (2.1 minimum) and/or a relevant master’s qualification (merit minimum)).

· Details of two referees who can comment on your academic ability and readiness for PhD study.

· Copies of your passport and any relevant visas.

International Students

International students* will be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency through:

1. Recent academic IELTS demonstrating an overall score of 7.0 or above with no score below 6.5 in the other components or equivalent. Recent means that your IELTS results must have been awarded two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date; or

2. Educated with a UK Master's degree level (merit minimum) within two years preceding your doctoral programme's start date.

* UKVI provide a list of countries exempt from the language entry requirements. If you're a national of one of these countries, you won't need to provide evidence as listed above.

For further information regarding our entry requirements, please visit the course page .

Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University, whilst in receipt of the scholarship.

Closing date: 17:00 (BST) on Thursday 17 ^th April 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Interviews are to take place during the weeks commencing 2 ^nd and 9 ^th June.

Please e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions.