How to apply
All DiMeN applications are managed centrally via the University of Sheffield. The application form can be accessed via the weblink, which will be posted on this page when applications open. All the projects are applied to via this University of Sheffield link, even where you are applying for projects based in York, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Deadline for applications is Friday 13th December at 5pm (UK time).
Candidate interviews will be held virtually 24th - 27th February 2025
You need to select three projects from the list of available projects and successful candidates will be allocated one of these. For specific project related queries please contact the project supervisor listed in the project description.
We will be holding an candidate webinar for interview candidates on [date TBC] outlining what we look for in a good candidate. Please read the guidance notes below to help you complete the application form.
APPLICATION PROCESS
After the closing date (13th December 2024) academic staff from our partner institutions will review your application statements. 100 shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview between 24th - 28th February 2025. We receive over 700 applications to DiMeN therefore unfortunately cannot provide feedback to candidates not selected for interview.
Interview candidates will be asked to arrange to meet online with project supervisors prior to interview. This is an opportunity for you to get to find out more, and for project supervisors to feedback to the interview panel regarding your suitability for their project. Please note, project supervisors will not be on the interview panel, they will however have access to your full application including references, transcripts and CVs. This supervisor meeting is important for you to decide the order of preference for the projects you have selected and a good opportunity to gain an understanding of how the research group operates, what support is available, the techniques you will learn.
After the interview stage, up to 42 candidates will be offered a PhD position. Those who rank highest after the interviews will be offered their first choice of project, during previous rounds a number of students have been offered their second or third choices.
APPLICATION FORM GUIDANCE
Section A: Course applied for: Part time study is available in some cases but this needs to be discussed and agreed with the project supervisor. Not all projects are viable on a part-time basis.
Sections B/C: Personal and contact details
Section D: Course specific questions (see below). Please note that we operate an anonymous marking system and these three statements are the only part of the application viewed by scorers. Word limit is strict and statements exceeding the word limit will be discounted.
Sections E: Nationality, Residency
Section F: English Language qualifications. Please check that you will meet the English Language requirements of the institutions you are applying to before completing this section. Applicants need to meet the English language condition of their offer by the deadline for meeting all offer conditions, which is the 8th September 2025 for applicants that will need to apply for CAS: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/deadlines
Section G: University education: Please include details of undergraduate and any postgraduate courses, including those in progress and upload transcripts where available. Please ensure you provide details of all University education here, including qualifications that are ongoing. If not yet awarded, it is important to state your predicted grade in your section D academic statement.
Section H: Secondary/College education: Details of pre-university education (A-level/GCSE certificates or equivalent) are not needed at this stage but may be requested later.
Section I: Relevant Employment. It is not necessary for you to complete this section, all relevant employment experience should be noted in your section D statements .
Section J: Two academic references. You will be asked to provide contact details for your referees who will be contacted automatically for references when you apply. In this section of the application, please select ‘email my referee a link to upload my reference.’ Please make sure named references are aware that they will be contacted to support your application. References will only be viewed after the shortlisting process and made available to project supervisors and the interview panel. All references are required to be uploaded by the 25th January 2025.
Sections K/L: Equal opportunities and any additional information. This section remains separate from your application and is for monitoring purposes only.
Section M: Personal supporting documents. Please ensure you upload an up to date CV. This will not be read during the application scoring process therefore any information you want considered should be included in your supporting statements. It will only be viewed by the interview panel and project supervisors for candidates shortlisted for interview.
COURSE-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
IMPORTANT: The three requested statements are the only part of your application the shortlisting panel will see. Please make sure all the information you want the panel to take into consideration is included and you stay within the word limit, statements over 200 words each will be rejected. We operate an anonymous scoring system so please do NOT state the name of your awarding organisation.
1. Please write a 200 word statement outlining your academic and employment achievements.
Highlight any prizes, scholarships or awards, including excellent module results, project outcomes and final/predicted degree grade(s). DO include the subject of your previous degrees, but please DO NOT state the name of the awarding institution within your statement, we are operating an anonymous shortlisting process with location of degree information blind as part of our EDI strategy to increase diversity in STEM.
2. Please write a 200 word statement explaining why you are interested in doing a PhD within the DiMeN DTP.
You should include details of why you want to study for a research degree, your suitability to the research areas/topics selected and what you would gain from being part of the DiMeN cohort. Our panel is looking to see that you have understood what PhD study involves, have a proactive approach, are passionate about the research area and motivated to succeed.
3. Describe a situation where you have gathered evidence, how you used this to devise a conclusion and inform actions (200 words maximum).
This is a competency based question, your answer could include a situation from research experience, employment, voluntary work, committees or previous education. The panel is looking for an example that demonstrates your skills and potential.