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The University of Sheffield is a highly ranked research university located in the city of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. It is well over a century old, having attained University status in 1905, though its three constituent parts had been established earlier: Sheffield Medical School, Firth College, and Sheffield Technical School were founded in 1828, 1879, and 1884, respectively. Over 30,000 students and nearly 8,000 staff members call the University home as of the academic year 2021-22.
Teaching and research at the university are carried out through five F...
| Establishment year | 1905 |
| Total Students | 30,129 |
| International Students | 9,505 (as of 2019) |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | 104 |
| Campus Size | N/A |
| Total Number of Campuses | 1 |
| University Website | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ |
| No. of Schools and Divisions | 5 Faculties (Arts and Humanities, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Science, Social Sciences) |
| Nobel Prize Winner Alumni | 6 |
| No. of Education Programs | 248 (undergraduate), 224 (postgraduate) |
| Student to Faculty ratio | 15:1 |
The University of Sheffield offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 5 Faculties, which are further subdivided into Departments and Schools.
The University of Sheffield makes offers to a large proportion of its undergraduate applicants, with UCAS data from 2017 showing that 84% of UG applicants received an offer of admission.
The first requirement for undergraduate entry to the University consists of English language proficiency. For this, students need to show proof of good grades in English at the GCSE (or equivalent Year 10 level for international students) level. Some courses also require Mathematics minimum performance levels; these can be found on the course webpages. Certain courses may have other requirements, and the Science and Engineering Departments also offer foundation courses for a year that lead to guaranteed admission after the completion of bridge courses designed to get students ready for a rigorous undergraduate curriculum.
There is no strict academic cutoff for postgraduate applications to the University of Sheffield, but it is recommended to have the international equivalent of a 2:1 degree in the UK. Recommended minimum criteria are listed for each country on the University website, though marks lower than these are not an automatic disqualification, especially if the personal statement explains the reason for this, or if the course is not very competitive. The application must also include proof of English language proficiency. Each Department has different English proficiency requirements; these can be found on the relevant webpages. The English Language Teaching Centre at the University helps students who need additional tutoring in English take up classes before their main course starts.
Undergraduate applications to the University of Sheffield must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website. Medicine and Dentistry applications must be submitted by 15 October 2022 for entry in 2023. All other courses can have their applications submitted by 25 January 2023 for entry in 2023, for equal consideration. Candidates can also apply after this date, up to 30 June 2023, but these applications will only be considered after the first set, and if places are still available in the relevant courses. The University maintains a webpage that has more information on the UG application process, and additional information about deferred admission, and direct entry into the second year of a programme.
After an application is submitted, the University assesses it and sends decisions only over email: conditional offers, unconditional offers, or rejections. Once an offer is made, confirmation of a place at the University is subject to final examination results being submitted.
All students applying to postgraduate courses at the University of Sheffield must fill the PG online application form. This form contains two sections: the first collects personal information, academic records, and English proficiency test scores. Once this is completed, the second part of the form can be filled out, where an applicant selects the course(s) of interest; up to 3 different courses can be filled in this section. Additional attachments to the application include a personal statement and academic transcript / degree scans. Entries to PG courses typically happen in February and September every year; application deadlines usually open six months before either start date, and close a month or two before it. Detailed timelines can be found on individual PG course webpages. After submission, candidates will be given a tracking reference number to view the status of the application in real time.
Undergraduate students from the UK pay a fixed tuition fee of £9,250 per year. If required, the Government provides a loan for this entire amount, with living costs added. Home students do not have to pay back the loan until they get a job and earn over a certain threshold.
Undergraduate international students pay substantially higher fees. The University provides an online tool by which overseas applicants can easily look up course-wise fees. Most Departments charge between £20,000 and £25,670 for their courses. Medicine and Dentistry international students pay close to £40,000 as annual tuition fees.
Postgraduate fees are not fixed for either domestic or international students and vary from course to course. A tool similar to the UG fee look-up portal exists for PG courses: it can be used to quickly estimate the tuition fees for both UK and international candidates. There is less of a gulf between home and overseas fees: for example, in the Department of Computer Science, international postgraduates pay £27,500 as tuition fees, whereas UK PG students pay £13,000 annually.
All students must also budget for living costs; these usually sum up to over £10,000 per year. While planning, it is useful to use the Money Planner online tool created by the University.
The University of Sheffield campus is made up of many buildings spread over the south-western area of the city of Sheffield. The Arts Tower has 22 levels; it is one of the tallest academic buildings in the United Kingdom, and is the most recognisable landmark on the campus. The Firth Court building dates back to the establishment of the University in 1905. The modern Information Commons building is filled with study spaces, library facilities, and IT terminals; it never shuts, and is open 24*7.
The campus is not just made up of buildings; the University is one of the largest estate owners in Sheffield, and nurtures and develops its green spaces as a sustainability goal. It directly takes care of 10,500 trees located around the buildings and open areas of the University, and replaces any tree that has to be removed with two saplings. The Improved Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) project seeks to improve access to green spaces to enhance the mental health of the University community.
The University contains 57 sports clubs: membership in these is open both to students who are already adept at a particular sport and to novices who want to give a new physical activity a shot. Sporting events are organised by these clubs throughout the year, from friendly games to high level weekly British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) league fixtures.
Any student who lives in accommodation provided by the University has free access to the Fitness Suite. This is a state of the art gym that never closes, so that students can schedule exercise and gym time according to their other commitments.
Using their University logins on the Sport Sheffield website, students can also view timings for scheduled fitness activities and swimming timetables, to ensure that they can always remain active and physically fit.
The Students' Union at the University of Sheffield has a highly organised structure: council members, committees, 13 elected officers, and class representatives set up events and serve as the voice of their classmates in discussions with management. The Union also manages over ten cafes, snack outlets, and pubs in and around the campus buildings.
The Careers Service at the University of Sheffield coordinates all internships and placement activities and serves as a bridge between students and employers. Using their University login, students can access resources, view jobs, and apply to open positions. Employers and recent graduates can also use the Careers Service webpage to connect with the University.
The high costs associated with pursuing a degree at the University of Sheffield can be offset by the many scholarships available.
Undergraduate scholarships for international students start with the prestigious Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, which pays out 50% of tuition fee costs to 75 students who qualify for the award every year. In addition, the International Undergraduate Scholarship pays out between £2,000 and £2,500, depending on the Department, to all eligible students based only on their application for admission. Other scholarships are available, they can be found on the main UG scholarship webpage and on the individual country pages
The structure of postgraduate scholarships is similar: there are 125 places for Postgraduate Merit Scholarship winners, and these pay 25% of the tuition fee rather than 50%. The International Postgraduate Scholarship is similar in amount: £2,500. Information about other PG scholarships can be found on the relevant University webpage.
