Tips and experiences from students at University of Sheffield

Overview

About University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a leading research university with a global reputation for excellence. A member of the prestigious Russell Group, the university is ranked 92nd in the world, 15th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2026). Students from all backgrounds can expect to enjoy a world-class education in Sheffield.

Home to more than half a million people, Sheffield is a thriving hub of culture and industry. The fourth biggest city in the UK, Sheffield is conveniently located in the centre of the UK, and it is an ideal base for students who want to explore the rest of the UK and Europe. The city is just two hours away from London and one hour from Manchester by train.

With a sizeable international community, Sheffield is renowned for its excellent teaching and world-leading research. The university’s researchers are passionate about tackling the biggest challenges facing the world today. Sheffield’s cutting-edge research output influences both national and international policy, as well as the university’s teaching across a range of disciplines.

The university is home to 28,000 students represented by 150 countries worldwide. Known for its tight-knit and welcoming campus community, its students' union is widely recognised as one of the best in the country, voted number 1 in the UK (National Student Survey 2025), offering a vibrant range of clubs and societies, social events, and volunteering opportunities to enhance students' academic experience. Sheffield is world renowned for providing an amazing student experience.

University ranking

Academic Ranking of World Universities

2025 151

2024 151

2023 151

QS World University Rankings

2026 92 13

2025 105 1

2024 104

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

2026 108 10

2025 98 7

2024 105

What’s new

Sheffield recognised as a world-leading university in the latest rankings and surveys

Prestigious awards enjoyed by the university in the past year include being ranked 92nd in the world and 15th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2026), 12th in the UK (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025), the top university in the Russell Group for student experience and student support (Daily Mail University Guide 2025) and also number 1 in the Russell Group in the National Student Survey (NSS 2025) and has been named University of the Year for Student Experience (Times and Sunday Times 2026).

Sheffield was also rated 33rd in the world for sustainability (QS Sustainability Rankings 2026).The most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021) also ranked 92 percent of Sheffield’s research as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Sheffield ranked among the best universities in England for its work with businesses and public engagement

The University of Sheffield was recently ranked as one of the top universities in England for its public engagement, community engagement, and work with businesses in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF 2024). The results of the KEF – which is an annual measure of the extent to which universities have worked with partner organisation to promote socio-economic development – demonstrated that Sheffield has an excellent track record of developing intellectual property, commercialising research, and creating meaningful engagement with the public.

Automatic scholarships for international students in 2026

The University of Sheffield has introduced a new scholarship offer for international students starting their studies in September 2026. They offer scholarships of GBP 2,500 for each year (subject to a 60 percent average) of an undergraduate degree and GBP 3,000 for postgraduate taught degrees. No need to apply, as this scholarship is automatically applied as a discount to tuition fees for eligible students.

Eligibility

Entry requirements

The University of Sheffield has been welcoming students from all over the world for many decades. Prospective international students should visit the university’s country admissions pages to view more information on qualification requirements for specific countries.

Sheffield accepts a range of different English language qualifications. Its English language teaching centre offers pre-sessional English language courses for those who need to improve their levels to meet the entry requirements for undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

At undergraduate level, Sheffield accepts a range of different international secondary school level qualifications for direct entry onto courses. If students do not meet the necessary requirements, they can apply for one of the university’s pathway programmes at the University of Sheffield International College.

International students applying for taught postgraduate courses are generally required to hold a good bachelor’s degree from a recognised university to be considered for direct admission to postgraduate diploma or master’s programmes. If students do not meet the entry requirements for taught postgraduate programmes, they can also apply for a pre-master’s programme at Sheffield’s International College.

Applicants looking to undertake postgraduate research programmes are typically expected to hold a good bachelor’s degree and a good master’s degree from a recognised university.

Scholarships & funding

The University of Sheffield is offering automatic scholarships to international students joining in September 2026. Eligible overseas students will receive a tuition fee discount of up to GBP 10,000 for the duration of a four-year undergraduate course or GBP 3,000 for postgraduate taught courses. All applicants should visit Sheffield’s scholarships information page for the full terms, conditions, criteria and eligibility for scholarships at the university.

Department and Faculty

Teaching quality

Whatever subject students choose to study at the University of Sheffield, they can expect to be taught and supervised by world-leading teachers and researchers. Academic staff at the university are experts in their fields and in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 92 percent of Sheffield’s research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, teaching is driven at Sheffield by research expertise and students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to achieve future career success in both academia and industry.

During their time at Sheffield, students are helped to become experts in specialist subject areas as they prepare for the world of work. Students are guided by tutors with a wealth of real-world experience to develop their problem-solving, research, analytical, team working, and leadership skills while they increase their confidence and develop their transferable skills.

Department structure

The University of Sheffield offers a wide range of courses, from undergraduate degrees to taught postgraduate courses and research degrees. The university is made up of five academic faculties, with each faculty divided into schools for specialist subject instruction:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

School of English
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
School of Languages, Arts and Societies
School of Law

Faculty of Engineering

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
School of Computer Science
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Faculty of Health

School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
School of Clinical Dentistry
School of Medicine and Population Health

Faculty of Science

School of Biosciences
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
School of Psychology

Faculty of Social Sciences

School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
School of Economics
School of Education
School of Geography and Planning
School of Information, Journalism and Communication
Management School
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

Campus and facilities

Student safety

The University of Sheffield prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive university community. Students from all backgrounds are provided with tailored support throughout their time at the university through Sheffield’s dedicated equality, diversity and inclusion team. The safeguarding and welfare team is also always available to provide practical guidance and support for any students who experience difficulties while studying at Sheffield.

Sheffield works hard to ensure all its students and staff feel safe when on campus. The university has a visible and reassuring security service who protect and serve the campus community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round. Sheffield also provides all students with access to the free Safezone app, which provides mobile safety reassurance. Via the Safezone app, students can alert the university’s security service if they ever need emergency or non-urgent help while on campus. The Safezone app is also used to deliver notifications pertaining to campus safety procedures and information on developing incidents.

Facilities

Students enjoy state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Sheffield. The university is continually investing in cutting-edge spaces to ensure it creates the best possible learning environment for its students. Standout facilities at Sheffield include the Information Commons Library which has over 100,000 books and 500 computers, and the Diamond, a multidisciplinary teaching facility with 2,540 study spaces, nine lecture theatres, a jet engine control room, a machine shop, and a virtual reality suite.

Many of Sheffield’s facilities are interdisciplinary and are designed to foster innovation and collaboration. The university has specialist laboratories with industry standard equipment for clinical, engineering and science subjects, as well as music technology spaces, broadcast studios, multimedia newsrooms, and a fully equipped financial trading room.

Sheffield also offers a range of modern accommodation options to its international students. The university guarantees to find international students accommodation for the duration of their studies, providing they meet a few simple conditions. All accommodation includes a private bedroom and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms are en-suite so students will have their own bathroom and WC.

Your Student Community