University of Sheffield
Sheffield, England, UNITED KINGDOM
University Info | Faculty of Engineering Info | Exchange Student Info
Fact Facts
University of Sheffield
- is an international leader in teaching and research (in top 100 - QS World University Rankings 2022).
- offers one of the best student experiences and top students’ union in the UK four years running (Whatuni Student Choice Award for Best Students' Union).
- Give it a Go – award-winning program run by the Students’ Union that gives students the chance to try new things, meet new people, learn new skills and visit different places.
- offers state of the facilities for teaching and learning, including the Diamond, the 24-hour Information Commons, and the University library.
- The city of Sheffield gives students the best of both worlds – sophisticated fast-paced city life with stunning landscapes and beautiful scenery.
Introduction
Ranked consistently among the best 100 universities in the world, The University of Sheffield welcomes more than 28,000 students from 144 countries. Founded in 1905, the University is a member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group of research-led universities with 99% of research rated as internationally recognised, excellent or world-leading.
As a leading research institution, the University attracts the best minds in the world. Teaching staff at Sheffield are leading the way with innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Many of them are accredited Senior, Principal and National Teaching Fellows, which means they’re recognised at a national level for their high quality teaching.
The Students’ Union has been voted the best in the UK for the last four years in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards and offers more than 400 clubs and societies. There is a dedicated International Student Support Team based there who can meet students at the airport and help them to settle into life in the UK.
Sheffield has the biggest and best engineering faculties in the UK.The £81 million six-story Diamond building boasts specialist teaching facilities including a range of lecture theatres, seminar rooms, open-plan learning spaces, library and IT services, and space for informal study including a cafe. The computing area offers 1,000 study spaces available 24/7 for all students and staff across the University. There are also digital and print facilities, media editing booths, a recording studio and computer teaching laboratories. The building’s 19 laboratories offer students more practical learning opportunities with a chemical engineering pilot plant, a clean room, an aerospace simulation lab, a virtual reality suite and the iForge - a makerspace for students, run by students.
Our expertise is extensive – our seven academic departments and three interdisciplinary programme areas cover all the engineering disciplines. They are leaders in their fields and they are outstanding contributors to the development of new knowledge and linking their research to the teaching of the engineers of the future. Through cutting-edge research and strong partnerships with industry leaders globally, such as Boeing, Siemens and Rolls-Royce, our academics tackle the biggest challenges facing the modern world through an increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary approach. We have already experienced great success as a faculty and we intend to build on that. Our vision is to compete to be the best engineering faculty in the UK and to be amongst the best in the world.
Terms of Exchange
Study Level
- Undergraduate Students: Accepted
- Graduate students: NOT Accepted
- Computer Science majors: Accepted
Eligibility Requirements
Students should have a minimum GPA equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale. Students with a lower GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
English Proficiency Requirements
If the student is a non-native speaker of English, the minimum overall score is:
- TOEFL iBT – 80 overall with subscores below
- Reading: 18
- Writing: 17
- Listening: 17
- Speaking: 20
- IELTS – 6.0 with 5.5 in all components (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
- Pearson PTE – 55 with 51 in all components (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
Students will also be required to meet the minimum scores in each language component tested. Please be aware that all departments, particularly in engineering and computer science, have their own English language requirements which are higher than our standard entry requirements. Please refer to the English language requirements on our website for further guidance.
Study Period
Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Students should consider the availability of modules when determining their length of study.
Academic Calendar | Semester Dates (including exam periods)
- Fall: mid-September to early February
- Spring: early February to mid-June
Some students find that the fall semester at Sheffield overlaps with the following semester at their home institution. Many departments at the University of Sheffield offer the option to finish in December and proctor your final exams at your home university. For more information on this, please refer to our website.
Academic Information
Disciplines Available
- Aerospace Engineering
- Automatic Control and Systems Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Restricted Disciplines and Courses
Before visiting the course information, please ensure you read about choosing your programme of study at Sheffield, including information about closed departments/modules to exchange students and course restrictions for departments.
Course Contents
Course descriptions: Directory of Modules
Workload per Semester
A full-time workload is 60 credits of modules per semester (120 in total if they are staying for the whole academic year). The number of credits each module is worth is stated within each module description, and most are worth 10, 15 or 20 credits. The minimum allowed is 40 credits. To take between 40 and 60 credits, students must have written approval from their home university to show at registration.
Additional Application Materials
Students nominated by IIE to Sheffield are required to complete an application with the University of Sheffield.
Recommendation letter from a professor or academic staff:
Students must also re-upload their supporting documents as part of the University of Sheffield online application. Admissions officers require a high school transcript, unless a TOEFL test can be provided.
Please read our website for full information on the supporting documents we require.
Provided the information you send is correct and complete, we aim to send you an acceptance email within six to eight weeks of submitting your online application form. The most common reason for delay is module approval so please cooperate fully with requests for further information from academics.
The acceptance email includes information about pre-arrival, accommodation and important dates.
Housing
University accommodation is guaranteed to all Study Abroad and Exchange students who are attending for the full academic year and apply for accommodation online before the July deadline. Students attending for a single semester are strongly encouraged to apply as there is a good level of capacity. For students attending in the fall semester, the Accommodation Office offers a shorter contract ending in December.
Students can choose from dormitories and flats, catered or non-catered. You will be able to apply for accommodation online after you have accepted your offer from the University of Sheffield.
If you have any questions regarding accommodation, such as the best halls for your budget or needs, then the Accommodation Office will be able to offer you the best advice. For off campus option, please refer to Smart Move Sheffield.
Estimated Cost of Living
Sheffield is one of the UK’s top ten most affordable student cities according to the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Student Living Index 2019. Living costs are £1,023 per month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months.
Renting in University accommodation (including utility and internet bills, contents insurance, Residence Life events and sports activities, customer services and welfare support, security and CCTV)) is estimated to cost from £102 per week, or from £442 per month.
Contact
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Global Opportunities and Exchanges | globalopps@sheffield.ac.uk
City Info
Sheffield is right in the heart of the country, only two hours by train from London, one hour from Manchester, 40 minutes from Leeds. Our central location makes Sheffield an ideal base for travel both within the UK and Europe.
Sheffield is a city like no other…
A city of stunning landscapes – the greenest in Europe, creative, welcoming, rich in culture and history, but with a modern outlook and a million things to see and do. There's all the buzz and stimulation of city life, but none of the stress. Instead there's the friendly, laid-back feel and some staggeringly beautiful scenery. In Sheffield you get the best of both worlds.
Part of it is that Sheffield is safer than other big cities – an easy-going and tolerant place to live. Local people welcome the contribution students make to life in the city. And crime rates are lower. There is so much on offer, find out more…
The Peak District National Park
One of the most spectacular areas of natural beauty in the UK is just minutes from Sheffield bybike, bus or train. The Peak District National Park covers 555 square miles of unspoilt countryside. Its peaks, moors, rivers, woodland and wildlife are protected by law and preserved for the benefit of the public.
Live music
Every night of the week, the pubs and bars of Sheffield are alive with the sounds of up and coming new bands. Larger venues attract famous names from around the world. Our Students’ Union is a key venue for touring bands and DJs.
Eating out
There are hundreds of restaurants and cafes in Sheffield. Many of them are in the West Street area near campus. Here you’ll find English, Indian, Italian, Thai, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Vegetarian, and Lebanese to name a few – all at prices to suit the student budget.
Sport
As well as two professional sides in Sheffield Wednesday and United, the city is a hotbed of grassroots football and the birthplace of the modern game. Experience the fabled atmosphere of the Crucible at the world snooker championship every year. Choose from ice hockey with the Sheffield Steelers, both codes of rugby with the Sheffield Tigers and Eagles, the famous Sheffield Sharks basketball side, and speedway at Owlerton Stadium – the fastest track in Britain.
Sheffield Theatres
The Crucible, Lyceum and Studio theatres form the biggest theatre complex in the UK outside London. Groundbreaking productions, classics, family entertainments and famous names all year round. Discount tickets are available for students.
Shopping
There are shops and supermarkets on every corner offering great value deals. If you like the finer things in life, you won’t be disappointed either. Sheffield has everything from designer clothes stores to street markets. A short tram ride from the University is the huge Meadowhall shopping centre: 280 stores under one roof, restaurants and a cinema complex.
Art
Across the square from the theatres is the award-winning Millennium Gallery which has welcomed many of the UK’s finest touring exhibitions, including shows from V&A, Tate, and the National Portrait Gallery. Sheffield is also home to the Graves Art Gallery, the £17m Weston Park Museum, and the Site gallery for contemporary art.
Transport
Frequent buses and trams make it easy to get around the city and the suburbs. There are good links to all major cities and airports. You can buy a student card that gives you a discount on bus and train fares.
More information is available on https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/study.
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