University of Sheffield emblem

University of Sheffield

Sheffield, United Kingdom • Founded 1897 • QS 2027 #82 =

Updated Sep 2026 · Source: sheffield.ac.uk

Overview

English Name: The University of Sheffield
Founded: 1897
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #82 = Times Higher Education 2026 #108 = ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #151-200 CWTS Leiden 2025 #176 SCImago 2026 #201
Motto: Rerum cognoscere causas
Colours: Gold and black
University of Sheffield institutional building
1 / 3

The University of Sheffield is a public research university in Sheffield, England.

It traces its roots to the Sheffield Medical School, founded in 1828, which came together with Firth College and the Sheffield Technical School in 1897 to form the University College of Sheffield; a Royal Charter in 1905 then established it as an independent university. The main campus is centred on Western Bank, close to the city centre.

The university is organised into five faculties, covering arts and humanities, engineering, health, science, and social sciences, offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across these fields. It is a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities and is regularly placed among the world's top 100 institutions.

Sheffield's academic community includes Nobel laureates and its research was recognised with five Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

Location & Contact

Below are University of Sheffield's address, location, and primary contact channels.

Address: Western Bank
Postal Code: S10 2TN
Other Sites: Also Teaching Hospitals. Year Abroad Programme. English Language Teaching Centre
Phone: +44 (114) 222 2000
Fax: +44 (114) 276 8174
Social Media:

Academic Details

Scale, staffing, and recognition figures for University of Sheffield are listed below.

Academic Year: September to June (September-January; January-February; April-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: General Certificate of Education (GCE), at Advanced ('A') level, or equivalent. English proficiency, IELTS, minimum score of 6.0; TOEFL test for foreign students, minimum score of 550-575
Total Students: 28,280
Female Students: 14,835
Academic Staff Range: 1,500-1,999
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) European University Association (EUA) N8 Research Partnership Russell Group Universities UK

Academic Structures

University of Sheffield's academic units are listed below, by type.

Unit 5 items
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Medicine and Health
  • Faculty of Pure Science
  • Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Arts and Humanities (Faculty) 17 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • American Studies
  • Archaeology
  • Bible
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Modern Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Religion
  • Russian
  • Slavic Languages
  • Spanish
  • Theology
Engineering (Faculty) 10 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Bioengineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Electronics and Automation
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Software Engineering
International (Faculty) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Psychology
Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Dental Technology
  • Dentistry
  • Immunology
  • Medicine
  • Midwifery
  • Neurosciences
  • Nursing
  • Oncology
  • Paramedical Sciences
Science (Faculty) 18 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Astronomy and Space Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Botany
  • Cell Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Cognitive Sciences
  • Computer Science
  • Genetics
  • Mathematics
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Natural Sciences
  • Neurosciences
  • Pharmacology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
Social Sciences (Faculty) 19 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Adult Education
  • Architecture
  • Business and Commerce
  • Communication Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Sciences
  • Geography
  • Information Management
  • Journalism
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Law
  • Management
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Regional Planning
  • Social Studies
  • Town Planning

Programs Offered

Browse University of Sheffield's programmes by level, or filter by name.

235 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 103 programmes

Showing 10 of 103.

Master of Business Administration 1 programme

Master's Degree 125 programmes

Advanced Clinical Practice (GP)
3 years
Start: September 2027

Minimum 2:2 undergraduate honours degree in a health discipline (e.g. nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, paramedic science).

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Advanced Clinical Practice (Paediatrics)
Medicine · 3 years
Start: September 2027

Minimum 2:2 undergraduate honours degree in a health discipline (e.g. nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, physiotherapy, paramedic science).

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Advanced Control and Systems Engineering
General Engineering · 1 year
Start: September 2027

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject with relevant modules.

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 125.

Doctorate 2 programmes

Research Degree Programme (MPhil)

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Research Degree Programme (PhD)

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Professional Doctorate 1 programme

EdD - The Sheffield
Online
Start: September 2027

You should hold both a bachelor's degree (normally first or second class honours or equivalent) and an appropriate masters degree, or equivalent.

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Diploma 1 programme

Postgraduate Certificate 2 programmes

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Below are scholarships available to students in the United Kingdom.

Alumni Discount
University funded · International students · 2,500 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A tuition fee discount for Sheffield graduates returning for postgraduate study: 20% off taught postgraduate fees (capped at £2,500) or 10% off research/previous-postgraduate fees (capped at £1,500).
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Dan Walker Journalism Scholarship
University funded · 10,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Two awards of £10,000 each toward tuition fees for home fee-paying students starting the MA Journalism who meet the University's widening participation criteria.
Elite Sports Performance Scheme
University funded · International students · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year
Support for elite student athletes: Level 2 athletes receive a £1,000 annual award, Catalyst athletes receive a year of free accommodation, and all scholars get strength and conditioning coaching, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and gym membership.
Enhanced Bursary for Care Leavers
University funded · Renewable · 10,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A non-repayable bursary for home fee-paying care leavers: up to £10,000 a year for full-time undergraduates in private accommodation (£4,500 plus accommodation fees paid direct if in University housing), £5,000 for part-time Lifelong Learning students, and £3,000 a year for full-time postgraduates (£1,500 part-time).
Enhanced Bursary for Estranged Students
University funded · Renewable · 10,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A non-repayable bursary for home fee-paying students estranged from their parents: up to £10,000 a year for full-time undergraduates in private accommodation (£4,500 plus accommodation fees paid direct if in University housing), £5,000 for part-time Lifelong Learning students, and £3,000 a year for full-time postgraduates (£1,500 part-time).
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
International Postgraduate Scholarship
University funded · International students · 3,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
A £3,000 reduction off the first year of tuition fees for overseas fee-paying students starting a postgraduate taught degree.
International Undergraduate Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 2,500 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
£2,500 a year towards tuition fees, up to a maximum of £10,000 over a four-year undergraduate programme, subject to maintaining a 60% average each year.
Julian Payne Scholarship
University funded · 3,500 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Two awards of £3,500 each toward tuition fees for home fee-paying students on a Master's music course who meet the University's widening participation criteria.
Peter Warr Postgraduate Scholarship
University funded · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
£5,000 toward tuition fees for home fee-paying students starting the Business and Organisational Psychology MSc who meet the University's widening participation criteria.
Petrie Watson Scholarship
University funded · 4,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Two awards of £4,000 each toward tuition fees for University of Sheffield alumni entering a postgraduate course in the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities or the School of Languages, Arts and Societies.
Ragdoll School of English Postgraduate Scholarship
University funded · 10,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Two awards of £10,000 each toward tuition fees for home fee-paying students starting a postgraduate course in the School of English who meet the University's widening participation criteria.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
Sanctuary Scholarships
University funded · 10,300 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Full tuition fees plus a £10,300 cash award each year of study to support living costs; five scholarships are offered per entry year.
University of Sheffield Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
£1,000 a year for household income up to £25,000, £500 a year for £25,001-£30,000, or £250 a year for £30,001-£40,000; an extra £250 a year is available for students from deprived areas or the Sheffield City Region with ABB+ at A-level.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.

How to apply to University of Sheffield

The application path for University of Sheffield, in five steps.

  1. 1
    Find a programme that fits your goals

    University of Sheffield's catalogue includes 235 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.

  2. 2
    Confirm you meet the requirements

    Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for University of Sheffield's admissions process.

  3. 3
    Assemble your application package

    Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.

  4. 4
    Submit your application

    For undergraduate study, apply centrally through UCAS (ucas.com), listing University of Sheffield as one of your choices. For postgraduate study, apply directly through University of Sheffield's own admissions portal at www.sheffield.ac.uk.

  5. 5
    Contact admissions and follow up

    Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (114) 222 2000. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of Sheffield

Common questions about University of Sheffield — answers from its published profile.

In what year was University of Sheffield established?

University of Sheffield was founded in 1897 (approximately 129 years ago).

In which city is University of Sheffield?

University of Sheffield is based in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Is University of Sheffield public or private?

University of Sheffield operates as a public institution.

How many students study at University of Sheffield?

University of Sheffield has approximately 28,280 students.

Where does University of Sheffield stand in university rankings?

University of Sheffield is ranked QS 2027 #82 =.

What qualification levels does University of Sheffield offer?

University of Sheffield delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.

How is University of Sheffield organised academically?

University of Sheffield is organised into 5 academic units across its disciplines.

Who recognises University of Sheffield?

University of Sheffield is accredited by Privy Council.

Where can I learn more about University of Sheffield?

The institution's website is www.sheffield.ac.uk.

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