Sheffield Hallam University

In a shifting labour market and the well-documented squeeze in jobs for university leavers, Sheffield Hallam is turning graduate prospects into a graduate promise: from September 2026, if one of the university’s alumni is not in work or further study 12 months after successfully finishing their course, they are guaranteed a paid graduate-level internship of at least three months. The roles will be at the university itself or with a partner employer. The decisive career commitment is just part of the package at Sheffield’s modern university, which already pledges to include a work placement in every year of degree programmes — such as live briefs, applied projects, volunteering or short-term placements — thanks to connections with more than 1,000 organisations.

Students have access to career coaching and an on-site recruitment agency, Hallam Talent. The university already has a strong record on its graduates’ early career destinations — it is up seven places in our graduate prospects table to rank 56=, based on 72.2 per cent of leavers being employed in highly skilled jobs within 15 months of graduation, or continuing with their studies.

Most teaching facilities are at the City campus, which has three new buildings housing the Sheffield Business School, the Institute of Law and Justice, the Institute of Social Sciences, and Architecture — which is part of the Institute of Creative Industries — as well as green spaces. Home to two large universities in a city of a manageable size, Sheffield is student-centric as well as budget-friendly. 

Need to know

Category

Result

Rank

Entry standards (Ucas points)

116

75=

Teaching quality

83.4%

117=

Student experience

78%

119

Research quality

36%

68

First and 2:1s

74.7%

83=

Continuation rate

91.2%

75

Graduate prospects

72.2%

56=

People & Planet

55.1%

55=

How much it costs

UK fees

£10,050

Fees (placement year)

£1,465

Fees (overseas year)

£1,465

Fees (international)

£18,000-£20,000

Places in accommodation

3,114

Rent per week

£96-£185

Rent for catered accommodation per week

n/a

Social inclusion index

Social inclusion ranking

10=

State school (non-grammar) admissions

96.2%

Grammar school admissions

1.3%

Independent school admissions

1.3%

Ethnic minority students

28.1%

Black awarding gap

-26.6%

White working-class males

11.8%

First-generation students

51.4%

Low-participation areas

27.4%

Low-participation areas dropout

-3.5%

Mature students

15.9%

Overseas students

14.6%

Disabled students

28.8%

Student satisfaction with teaching quality

Accounting and finance

80%

Aeronautical and manufacturing engineering

78.9%

Architecture

82.4%

Art and design

86.1%

Biological sciences

87.2%

Biomedical Sciences

84.7%

Building

89.7%

Business, management and marketing

82.3%

Chemical engineering

77.2%

Chemistry

86.6%

Civil engineering

77.2%

Communication and media studies

81.1%

Computer science

81.7%

Creative writing

95.5%

Criminology

84.2%

Drama, dance and cinematics

84.3%

Economics

83.7%

Education

87.5%

Electrical and electronic engineering

69.7%

English

96.8%

Food science

84.6%

Geography and environmental science

84.3%

History

86.9%

Hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism

88.7%

Land and property management

83.3%

Law

83.9%

Materials technology

79.3%

Mathematics

78.1%

Mechanical engineering

81.9%

Nursing

82.6%

Physiotherapy

83.6%

Politics and international relations

89.2%

Psychology

79.8%

Radiography

85.8%

Social work

58.7%

Sociology

84.2%

Sports science

83.5%

What is Sheffield Hallam University’s academic reputation? 

A 12-place improvement ranks Hallam 83rd in our main academic league table. It has more than 34,000 students — nearly 24,000 of them undergraduates — first founded in 1843 as the Sheffield School of Design, and a university since 1992. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 72 per cent of its submission was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Some of the best results were in sport; art and design; and the built environment and planning.

Hallam earned gold overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), with silver for the student experience and gold for student outcomes. However, student satisfaction continues to hold Hallam back from further league table ascent. Our latest National Student Survey analysis shows only marginal improvements year-on-year, with students’ evaluation of teaching quality ranking Hallam 117= and with the wider undergraduate experience, at 119th — small uplifts for each. 

The university has branched out with a new-build campus in north London at Brent Crosress — which is due to open this autumn. 

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What are Sheffield Hallam University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Offers range from 128 Ucas tariff points to 104 points. A contextual offer scheme reduces the requirements for eligible students by up to 16 points. 

What are the graduate prospects and how will the university help me get career-ready?

Employers have a hand in course design and many courses are accredited by professional bodies. Almost half of Hallam’s undergraduates come from the Yorkshire and Humber region and an even larger proportion stay and work in the area after graduation. 

What is Sheffield Hallam University’s campus like?

The City campus is the main base. As well as the new developments, hands-on learning resources including the largest PlayStation teaching laboratory in the world, developed in partnership with Sony, and a 3D virtual radiography room for healthcare students. Its research hubs include the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre — a joint venture with the city council and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

The university’s leafy Collegiate campus is a ten-minute bus ride from the city centre. Here you’ll find the university’s oldest building — Collegiate Hall — and the energy-efficient £27 million Heart of the Campus building, which has solar panels and rainwater harvesting. 

When can I visit?

shu.ac.uk

Everything you need to know about Sheffield Hallam University’s student life 

Both campuses have sports facilities: the City athletics stadium has an eight-lane track and the university’s Sports Park has grass and synthetic pitches as well as an indoor cricket hall. Students can use the English Institute of Sport facilities, a base for Team GB athletes.

For students with an artistic streak, Hallam has plenty to offer throughout the term and the annual Festival of Creativity showcases the work of student film-makers, designers and performers. 

Students can seek support and counselling in groups or individually. There is a 24/7 online support platform, and a report-and-support website for instances of sexual violence, harassment or hate. Student life in Sheffield is more affordable than many cities and caters for most tastes, with vibrant nightlife to outdoor activities in the Peak District.

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What do the students say?

"Sheffield Hallam fully supports you in preparing for a career. I got the opportunity to work on projects with industry leaders, which helped to bridge the gap between theory and real-world engineering. Sheffield Hallam also sends out a careers newsletter, without which I might not have seen the position at Bentley." Kasper Winstanley, BEng (Hons) automotive engineering and Mulliner engineering graduate at Bentley Motors

What about student accommodation at Sheffield Hallam University?

The university has more than 3,100 bed spaces and prices start at £96 a week. All first-years are guaranteed a place. 

How diverse and inclusive is Sheffield Hallam University?

The university's mission is to transform lives and open doors to higher education, offering support at the application stage and during the transition to student life. Hallam has a reputation as an engine of social mobility. No university does better at recruiting white working-class male students, one of the most underrepresented groups in higher education and more than a quarter (27.4 per cent) come from areas with low participation rates at university. It does well across all metrics within our social inclusion index and ranks 10= overall.

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What financial assistance is available?

About one in five students received a means-tested bursary last year, worth between £600 and £2,100 a year.