University of Sheffield

Strong and northern is the strapline for Henderson’s Relish, the savoury sauce produced in Sheffield since 1885, on whose former factory site the university has developed a building to become its new front-of-house facility. Henderson House's welcoming focus for students and visitors navigating the campus — which stretches for a mile through the city — and reflects the warmth of this research heavyweight where academic excellence and student wellbeing coexist. 

Ranked 15th in the UK in our research index, 17th for the proportion of first-class and 2.1 degrees achieved by its students and 16th for graduate prospects, this Russell Group institution treads the line its peer universities more often struggle with, and receives glowing reviews from its undergraduates in successive National Student Surveys while maintaining a world-class academic profile. A two-place rise in our main academic ranking brings Sheffield to the brink of the top ten, in 11th place, and it earns Runner-up University of the Year in the North and Northeast 2027 

Student-friendly Sheffield is a compact city where undergraduate budgets stretch further than in many others. There’s no shortage of nightlife on and off campus, while the stunning Peak District is easily accessible by bus or train — or even a long walk, for keen student ramblers. 

Recent campus improvements to teaching and wellbeing and a generous accommodation guarantee — which includes clearing applicants — contribute to the surge in contentment. The university's main precinct stretches for a mile and is a short walk from the centre of a city known for being welcoming and wallet-friendly, with the Peak District on its doorstep and an award-winning students’ union.

Need to know

Category

Result

Rank

Entry standards (Ucas points)

156

21

Teaching quality

87.3%

41=

Student experience

86.4%

16

Research quality

59.1%

15

First and 2:1s

85.8%

17

Continuation rate

97%

12=

Graduate prospects

79.9%

16

People & Planet

48.6%

81

How much it costs

UK fees

£10,050

Fees (placement year)

£1,305

Fees (overseas year)

£1,465

Fees (international)

£25,000-£32,100

Fees (international, medical)

£47,575

Places in accommodation

6,049

Rent per week

£111-£240

Rent for catered accommodation per week

£194

Social inclusion index

Social inclusion ranking

94

State school (non-grammar) admissions

77.4%

Grammar school admissions

12.3%

Independent school admissions

10.2%

Ethnic minority students

23.7%

Black awarding gap

-16.2%

White working-class males

3.5%

First-generation students

25.6%

Low-participation areas

10.4%

Low-participation areas dropout

-2.5%

Mature students

6.6%

Overseas students

29.4%

Disabled students

26.1%

Student satisfaction with teaching quality

Accounting and finance

87%

Aeronautical and manufacturing engineering

90.9%

Architecture

91.7%

Bioengineering and biomedical engineering

90.3%

Biological sciences

88.8%

Biomedical Sciences

91%

Business, management and marketing

79.9%

Chemical engineering

85.8%

Chemistry

85.6%

Civil engineering

91%

Communication and media studies

90.2%

Computer science

84.6%

Criminology

83.7%

Cultural Studies

86.5%

Dentistry

93%

Economics

86.4%

Education

90.6%

Electrical and electronic engineering

86.7%

English

88.2%

French

87.2%

General engineering

93.4%

Geography and environmental science

88.5%

German

87.2%

History

89.2%

Iberian languages

87.3%

Information systems and management

86.6%

Law

88.7%

Linguistics

87.6%

Materials technology

90.4%

Mathematics

89.1%

Mechanical engineering

93.1%

Medicine

80%

Music

90.1%

Nursing

89.1%

Philosophy

86.9%

Physics and astronomy

88.5%

Politics and international relations

85.7%

Psychology

87.5%

Russian and eastern European languages

87.2%

Social policy

83.1%

Sociology

84.3%

Town and country planning and landscape

89.7%

What is the University of Sheffield’s academic reputation? 

Founded in 1905, the university evolved from three 19th-century institutions — Sheffield Medical School, Firth College and Sheffield Technical School. Its academic clout is underlined by six Nobel prizewinners, its highly regarded Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the university led the way with the first documented use of penicillin for therapy in 1930. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 92 per cent of its work rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Sheffield cemented its top 100 place of the QS World University Rankings 2027, at 82nd. 

In the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), Sheffield gained silver overall, with assessors highlighting its “outstanding quality academic support” and a supportive learning environment. Students agree: their feedback in the NSS 2026 puts Sheffield 16th for the broad experience and 41= for teaching quality in our analysis (despite each losing some ground this year). 

But the financial challenges facing UK universities have been felt at Sheffield, which recorded an operating deficit of £11.5 million in 2024-25 due largely to a reduction in international tuition fee income. There have been several restructuring exercises in recent years, and possible cuts in its renowned chemistry department have been mooted, as well as within materials science and engineering and in East Asian studies. Sixteen days of strike action in 2025 were followed in August 2026 by union members at Sheffield passing a motion of no confidence in the vice-chancellor, Koen Lamberts, in the dispute over job cuts and workload.

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What are the entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Degree courses demand grades from A*AA to BBB at A-level. In 2025, about 17 per cent received a contextual offer up to two grades lower, or three grades lower for entrants who have completed a widening access summer school. The university attracted record applications of over 46,000 for 2025 entry and around 5,900 new students were accepted onto courses. Of these 7 per cent got a place through clearing. 

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

Sheffield is a go-to destination for top employers, ranking among the top 20 most-targeted universities in the UK according to the High Fliers report 2026. It is up six places to 16th in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, with 79.9 per cent of leavers in highly skilled jobs or postgraduate study. A longstanding partnership with Siemens has made Sheffield its leading UK supplier of graduates who take part in hackathons, curriculum engagement and internships. The growing Civil Service Policy Campus in Sheffield provides local job opportunities too.

What is the University of Sheffield’s campus like?

The campus is a blend of historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities. A continuous programme of investment has delivered a new Faculty of Health building, which has dedicated pharmacy teaching suites and mock clinical wards for students of medicine, nursing and midwifery. There have been upgrades to the Arts Tower and new learning spaces added within the Diamond, the flagship engineering building. The £23 million Information Commons provides 24/7 library and computing services. History, philosophy, archaeology and the Digital Humanities Institute have been brought under one roof at 9 Mappin Street, to support collaborative working.

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre also has a £20 million base in Lancashire, extending the university’s regional impact.

When can I visit?

sheffield.ac.uk

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

Sheffield is in the top 30 (26th) in the latest British Universities and Colleges Sport (Bucs) overall points table. Its campus leagues are also popular — with entries from around 400 teams. Excellent sports facilities near the main precinct include an upgraded 180-piece gym, six floodlit synthetic turf pitches, a swimming pool and a sports hall. Outdoor pitches for rugby, football and cricket are a bus ride away. 

The university takes a proactive approach to student wellbeing, encouraging participation in sport and physical activity and nurturing communities through more than 350 clubs and societies. Annual participation grants of up to £150 are available for eligible students from low-income households, those with a disability or who have children, or forced migrants. 

The Student Mental Health, Counselling and Wellbeing Service provides confidential counselling and therapy, specialist workshops, group sessions and self-help resources. It also links with faculties and offers groups such as the Lunchtime Neurodiversity Group.

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What do the students say? 

"I've absolutely loved my time at Sheffield. The university has offered me incredible extra opportunities, such as a year abroad and research experience, that I wouldn't have been able to access elsewhere. The students’ union has made it easy to maintain a good uni-life balance, with access to support, events and societies that helped me make friends and gain confidence. The city itself is affordable and full of green spaces, students and culture!"
Scarlett, BA international relations and politics

What about student accommodation at the University of Sheffield?

All first-year students (firm, insurance, and clearing) are guaranteed a place in university accommodation, as long as they apply before the September 3rd guarantee deadline, with rents from £110.88 a week.

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Sheffield?

Of Russell Group universities, only Cardiff recruits more students from nonselective state schools than Sheffield (77.4 per cent) which ranks 90th for this metric. But it has slipped from third among Russell Group universities to fifth in our social inclusion index overall, and 94th among all universities in England and Wales. Outreach initiatives aim to raise expectations among students and help them to develop the skills they need to study at a research-intensive university. 

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What financial assistance is available?

About 40 to 50 per cent of new entrants (home and overseas) received a bursary or scholarship in 2025-2026. These include bursaries for students from households with an income of £40,000 or less of up to £1,000 a year, with extra support available for care leavers and estranged students (up to £10,000 per year) and student carers (up to £4,500 a year. Access to Sheffield scholarships reward students who have completed access programmes and whose household incomes are under £40,000 a year, worth £1,000 a year, plus £600 to help with costs at the beginning of their studies. Participation grants of £150 support sports memberships. International undergraduates are eligible for scholarships worth £2,500 a year.