University of Sheffield
A Russell Group redbrick with a top-rated student experience, in a green, hilly city on the edge of the Peak District.
- Students
- 29,305
- International
- 41%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £25,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1905
About Sheffield
The University of Sheffield traces its roots to the Sheffield Medical School, founded in 1828, and received its royal charter in 1905. It is one of England's original redbrick civic universities and a member of the Russell Group. Around 29,000 students study here, and THE counts 41 percent of them as international, from about 140 countries.
Sheffield has 21 academic schools organised into five faculties, and it performs well on teaching quality and student experience: it was first in the Russell Group for student voice in the National Student Survey 2026 and The Times named it University of the Year for Student Experience in its 2026 guide. In REF 2021, 92 percent of its research and impact was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
The campus stretches along Western Bank from the Edwardian Firth Court towards the city centre, close to Weston Park. Sheffield suits students who want a Russell Group degree, a students' union that is central to campus life, and a relatively affordable, outdoorsy city with the Peak District close by.
Rerum cognoscere causas
“To discover the causes of things” — university motto
Why students choose Sheffield
First in the Russell Group for student voice in the National Student Survey 2026, and The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year for Student Experience 2026.
Access Sheffield contextual offers can be up to two grades below the standard entry requirements for eligible applicants.
International students pay a fixed annual fee for the whole course and, for 2026 entry, receive automatic scholarships worth up to 10,000 pounds.
Accommodation is guaranteed for full-year students who apply by the deadline, including those who come through Clearing or hold Sheffield as their insurance choice.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027 (UCAS 2027 cycle)
Selectivity
Sheffield does not publish a single admit rate. It assesses applications holistically on achieved and predicted grades, the personal statement and the reference, and makes standard, contextual (Access Sheffield) and occasionally unconditional offers.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific, e.g. AAA or AAB including A in Maths for Computer Science; AAA including Chemistry or Biology plus a second science for Medicine |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | e.g. 36 points with HL Maths 6 for Computer Science; 36 points with 6s in HL sciences for Medicine |
| Access Sheffield (contextual) | Up to two grades lower, e.g. AAB or ABB for Computer Science |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 Computer Science: IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. Medicine: IELTS 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Dentistry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Home Medicine applicants with the highest UCAT scores among those meeting the minimum are invited to in-person MMIs; international applicants have online panel interviews.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other courses.
Dates from UCAS's 2027-entry calendar. Applications received by 30 June 2027 are still forwarded to universities; Clearing opens 2 July 2027.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement and reference. Medicine applicants must take the UCAT before applying; Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Orthoptics, Pharmacy and Speech and Language Therapy interview applicants.
What admissions looks for
- Prior and predicted academic achievement, including GCSEs and A-levels or equivalents.
- A personal statement and a reference that speak to academic potential and personal qualities.
- For interviewed courses such as Medicine and Dentistry, motivation and personal qualities shown at interview.
- Context: applicants from under-represented groups or outreach programmes can receive offers one to three grades below the standard.
Tips for applying to Sheffield
- 1 For Medicine, you need at least 1800 in the UCAT for 2027 entry and strong GCSEs (at least five grade 7s), because interview invitations go to the highest UCAT scorers who meet the minimum.
- 2 Check whether you qualify for Access Sheffield; it can lower your offer by up to two grades.
- 3 Computer Science IB applicants can meet a lower total (34) if they take HL Computer Science at 5 alongside HL Maths at 6.
- 4 Apply for accommodation before the guarantee deadline (3 September in the 2026 cycle) to be guaranteed a room.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
Home students fund tuition and living costs through Student Finance loans, and the university offers Access to Sheffield scholarships and bursaries. Medicine students receive NHS funding in year five. International students pay a fixed fee for the whole course and receive automatic scholarships worth up to 10,000 pounds (2026 entry).
- Up to 10,000 pounds
- Automatic international scholarships (2026 entry)
- Same fixed annual fee for every year of the course
- International fee guarantee
Academics
Medicine MBChB
Five-year programme with UCAT-based selection, MMIs for home applicants and NHS funding in the final year; THE ranks Sheffield 98th for Medical and Health.
Computer Science BSc
BCS-accredited, with teaching across cybersecurity, deep learning and robotics and an optional placement or study abroad year.
Engineering
THE ranks Sheffield equal 97th in the world for Engineering in 2026.
Social Sciences
Sheffield's highest THE subject result in 2026, 67th in the world.
Research
- 92 percent of research and impact was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
- The university has won five Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
- THE records six Nobel Prize winners among Sheffield's alumni and staff.
Student life
Sheffield's student experience is one of its strongest selling points: the university was first in the Russell Group for student voice in the National Student Survey 2026 and The Times named it University of the Year for Student Experience in 2026. The campus runs along Western Bank from Firth Court, next to Weston Park, and most students live in university accommodation in their first year before moving into shared houses nearby. The city's size makes it easy to walk or take the tram, and the hills and parks give it an outdoors feel.
- Times and Sunday Times University of the Year for Student Experience 2026.
- First in the Russell Group for student voice, National Student Survey 2026.
- Top 10 in the UK in 15 subject areas in the Guardian University Guide 2027.
- Sports scholarships are available for student athletes.
Housing. Full-time, full-year students are guaranteed university accommodation if they apply before the deadline, including Clearing and insurance-choice applicants.
Location
Sheffield is a large but compact city in South Yorkshire, known for its steel-making history, its music scene and its many parks and green spaces. The Peak District National Park lies just west of the city, which makes it a good base for climbing, running and cycling. It is generally cheaper to live in than southern English cities.
Notable alumni
- HM Hilary MantelNovelist, twice winner of the Booker Prize for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies
- LC Lee ChildAuthor of the Jack Reacher thrillers
- JE Jessica Ennis-HillOlympic heptathlon champion (London 2012)
- HS Helen SharmanFirst British astronaut
- DB David BlunkettFormer UK Home Secretary
- AH Andy HaldaneFormer Chief Economist at the Bank of England
- AJ Amy JohnsonAviator, first woman to fly solo from London to Australia
- EI Eddie IzzardComedian and actor
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Sheffield's QS ranking for 2027?
Sheffield is 82nd in the world and 14th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
What UCAT score do you need for Sheffield Medicine?
For 2027 entry the minimum UCAT threshold is 1800 out of 2700, but interviews go to the highest scorers among applicants who meet all the minimum requirements.
Does Sheffield make contextual offers?
Yes. Through Access Sheffield, eligible applicants from under-represented groups can receive offers up to two grades below the standard requirement, and outreach programme participants one to three grades below.
Does Sheffield guarantee accommodation?
Yes, for full-time students on full-year courses who apply before the accommodation deadline, including those coming through Clearing or holding Sheffield as their insurance choice.
Are there scholarships for international students at Sheffield?
Yes. For 2026 entry, international undergraduates receive automatic scholarships worth up to 10,000 pounds, and their tuition fee (25,000 to 50,925 pounds a year for 2026 entry, depending on course) is fixed for the length of the course.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Sheffield in the QS World University Rankings 2027.