Sheffield Hallam University

History

• Sheffield Hallam University traces its roots back to 1843, when Sheffield School of Design was founded.
• In 1969 the Sheffield School of Art and Design and the city's College of Technology merged to become Sheffield Polytechnic.
• In 1992, the Polytechnic earned the right to the title of university and became Sheffield Hallam University.

Location and transport

• Based in England's fifth largest city. Major road and rail networks link Sheffield directly with the rest of the country and the city itself is served by excellent bus and supertram services.
• The City Campus is directly adjacent to Sheffield's central Passenger Transport Interchange at Pond Street, and is a two minute walk from Sheffield's Midland railway station.
• There is a taxi rank outside the railway station and the journey time to Collegiate Crescent or Psalter Lane Campus is around 10 minutes.

Entry standards

• Entry requirements vary depending on the course. UCAS tariff points system used for undergraduate entry.
• Students have an average of 303 tariff points but some courses attract students with over 400 points.
• Policy is to accept a range of qualifications, skills and enrichment activities, including work experience, life skills and non-traditional qualifications.

Student mix

• Men:women 44:56; home:overseas 88:12; state:public school 97:3.
• Mature undergraduates:undergraduates under 21, 23:77; full-time:part-time 68:32.
• Local undergraduates (within 30 miles):non-local 43:57; undergraduate:postgraduate 76:24.
• Applications to places ratio depends on the subject. Average is 6, but can be as much as 12 for the most popular courses.

Course flexibility

• Offers a range of distance learning and part-time courses as well as well as traditional full-time courses.
• A pioneer in the development of work-based learning. We have the largest number of students on sandwich courses (four year degrees including a one year paid work placement) in the UK.
• One of the UK's leading universities in e-learning.
• Support flexible patterns of study. Students can swap to part-time study mid-course.

Teaching standards

• Teaching is first rate. Top rated subjects: Nursing, Paramedical Studies, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Radiotherapy, Biological Sciences, Tourism, Transport & Travel, Building, Town & Country Planning, Engineering, Sport Science, Food and Nutrition, Law, Management.

Research standards

• 68 per cent of research activity was rated at international quality or above in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) ratings.
• Each of the four faculties has world-leading research and there are 16 research centres and institutes.
• Eight per cent of research gained the top rating of 4*, meaning that it is world leading.
• The University is placed sixth for research power compared with all other post-1992 universities.
• A distinguishing feature is the close coupling of academic research with knowledge transfer to business and industry, which links into teaching.
• Particular strengths in sport and sport science, with a unique sports research cluster which includes sports science, sports engineering, sports psychology, sports economics and health and active lifestyles
• The University has a long pedigree of excellence in art and design and is among the best in the UK in these disciplines
• Particular research strengths can be found in materials science and engineering, social research and biomedical research.

Academic strengths

• Successful balance between widening participation and retention.
• Vocational courses promote employability, with strong employer links via placements. Course design aligned to employer requirements.
• Forward thinking in terms of learning methods and techniques with students using the latest e-learning techniques to support their studies.
• Sheffield Hallam works with around 59 professional bodies, and with business and industry leaders.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• The university's two learning centres, located on both camuses, combine traditional academic library resources, electronic information resources, IT facilities and integrated learner support.
• They are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day during semesters.
• Approximately 3,000 computer workstations are available across the campuses.
• Support services include counselling, a nursery, disabled student support, educational advisers, multi-faith chaplaincy, drop in study-practice service and a financial support team.
• Business start-up services support budding entrepreneurs who are current students or recent graduates. Career advice is also available.

Disability services

Students' union

• Hallam Union is a multi-award winning union with a wide range of activities on offer which allow students to make the most their time at university, and equip them with skills and experience which will enhance their degree and CV ready for graduation
• There are more than 50 different societies, from film to baking, and more than 40 sports clubs.
• Almost 500 students are involved in Hallam Union volunteering projects, two of which recently won the coveted Inspire Mark for working with youngsters around the 2012 Olympics.
• The Advice Centre provides independent, non-judgemental and free information and advice on any issues that students may encounter.

Sport

• Facilities include fitness suites, floodlit games areas, large sports halls, gyms and a movement/dance studio.
• An extensive range of sports clubs and activities available, at all levels, as well as a thriving programme of leagues/competitions.
• Sheffield Hallam is the only university to have had student volunteering agreements with the organising committees of the Beijing Olympics, the Delhi Commonwealth Games and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• 
  Sheffield has a range of world-class sporting facilities which students can access. The city offers support to national and international athletes.
• The High Performance Hallam programme offers support to balance their university life and achieve their sporting potential.

Recent/prospective new builds

• Over the past ten years the University has invested around £100m in its estate, which has brought the university onto two linked campuses.
• In 2007 the £13-m Robert Winston Building was officially named. It has been described as 'a beacon for the future of health and social care education'.
• Two new flagship buildings were opened on City Campus in 2008, and several others are being or have beenfully refurbished.
• The University will invest £30-m on teaching and research staff, and its estate over the coming years.

Availability of part-time work

• The Careers andEmployment Service helps students to find work during term time.
• As a thriving city there are many opportunities for part-time vacancies across Sheffield.

Notable alumni

• Nick Park CBE, BA Fine Art 1980  – animator, creator of Wallace and Gromit.
• David Strettle, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science 2005 – England rugby international.
• Leon Taylor, HNC Business and Finance 2008 – Olympic silver medallist diver.
• Jacqui Oatley, PgD Broadcast Journalism 2003 – British sports broadcaster for BBC Sport.

Click here for more information about living in Sheffield