Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Tel 0114 222 1255
ask@sheffield.ac.uk
www.sheffield.ac.uk
Open days: June 19, 2010; July 5 and 6; September 7

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 18 (19)

Student satisfaction 79%
Head teacher ranking 20 (39=)
Peer ranking 17 (8)
Research quality 67.9%
A-level/Higher points 403
Unemployment 8.1%
Firsts and 2:1s 74.5%
Student/staff ratio 14.2:1
Dropout rate 7.3% (7.1%)
World ranking 76

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 15,981 (1,792)
Postgraduates 5,285 (1,501)
Teaching staff 1,202
Applications/places 30,805/4,953; 6.2:1 (+8.9%)
Clearing entry 4%
Live in 25% (100%) £75-£136
Bursaries 38%: £430-£3,225
Scholarships Various: £265-£805

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 4.3%/9.5%
Mature 8.5%
State school 85.7%
Lowest social classes 20.7%
Low-participation areas 8.2%

Sheffield is a rare beast: an academically elite university that manages to come close to or even exceed its recruitment benchmarks from disadvantaged groups. It is hugely popular too.

More than 33,000 applied for a place this year — and it is not hard to see why. Student satisfaction levels are among the very highest for a city-based university, up again this year to 79%, giving Sheffield a ranking of 21 in the UK under a Sunday Times analysis of the full results from this year’s national student survey. About three-quarters of students go on to achieve either a first or upper second class degree and a similar proportion end up in graduate-level jobs.

While Sheffield is strong across the board, it has made a particular name for itself in science and engineering. It was no surprise that last year’s research assessments proved a big success. The university entered more than 1,200 full-time equivalent staff for assessment and an averaging of all their results ranks Sheffield 15= in the UK with a research excellence score of 67.9%. Overall, 93% of research submitted was rated world-leading (4*), internationally excellent (3*) or internationally recognised (2*).

The highest concentrations of 4* researchers were found in politics and music (both 45%) and history, philosophy, architecture and town and country planning (all 35%).

Sheffield has an extensive scholarship and bursary scheme, which aids just under 40% of students.

STUDENT VIEW

Paul Tobin, students’ union president:

First impressions You will make friends in halls that will stay with you throughout your time at Sheffield and beyond.
Worst feature The building work, but it should be finished by 2010.
Facilities Great sports facilities for 48 sports teams.
Deal clincher If you want a good academic department and to enjoy your time, you will have it all at Sheffield.

Rated excellent (30)
Allied health professions (orthoptics, speech and language therapy); anatomy and physiology; applied social work; archeology; architecture; dentistry; east and south Asian studies; education; electrical and electronic engineering; English; geography; history; law; librarianship and information management; linguistics; materials technology; mechanical engineering; molecular biosciences; music; nursing and midwifery; organismal biosciences; philosophy; physics and astronomy; politics; psychology; Russian and eastern European languages; social policy and administration; teacher training; theology and religious studies (biblical studies); town and country planning and landscape.

Student satisfaction
Biology and related Sciences 87.3; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 86.5; Communications and Information studies 86.1; Physical Science 85.7; Computer Science 84.5; Other subjects allied to Medicine 83.4; Performing Arts 82.8; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 82.3; Politics 82.1; Economics 80; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 79.9; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 79.8; Psychology 79.6; Other Languages and Area studies 79.5; Mechanically-based Engineering 78.9; History and Archaeology 78.9; English-based studies 78.7; Architecture, Building and Planning 78.5; Mathematical Sciences 77.3; European Languages and Area studies 77.3; Management 76.5; Medicine and Dentistry 75.2; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 74.5; Finance and Accounting 74.5; Business 72.3; Human and Social Geography 72; Technology 71.9; Law 71.5; Social Work 69.3

Times recommends

• Students face big rise in university fees
• Students to rate lecturers online
• Lord heads team to look at raising tuition fees