My university is great at understanding students, knowing that it isn’t simply the education you gain but the entire experience. There is a balance between social life and lectures, between essays and exams.

I do English Literature and my opinion, now that I’m half way through my second year is that Sheffield is great at balance. Balancing social life and university, balancing exams and essays, balancing workload each week.

Due to the covid-19 pandemic I have not had the chance to live on campus or attend extra-curricular activities, therefore I cannot comment on the social life or student experience at the University. I have also only attended a small amount of in-person classes, which I found to be engaging and well organised. The teachers are knowledgeable and professional overall. However, I have found the online learning to be extremely impersonal and difficult to engage with. Slides and resources are reused from previous years and I do not believe that all professors have made an adequate effort to adapt to online teaching.
Professors respond quickly to emails and have generally been friendly and helpful. I have had a particularly good experience with the study abroad team, who are prompt and constructive in responding to messages.

Sheffield University is not only a place of education but of new experiences and opportunities. From rock climbing to Irish dancing to cooking, there is a society to support and help develop whatever interest you have, and if you have an interest that hasn’t already got a club – you can create your own! The potential to nurture your passions whilst bringing you closer to people just like you is endless. The city’s theatres, sports centres and restaurants are dictated by the voice of the students, where individuality is celebrated and conveyed through its diverse attractions catered specifically for you, the student body.