I've been considering going to sheffield uni but my family have bin trying to dissuade me cos they say its majorly scabby and i would hate it there. is this true?
someone reply pleeeeease!!

Thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!! Sheffield Uni is one of the best university in the country!!!Buildings look lovely and the uni itself is a great place to study.
Unless you're talking about Hallam uni. Now thats another story..

ignore your family, they dont have a bloomin clue!

I don't think anyone can summarise any institution with just one word such as scabby. When deciding where to go, you should go and visit the place to get a feel for it and take into consideration the facilities available for what you want to do. If your parents haven't actually been to the uni to study, i would suggest that their opinion doesn't count for much.

Sheffield University is an excellent teaching and research establishment - take a look at:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/tlsu/table_of_SR_scores.html
http://www.shef.ac.uk/pr/press_releases/pr01/appendix_a.html

ok, thats good to kno bout the uni, but is the city/town/whatever it is, scabby (lol) at all?

also, are there good clubs? and how do the ppl speak? is it like in brookside?!

Originally posted by Lolita_show
how do the ppl speak? is it like in brookside?!

Brookside???? Do you actually know where Sheffield is???

Clubs are ok,good bars tho.

Hi,

Depends what you mean by shabby?
BTW, where are you from? This will help to give a better comparison and view about Sheffield.

To be going on with,

1. Sheffield is one of the biggest university cities outside london.

2. Sheffield has the lowest crime rate of the biggest cities & large towns. Some types of crime are lower than rural areas.

3. It has the highest rate of ex students settling in the area after their studies.

4. People generally are quite friendly here.

5. Has a lot of green areas. Loads of parks, tress, gardens & open spaces. It's in the peak distantl. Some good hills as well all iover the city.

6. Has some very good clubs, bars, pubs & restaurants. All for varied tastes.

7. It's a stones throw from Manchester, Nottingham & Leeds. Good for a day or night out.

8. It's quite cheap to live here

9. The universitys have good unions.

10. It's nothing like Brookside, people speak proper in Sheffield. You'll soon get the hang of it.


It's a great place to live.

Dean of Disco

Originally posted by Lolita_show
also, are there good clubs? and how do the ppl speak? is it like in brookside?!

Brookside is Liverpool :loopy:

The people speak "normally", "poshly", or with heavy local accents, mainly depending on whereabouts in the city you are.

My fear of walking into a windup is reduced by wanting to set the record straight!

I came to Sheffield 14 years ago to study at the University of Sheffield. Despite the fact that it consistantly ranked in the top four Uni's in the country for my course, I actually came here because of my experience of the city.

My 'open day' trip started at the Broomhill Tav and ended in a party in Crookes. My future was planned! 14 years later, I am more than happy!

Close to the Peaks but with an excellent night life, Sheff offers something for anyone prepared to open their mind and enjoy it! The city does not have the highest rate of students staying on after graduation for no reason.

Just check a map before getting on the train and you'll be sorted ;)

Lolita_show,

Assuming this isn't a wind-up Sheffield is in Yorkshire, not Liverpool. The accents (and behaviour) are quite different from Brookie.

No one I know here has buried a family member under the patio - after all, we don't have patios.....;-)

Seriously, Sheffield is one of those cities that people come to to study and stay here to live. It's a great city. Why not come and visit?

Joe

im from a lil village near bournemouth - gorgeous place. great clubs. great peaple. great beaches. everything about it is great. iv just got to find a greater place!

Like a couple of the others who hav eposted here, I'm an ex-student who stayed on. Sheffield has a large and vibrant student population, plenty of gigs and a range of venues. It has everything you mention in Bournemouth's favour, except the beaches but the Peak Park makes up for that. I'd recommend to anyone.

Originally posted by Lolita_show
im from a lil village near bournemouth - gorgeous place. great clubs. great peaple. great beaches. everything about it is great. iv just got to find a greater place!

To be honest, love, I'm in the same situation as you (looking around the country for universities) and I've always said, if I didn't live here already, I'd definitely come here. I'm only moving away for more independence, but I haven't yet found anywhere quite as nice as Sheffield.

The areas in which student accomodation/nightlife/buildings are, are in some of the most affluent and green areas in the country (SHeffield Hallam Constituency being more affluent even than SOuth Kensington or wherever), but Sheffield is incredibly varied, and has a nickname as 'the biggest village in the UK', a phrase you'll hear frequently.

PS....If you really don't know that Sheffield and Liverpool are different places then I'd suggest applying for a Uni with lower entry requirements.

Originally posted by Lolita_show
im from a lil village near bournemouth - gorgeous place. great clubs. great peaple. great beaches. everything about it is great. iv just got to find a greater place!

Typical Southerner has no clue whats North of Watford Gap !

if you're scared of northern accents, then i suggest you stay down south. Every city up north has it's own accent. Every city up north has it's own pro's and cons. I really suggest that you visit any city before making judgement on it. Trust me, not everyone up north works in coal mines/docks. If you have that impression, you really need to explore a bit more.

Sheffield Uni has a nice building, but unless your interesting in buying it, probably not of much concern to you.

Some of its facilties are crusty though, and old. You will find many of the Uni students use Hallam's Adsetts library facilities for example.

Both have good unions, Hallam is a good uni, if you are going for the right course, some of which they rank highly in, and are respected for their research.

Depends what you want to study at the end of the day. Chances are no matter which uni you go to, you will see the inside of the other, either to get research material, or to see friends!

Wouldnt recommend living in their halls though.

Lolita_show

Just have a look on the website

www.shef.ac.uk

Sheffield is a top place. I came here from the Peaks to study over 10 years ago and I'm still here.

Loads of greens spaces, parks, woods etc. Lots of pubs and clubs and sporting facilities.

The debate over Hallam and the Uni will rage on for evermore but they both over different things depending on what you are looking for. The advantage being that you get to use facilities at both places so for a student it's great.

One thing to be aware of though before you come up here. Prepare for the hills. <phew>.

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
Some of its facilties are crusty though, and old. You will find many of the Uni students use Hallam's Adsetts library facilities for example.
I may be wrong, but as far as I know they don't. In fact, most UoS students I know wouldn't be seen dead inside a Hallam building.

Originally posted by Sidla
I may be wrong, but as far as I know they don't. In fact, most UoS students I know wouldn't be seen dead inside a Hallam building.

I got that impression too, particularly the libraries. All those books and not able to read, shame.:D

I've never found anything wrong with the libraries. I'm not really sure what to expect from them, other than big rooms, lots of books, journal runs and computers. I never heard of anyone using Hallam's facilities either. To be quite honest, the thought never crossed my mind, seeing as hallam is right in the middle of town.

Its a really good university, nearly every department is top notch. Its a much better place to live than many of the places I've lived in the south (Reading, Guildford, Southampton). I'd rather be at university here than down there anyday.

Like you, lolita, I'm from the south. People here don't generally seem to have much of a problem with southerners, certainly no-ones ever been rude to my face. Even if they are, its usually silly thing like saying I drink shandy. Often when I have a pint of Guinness on the go. The accents all right. If you don't know the difference between Scouse and South Yorks, for god's sake don't tell someone they sound like a scouser. For the record, Sean Bean is from Sheffield. People seem a bit more open and friendly as well.

In my experience, parents ideas of what is a 'good' university and which town are 'scabby' tends to be about thirty years out of date. Come for the open day and have a look for yourself.

Originally posted by mega_monty
Typical Southerner has no clue whats North of Watford Gap !

*Typical* Southern view - everywhere north of the Watford Gap is crap.
*Typical* Northern view - everywhere South of the Watford Gap is crap! :rolleyes:


Alex

Originally posted by amhudson119
*Typical* Northern view - everywhere South of the Watford Gap is crap! :rolleyes:


Alex

Yeah.. and? It is :lol:

Lolita, I graduated from Sheffield University 8 years ago and have never left the place.

The university is brilliant and constantly wins "Best Student Union" awards. The city is friendly with a good mix of people, and is a very nice place to live. This must be true otherwise I wouldn't still be here!

You've got some of the most spectacular scenery in the country only 10 minutes from the town centre in the form of The Peak District, the bars and clubs are great and plenty of top live music venues.

Tell your parents to have an informed opinion before dismissing Sheffield. Sounds like fear of the unknown to me.

We don't have a beach though!!

Good luck with things and I hope you can change your parents mind on this one. Remember, it's not grim up North!

Let everyone on the forum know how you get on.

Originally posted by Sidla
I may be wrong, but as far as I know they don't. In fact, most UoS students I know wouldn't be seen dead inside a Hallam building.

Well as a student at the Hallam I know ;) There are a fair number of uni students down here, especially when the Uni runs short on books (which it does)

Their library in the arts tower needs redoing in a big way. Proper old and nasty.

Originally posted by Lolita_show
is it like in brookside?!

What subject are you going to study at University? Geography? :huh: :shakes:

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
Well as a student at the Hallam I know ;) There are a fair number of uni students down here, especially when the Uni runs short on books (which it does)

Their library in the arts tower needs redoing in a big way. Proper old and nasty.

There is no library in the arts tower, the big library next to it called "university library" has got every book you need.. And it doesn't need redoing.. Its great..

Originally posted by Sony
There is no library in the arts tower, the big library next to it called "university library" has got every book you need.. And it doesn't need redoing.. Its great..

I meant 'near' the arts tower, as opposed to in it - well spotted.

Anyway, its crusty. If you think that cramped up place, which is poorly laid out is any contender for the Adsetts you are sadly mistaken.

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
Anyway, its crusty. If you think that cramped up place, which is poorly laid out is any contender for the Adsetts you are sadly mistaken.

Methinks a Hallam student is jealous of the University :P

What is going on with all this 'my university is better than yours' business?

Unless you've been to them both I'd say you've probably got a biased opinion.

Also any student worth his salt on any assignments will have used several libraries when doing their coursework.

Remember people it's only when you are studying and perhaps a year or two afterwards that where you studied really means anything. After that it's all down to experience.

The Uni and the Poly both offer different things for different people. It's as simple as that.

Originally posted by SilentStatic
Methinks a Hallam student is jealous of the University :P

Oh pleasssssse!

I got accepted there to do Civil Engineering / Architecture, I saw the facilties and decided not to go, didnt feel comfortable.

yet, at Hallam it seems much more focused on what you have to do, and I like the autonomy you have in being able to decide how you approach your work.

Horses for courses, but jealousy>>>?? Noway!

I hope this rivalry hasn't put off this prospective student. Sheffield isn't full of tension between Hallam and the University, in fact theres much less inter-institution competition than I have found in other towns.

Indeed, lets not start a university argument. It's probably best to dig up one of the many old threads on this.

No, I've never got involved in any of those arguments. I do sometimes get a bit confused when I say I went to Sheffield University and people ask me which one. Well, duh....

To be honest I sometimes wish I had gone to Hallam, you seem to get a wider variety of people there, like mature students and students who actually know what they want to do with their lives.

I've been to both - and each one has its advantages - Sheffield Hallam is more vocationally focused whereas Sheffield University is more research and educationally focused. Its a sad dichotomy that although a degree from Sheffield Hallam may equip you better for a career in industry, a degree from Sheffield University will be better respected. Just one of the side effects of Sheffield Hallam going from a Divison One Polytechnic to a Division Three University - and what a clever move that was *shakes head*!

That's because Hallam offers more vocational courses i.e. nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography etc. The kind of courses that train you for the job you (hopefully!) want to do. I've just completed my degree at Hallam and I found it had it's good and band points, as do all Universities. I felt quite lucky as I was able to use facilities at both Hallam and Sheff Uni, therefore I felt I gained a better University experience.

As for the city itself, well, I'm stopping on for the time being - wooo! I've found it really friendly and I've (touchwood) never felt unsafe walking around at night. Maybe that's the areas I've lived in, but it's still a good plus!

I agree with the people who have suggested attending open days. I would highly recommend this. It's so so important. You can't fully appreciate the facilities (or lack of) on offer until you look for yourself. It's also a good opportunity to ask current students questions about the University and accommodation etc.

Good luck!

When you speak of Hallam University do you mean the Polytechnic
in Pond Street?

Originally posted by dragonsoup
When you speak of Hallam University do you mean the Polytechnic
in Pond Street?

Yes, but it hasnt been a "poly" for years

Yes, but it hasnt been a "poly" for years

Bite

I've only visited the Uni twice.. but compared to all the others I've seen it's not "scabby" at all- hence why I've chosen to study there this year. Here are some of the factors that helped me make my decision (I hope they help you too):

Great night life (the best in the country according to Virgin)
Friendly people
The fact that it's a safe city
The "countryside in a city" feel
A good range of courses, some of which you can't find anywhere else
Great facilities- particularly for sport
Accents (nicer than in the south imo)
Pulp- legends :)

...ok maybe the last two aren't that important but you should definatley go and visit before ruling it out.

I'm currently writing a little guide to Sheffield on my website. It should give you an idea of whats generally good about the city.

You be interested to know that Sheffield keeps a very large proportion of its students, that is, they stay here after graduation.
Now the city has got plenty of scabby, but then all big cities on the UK have.

http://www.lucas-digital.com/sheffield/guide/citycentre.html

I'm still bug fixing and correcting typos, but is should serve its purpose.

Good luck

I also have a slightly, more unorthodox guide to Shef on my site: http://whatrhymeswithrosie.tripod.com/travel.html

Happing surfing :thumbsup:

well thanku for ur responses ppl, but to be honest, whats wit tha arguing?! u sheffield folks sound like a bunch of crazies!! and also, im not stupid, so what if i dont kno where sheffield is?! i got 8A*s and an A in my GCSEs and if u call that stupid then i guess u must all be geniuses.
generally got sum positive feedback and i think im gonna go up there for the open day.

Avoid the night clubs then. The chicks up here like to carry blades on a night out!
If folks didn't argue on this site there'd be b***** all messages left on it!

Originally posted by Lolita_show
geniuses.


Was the A for English Language? :) Just kidding, I'm going to sheffield uni in september, it's one of the best universities in the country! Not to mention an 'original' uni.

Originally posted by Lolita_show
well thanku for ur responses ppl, but to be honest, whats wit tha arguing?! u sheffield folks sound like a bunch of crazies!! and also, im not stupid, so what if i dont kno where sheffield is?! i got 8A*s and an A in my GCSEs and if u call that stupid then i guess u must all be geniuses.
generally got sum positive feedback and i think im gonna go up there for the open day.

Open day was today. What did you think then?

Nothing wrong with Hallam Poly University.
Only last week two of its senior academics achieved national recognition for their research into "Packing a suitcase "sponsored by Teletext Holidays.
On a more career-centred level the University offers a range of sport-themed courses which are proving increasingly popular for students seeking less intellectual activity.
Although quite intensive the courses provide extensive free-time
for binge-drinking and revelry.
Book early.

gay. didnt kno the open day was today. never mind. hehe, imagine if this whole investigation thing has bin a waste of time! no matter, i enjoyed it!!
ps: genii....so there <raspberry>

pps: are u not allowed to say bloody?

Originally posted by Lolita_show
well thanku for ur responses ppl, but to be honest, whats wit tha arguing?! u sheffield folks sound like a bunch of crazies!! and also, im not stupid, so what if i dont kno where sheffield is?! i got 8A*s and an A in my GCSEs and if u call that stupid then i guess u must all be geniuses.
generally got sum positive feedback and i think im gonna go up there for the open day.

Me wonders if one of your A*'s was in Geography!
Anyhoo, its not the GCSE's that count as much, what did you get in your A-Levels??

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW


Some of its facilties are crusty though, and old. You will find many of the Uni students use Hallam's Adsetts library facilities for example.

Both have good unions, Hallam is a good uni, if you are going for the right course, some of which they rank highly in, and are respected for their research.

Depends what you want to study at the end of the day. Chances are no matter which uni you go to, you will see the inside of the other, either to get research material, or to see friends!



here here! Hallam is great for my course which is why i went here instead of sheff uni. Plus the students are more laid back.

Originally posted by Sidla
I may be wrong, but as far as I know they don't. In fact, most UoS students I know wouldn't be seen dead inside a Hallam building.

that's the difference between the uni's. The attitude.

Lolita > Well done and everything but let's be honest - GCSE's are a bit of a **** take really aren't they?

To everyone else > I think this rivalry argument only exists in the first/second year between students who a.) either don't know much about the university b.) go to kingdom/vodka sheffield a lot and believe all the hype the dj's give out or c.) are actually quite stupid and not mature enough to see that both Universities have positives to offer.

3 of my best friends from home came to Uni here in Sheffield at the same time as me and they went to Uni, I went to Hallam. This is because my course was better at Hallam. (Sandwich course)

To set the record straight the facilities at Hallam are great and it is recognised for it's research and educational consultancy not just its vocational courses.

On a final note - students with a bit of common sense don't give a sh.it about this stupid argument.

Agreed red2!

Working in a research department of Hallam, I get quite a lot of experience with the actual facilities of the university, and work quite closely with the equivalent department in Sheffield uni. I've noticed that there is no such rivalry between the uni's at a professional/research level. It does only appear to be with the younger students at each uni.

Originally posted by Ned Ludd
Avoid the night clubs then. The chicks up here like to carry blades on a night out!

Hmm, come on Nedd, one incident in recent history is hardly representative of the safest city in England is it?

Originally posted by Red 2
that's the difference between the uni's. The attitude.
And the fact that Hallam students end up being paid more for their 'second rate' qualifications.


All in all, they are BOTH very good universities with high application rates for courses and good grades for the teaching. I would agree that it tends to be the younger students that descend to the 'my Dad's better than your Dad' level of rivalry. :shakes:

Another key advantage of Sheffield Uni is that it's in what is generally considered to be the "nice part of town": Hallam is the richest parliamentary consituency in the country, adjusted for cost of living. (For a contrast, just go and look at the campus at my alma mater, Manchester, which is sandwiched nicely between Moss Side and Longsight! :o)

Broomhill, where a lot of the students live, is a vibrant place with lots of handy shops and a few nice pubs. I recommend it very highly indeed! The only caveat I'd attach to that recommendation is to choose your halls of residence carefully - the University is in the process of replacing most of them, and as a result some are looking quite dated and run-down.

Originally posted by Tony
Hmm, come on Nedd, one incident in recent history is hardly representative of the safest city in England is it?


And the fact that Hallam students end up being paid more for their 'second rate' qualifications.


All in all, they are BOTH very good universities with high application rates for courses and good grades for the teaching. I would agree that it tends to be the younger students that descend to the 'my Dad's better than your Dad' level of rivalry. :shakes:

agreed on the age aspect, but what do you mean 'second rate' qualifications?

That was very tongue in cheek... I have one from there ;)

The best thing you can do is visit. I came to live in Sheffield having never been here before. At first I hated it, but I really like it now. Especially since my home town has virtually no night life.
But as a southerner people will assume you to be posh and a shandy drinker, if anyone can enlighten me on why this is I would be very grateful!

I'm sure people don't think you're posh just because you are from the south! It's just a different way of speaking to the people of sheffield.

My housemates last year were from Brighton, Bath, Cambridge and Ipswich and were the nicest people I could have met. :)

I love Sheffield. I have lived in Birmingham, Aberystwyth and Huddersfield before here and this is by far the nicest place. The town is nice, the shopping is good, the nightlife is good, the people are generally friendly and the uni is excellent. I am very happy to live there and in September i will be very proud to be a student at Sheffield.

well iv got a fairly posh accent but im totally down to earth and a bit of a boozer really! duno bout the shandy tho! im more or a malibu girl myself, but newhoo, i suggest we change this into a just fun chat thing cos sheffield's far too far away from home to do my washing! so i apologise for wasting all u ppls time!