Sheffield as a student

[kyoto49 10]

Long ago my old ecomomics teacher raved about his time growing up in Sheffield and told us almost every lesson what a great city it was!! Now his childhood was about 70 years ago, but I always remember the strength of feeling he had for his city so when my daughter recently started looking at Uni's to study at I raised Sheffield as an option. We've been to the University of Sheffield open day, she wants to study Physics, and were really impressed with what we saw. I'd be very helpful if forumites could assist in the pros and cons of Sheffield froom a students persepective please? What are the things/places to avoid, safety concerns or other things we need to know, and what are the must do's? Any information you could provide would be really helpful in helping her make a final decision. Thanks in advance

[tzijlstra 11]

First off - UoS is a wonderful University, it is genuinely a top-class place to study in the UK. Secondly, Sheffield is still a great city, friendly and warm people (despite this forum ) and generally quite cheap to live compared to other University cities. Thirdly, (and I know quite a lot of Unions!) the Union is by far one of the best in the region, if not in the nation.

[joojoo 13]

Don't know what the figures are but I do know that many. many students choose to stay in Sheffield after graduation, says it all really. It is a great City.

[Brian Equato 10]

First off - UoS is a wonderful University, it is genuinely a top-class place to study in the UK. Secondly, Sheffield is still a great city, friendly and warm people (despite this forum ) and generally quite cheap to live compared to other University cities. Thirdly, (and I know quite a lot of Unions!) the Union is by far one of the best in the region, if not in the nation.

 

I think everyone on this forum would happily sit and a drink and a chat with you (One subject best left off the agenda with some of us mind you ).

[Flying Duck 10]

Like anywhere, you have to be sensible in terms of safety, but Sheffield is considered to be one of the safest cities in England. The uni have a large site at Endcliffe where there is lots of accommodation in one of the nicest parts of the city.

[tzijlstra 11]

I think everyone on this forum would happily sit and a drink and a chat with you (One subject best left off the agenda with some of us mind you ).

 

Haha, thanks Brian

[max 13]

One of the main attractions for students to come to Sheffield and ultimately settle here is the great outdoors. Sheffield is the only city which contains part of a National Park within its boundaries and this offers multiple opportunities for walking, cycling, climbing and many others. These are all accessible by public transport.

[Dozer 13]

You'd probably like to hear from students, but I'm afraid they tend toward Facebook instead of forums like this (more's the pity), so I hope you don't mind hearing from all of us older folks about what we imagine the student experience is like. My other half teaches at the uni, not sure if that helps...

 

We moved to Sheffield from a very large city, and it took a little getting used to, but frankly we've fallen in love with city, and we see the same thing happening to the students here. Sheffield is not a flashy place and doesn't tend to be trendsetting. But it has a high proportion of kindly people, a huge amount of culture, whatever culture means to you: theatre, museums, music festivals, book festivals, clubs, restaurants. The centre is very walkable. And for outdoorsy types, the Peak District is nearby and easy to get to.

 

On the whole, Sheffield loves its students.

 

It's affordable, although not as cheap as it used to be.

 

It's diverse. That brings some tensions, but because it's got a friendly culture, it has a lot more pluses than minuses.

 

If you're daughter does come to Sheffield, tell her to try to do at least one thing outside of the uni: volunteer, hike, go to the theatre, make a friend who's not a student. And don't be a stranger yourself. It's a wonderful place to visit, and cheap compared to tourist towns.

 

Good luck through the application process and final year exams. What an exciting time!

[taxman 12]

Don't know what the figures are but I do know that many. many students choose to stay in Sheffield after graduation, says it all really. It is a great City.

 

Yep, I'm one such former student.

[HallamGirl 43]

Yep, I'm one such former student.

 

Likewise.

 

And now my niece has just started a 3 year course at Hallam Uni as well, so I'm getting the chance to show her the best places in Sheffield (and perhaps a few to avoid as well).

 

Obviously I can't speak for the university experiences of other cities, but I think you'd have to go a long way to beat all the qualities Sheffield has to offer.

 

Good luck looking around, and of course getting the grades.

[mad-dad 29]

Hi Kyoto49.

 

I'm 65 and have travelled a lot but never, ever would I consider moving away .... not even with a lottery win.

 

Even now I am still learning about things around here. Google 'Sheffield' and add a suffix, any suffix (history, places of interest, entertainment, characters, hidden places, walks, industry, student guides etc) and I guarantee you'll be reading for hours and hours.

 

Her experience here will be one she probably won't want to give up.

 

By 'eck, t' lass might even learn a new language duck.

 

Quote from user Mister M on another thread: "The Guardian are reporting that 'creepy clowns' are springing up everywhere in Britain, as a response to the craze that's sweeping America (where else? )

 

Anyway, not to be out done, Sheffield has it's very own masked joker; but this being Sheffield, he rides around on a mobility scooter!"

 

See, us Sheffield folk are a one-off.

Edited October 8, 2016 by mad-dad

[Litotes 63]

Strangely enough, one of the nice things about Sheffield is how easy it is to leave it behind.

 

Just over 2 hours to St Pancras on the train, then another few to Paris...

 

An hour to Hull and the ferries to mainland Europe

 

Doncaster, Leeds-Bradford, East Midlands, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham Airports in an hour and a half

 

10 minutes walk and you are on the outskirts of the city next to a national park. An hour and you are in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

And then you start finding out the places that the locals don't want anyone to know about...

 

Grindleford Cafe, Damflask, Millhouses Park, Kelham Island Museum, the craft beer movement ...