What can I study?
At Sheffield, we refer to what you may know as courses, classes or units, as 'modules'. Take a look at Sheffield's module system and the options available to you as a Study Abroad and Exchange student here.
Your options vary depending on whether or not you are applying from a partner university, and the location of the partner university.
- Subject-level agreement partners: If you are currently enrolled at one of our partner universities that has an agreement with a specific-subject area at the University of Sheffield, you must choose all of your modules from the academic subject area into which you have been nominated, except those coming through a link hosted by the School of Languages, Arts and Societies (Modern Languages).
- University-wide partners: You may choose modules across as many subject areas as you wish, subject to prerequisites and timetabling.
- Direct enrolment: You may choose modules across as many subject areas as you wish, subject to prerequisites and timetabling.
Subject areas open to inbound students
| Subject Areas | Subject-level agreement partners | University-wide partners | School of Languages, Arts & Societies (SLAS) partners | Direct enrolment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Architecture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mechatronics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Biochemistry | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Bioengineering | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Biosciences (including Biology, Ecology, Plant Sciences, Zoology and Biomedical Science) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Third-year modules in Biosciences are only offered on a case-by-case basis to advanced students following discussion with the school. |
| Chemical and Biological Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Chemistry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Civil and Structural Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Computer Science | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Data Science | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Economics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Education | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electronic and Electrical Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| English Language Teaching Centre | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | For students with an IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent, it is not possible to study a full year of 120 ELTC credits. Full-year exchange students who join this school will likely be required to study a reduced credit load (100 credits) or study an extra 20 credits in another school. |
| English (Literature, Language and Linguistics) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Please note that the School of English modules often reach capacity at all levels and modules cannot be guaranteed. Students wishing to study English should be flexible with their choices. |
| Geography | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| History | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Non-History major students should select level 1 history modules only. |
| Journalism, Media and Communication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Landscape Architecture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Languages & Cultures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Law | Yes | No | No | Yes | The School of Law runs their own exchange programme. If you are unsure if your university is a Law or Criminology exchange partner, please see the School of Law website. |
| Management School (including Business) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Materials Science and Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mathematics: Applied, Pure and Statistics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mechanical Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Modern Languages Teaching Centre | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 languages on offer, the list is available here. Non beginners will need to do a language test to determine the appropriate level. |
| Music | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Philosophy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Physics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Politics and International Relations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Due to limited capacity, third-year and beyond Politics modules are closed to all exchange students. |
| Psychology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sociological Studies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Due to limited capacity, third-year and beyond Sociology modules are closed to all exchange students. |
| Urban Studies and Planning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Some schools have module restrictions and if you are not academically qualified for a module, you will need to choose an alternative module. This especially applies to any advanced-level modules for which there are prerequisites. Modules that are not available to exchange students cannot be chosen in the application.
Undergraduate students who wish to take postgraduate-level modules will usually be subject to additional faculty checks during the application process.
Understanding the module system at Sheffield
Modules are made up of regularly scheduled class sessions of one or more hours per week during the semester. Depending on the subject area, these may include lectures, seminars, tutorials and labs.
Before completing an application form, you and your academic advisers should look at the modules on offer at Sheffield. You need to be sure the level of study here is right for you, and that the modules you choose will meet the requirements of your home institution.
Directory of Modules
Module details can be found listed under each school in the Directory of Modules. If the module description does not provide enough information for your home university to approve them, you can email globalopps@sheffield.ac.uk, quoting the module code, title and missing information, and we will liaise with the academic subject area concerned to obtain this information.
Please note that not all the modules listed in the Directory will be available to Study Abroad/Exchange students and the list of modules available to you will be shared during the application process.
Remember to:
- Check you meet the English language requirement for each subject area you want to study in.
- Choose the right semester – check the calendar type in the Directory of Modules (modules only run in the indicated semester: Autumn, Spring or Academic Year). It is not possible to take a full academic year module if you are only attending for one semester.
- Have backup options just in case. It is possible to change modules when you arrive during the Add/Drop period at the start of each semester.
- Level 300 modules are advanced-level modules. You must have an appropriate academic background to be allowed to take these modules.
- Level 400 modules are postgraduate and have a pass mark of 50, rather than 40. If you do not meet the prerequisites of a module you have requested, you may be asked to consider a level 100 or level 200 module on a similar topic. If you are new to a subject, look at level 100. The directory of modules contains information on prerequisites (see link above). Undergraduate (Bachelor's degree) students may not be allowed to take postgraduate modules if they do not have the relevant academic background.
Choosing your modules
As part of your application instructions, we will send you an Exchange Modules List for the relevant academic year that you are joining us. Your modules will be approved by the relevant school during the application process. All module allocations are provisional until the start of term when timetables are confirmed.
During the application process, Global Opportunities and your host school(s) may be in touch to discuss your options and possible alternatives if changes are needed.
How many credits do I need?
Each module is assigned a credit value. You will need to study 60 Sheffield credits per semester to gain full-time status at the University of Sheffield. Most modules are worth 10 or 20 Sheffield credits. You can expect a 10-credit module to involve 100 hours of work and a 20-credit module to involve 200. This can include lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs and self-study time.
The maximum number of credits for which you can register is 120 for an academic year or 60 for a semester. With written approval of your home institution, it may be possible to register for fewer credits. The minimum allowed is 100 Sheffield credits over a full academic year or 40 Sheffield credits for one semester.
December finish
If you have been nominated for a December finish, you will remain registered until the end of the semester in February, but only required to attend until the end of teaching in December. Students who have not been nomimated for a December finish cannot request an early finish after registration.
Please note it is the responsibility of December finish students to coordinate between their home university and teaching staff at the University of Sheffield to have any January exams proctored at home. This should be discussed as soon as possible after registering in September.
Students may also wish to choose modules without exams in January, to avoid having to arrange exams abroad.
Not all schools can offer a December finish, so remember to check this if making changes to your module registration at the start of term.
Study Abroad and Exchange Modules Catalogue
If you are an exchange student and would like to find out which modules are available to you during your time with us, take a look at the Study Abroad and Exchange Module Catalogue. Please make sure you read the 'important information' tab first. The catalogue contains all the modules that are available to Study Abroad and Exchange students to apply to. Modules not listed here are not available for you to study.
This list is subject to change, and any module approvals are provisional until registration at the start of September.
Closed subject areas
It is not possible to study modules in the Faculty of Health, which includes the following schools:
- School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Clinical Dentistry
- School of Medicine and Population Health