The University of Sheffield
Prospective Postgraduates

Firth CourtA global reputation

Our founding motto was Rerum Cognoscere Causas, or 'to discover the causes of things'. And while we don't talk as much Latin these days, the idea still inspires us.

We say we want to make the world a better place and we do: socially, culturally and environmentally we’re independent of mind and inquisitive by nature.

How we rate

Research

The quality of research in UK universities is assessed in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The RAE is carried out by independent experts from universities, industry and business.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 41 out of the University's 49 submissions had 50% or more of their work assessed at the top grades of 4* and 3*.

RAE (2008) gradings by subject

Teaching

The Quality Assurance Agency places us in the highest category for academic quality.

Other recent independent quality surveys have placed us in the highest categories for research and teaching:

The last Teaching Quality Assessment awarded us grades of "excellent" in 29 subject areas, a record equalled by only a handful of UK universities.

Teaching quality figures for departments

Why it matters

As a postgraduate student you benefit directly from our research expertise. Our courses are taught by active researchers, so what you learn is always up to date and relevant. Being at a leading research university also means you'll have access to the best facilities and resources.

Best of all, you'll be part of an academic community, working and socialising with people who really care about their subject.

93%

29

Queen's Anniversary Prizes

We have won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes:

  • For humanities research in 1999
  • For environmental research and consultancy in 2001
  • For research on ageing in 2002
  • For the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing in 2007

Our links with industry and the professions guarantee the relevance of our programmes, and equip our graduates for careers at the cutting edge of their fields.

The Queen's Prize is the most distinguished award that can be made to a UK institution for higher or further education.

The awards are designed to recognise the outstanding contribution that universities and colleges in the United Kingdom make to the intellectual, economic, cultural and social life of the nation.

University of the Year 2011University of the Year

The University of Sheffield was named UK University of the Year in the 2011 Times Higher Education Awards. We won this prestigious award because we're a world-class university in a unique city. We are a community true to our civic roots and our straightforward approach informs everything we do, both close to home and around the world.

University of the Year

Academic collaboration

We collaborate closely with leading universities around the world:

  • We're a key member of the Worldwide Universities Network (USA, Europe, China).
  • Our partnership with Leeds and York Universities, the White Rose Consortium, has a combined research power greater than that of Oxford or Cambridge.

World Universities Network

White Rose Consortium