Strike action information for students

What to expect during strike action

Strike action (sometimes referred to as industrial action) is legal action taken by members of a trade union in protest against their employer. The most common form of action is strike action.

During strike action, some staff refuse to work and may join picket lines to protest. This can sometimes lead to some teaching being cancelled on days when University teachers are taking strike action.

Throughout any period of industrial action, the University, including our libraries, study spaces, and facilities, will remain open as normal.

Action short of a strike

Action short of a strike is when trade union members engage in an action that falls short of a full withdrawal of labour.

Picket lines

A picket line is a form of protest where people congregate at a location, in this case usually outside University buildings where they usually work, to draw public attention to their cause. 

Staff on picket lines should not stop you from entering a building or prevent your access to any part of the campus to attend your class or other activities. No staff member wants to disrupt students’ education and these picket lines should not feel intimidating.

Picketing is a legal form of protest, but if you feel intimidated in any way, or witness any behaviour you find concerning, please contact our Security team to raise a concern.

Lawful pickets should only include employees of the University, so students should not join picket lines. Read our guidance for students who want to protest at the University.

What the strike action was about

The Sheffield University and College Union (UCU), a trade union representing some University staff, had asked its members to take 10 days of strike action between 30 April and 16 May. This dispute was in relation to the University’s inability to guarantee there will be no compulsory redundancies arising from the ongoing change management activity the University is undertaking in light of the current financial situation.

Strike action was called off following a successful and productive meeting between UCU and the University, with the Vice-Chancellor in attendance.

The University is committed to continuing open and constructive talks with campus trade unions to build a positive and sustainable future.

Learning and teaching

Strike action previously announced at the University has now been called off with immediate effect. This means that all teaching, supervision, and research activity will go ahead as planned, from Friday 9 May.

If you were affected by any strike action that has already taken place, the University will work to replace the teaching and education you may have lost.

If a lecture or seminar was cancelled because of strike action, you will not be recorded as absent for that session. This means, if you’re an international student with a Tier 4 visa or Student visa, it will not be affected.

Exams and assessments

Following this period of strike action we will review any implications for assessments and exams and ensure we mitigate any disruption.

Boards of examiners will be aware of the impact the strike action has had upon the delivery and assessment of modules you have studied and this will be taken into account when finalising results.

If you have concerns about particular assessments that you are due to take/submit, you should speak with your school in the first instance.

Information for Postgraduate research students

During strike action, the University will remain open and most supervision and training will go ahead as usual. Please assume that all activities will take place unless your supervisor or department notifies you otherwise.

Some postgraduate research students also have roles as staff, such as Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates. If you took strike action you should follow the guidance issued by your Head of School/Department.

Support during strike action

Industrial action can be a challenging time for the University community, and this period of strike action may have caused uncertainty and stress on top of your studies. Your wellbeing is our priority, and the University will do everything it can to help support you.

If you’re feeling down, overwhelmed, or struggling to adjust to these changing circumstances, our Student Wellbeing Service can offer tailored one-to-one support to help you make sense of what you’re experiencing.

If the strike action has significantly affected your mental health, please do not hesitate to contact our Mental Health, Counselling and Therapies Service.

Financial reimbursement for out of pocket expenses

If you incurred travel or childcare costs to attend a lecture or meeting on campus and on arrival found that it had been cancelled with no notice because of industrial action, you can apply to be reimbursed. To be eligible you'll need to have had no other reason to attend campus, (eg. other classes or meetings that were not cancelled) and will need to provide evidence to confirm your costs e.g. travel tickets.

If you are an online/distance learning student, and have incurred childcare costs to attend a live online teaching session which was cancelled with no notice due to industrial action, you can also apply to be reimbursed.

Please complete an application for financial support via MUSE

Questions about strike action

If your question relates to your lectures/seminars, or a course assessment you are due to submit, you should contact your academic school/department directly.

If you have a question about strike action that is not covered on this page, you can contact our Industrial Action Enquiry Centre via the following webform:

Ask about industrial action

We will continue to keep this page updated with the latest information on industrial action.