The city is a great and friendly place to be as a student.

Emily Ip
Emily Ip
MSc Computer Science with Speech and Language Processing
Winner of a Fulbright Scholarship
2023
Everyone in my course and in the department has been so friendly and eager to help so there’s plenty of support all around.

How did you first hear about The University of Sheffield?

I found the University of Sheffield while doing research into universities in the UK that offer courses and robust research opportunities related to Computational Linguistics.

How did you research the University to find out about studying in Sheffield?

I was researching professors and scholars in academia who aligned with my previous research experience and found both my current course and the Natural Language Processing Research Group at Sheffield.

What do you like best about living and studying in Sheffield?

It’s a very walkable city with great transportation options (tram/bus/rail), so anything you might need or want to do is very reachable. The next thing on my list to explore is the Peak District – it’s a must when we’re so close by!

What was your initial impression of Sheffield and the University when you first arrived?

I didn’t realize how hilly Sheffield is (make sure you have good shoes for walking!) But I’m very drawn to places based on the architecture and design of the buildings/city, so the mix of old and new among the university buildings and other parts of the city really drew me in.

What are the highlights of your course so far?

It was challenging at first, but everyone in my course and in the department was so friendly and eager to help so there was plenty of support all around. I’ve also been able to take advantage of the opportunities to get involved with the computer science/engineering societies, as well as research groups and projects. I’m extremely excited to see all the connections I can make and everything I’ll learn!

What would you say to a student considering studying at The University of Sheffield?

The University of Sheffield has so much to offer and provides so much support no matter what field you’re going into, and the city itself is a great and friendly place to be as a student. It’s a solid choice!

Do you find Sheffield expensive?

No, Sheffield is very affordable. Very budget-friendly for university students, as well as loads of student deals you can take advantage of. I’d say one of the best budget-friendly things you can do is get yourself a railcard for your specific age group (.e.g, 16-25 railcard), which gives me 30% off all the train tickets I buy. I’ve used it to travel to London, Cambridge, Nottingham, and Newcastle from Sheffield while I’ve been here.

Are you a member of any clubs or societies at the Students' Union?

Yes! I joined Women in Computer Science, Women in Engineering, and Bionics Society to network and socialize with other colleagues in my course and industry professionals. They also give me a space to participate in other projects outside of class to put theory into practice and bolster my practical skillset. Having studied Spanish and studied abroad in Spain during my undergraduate years in the United States, I also joined the Hispanic Society and the Salsa Society to reconnect and stay engaged with those personal interests.

Upcoming events for offer holders and enquirers

We're running a series of information sessions, student panels and virtual activities to help you understand what Sheffield has to offer.