Orientation Week

Orientation Week is an optional programme of guided tours, social events and information sessions open to all new and continuing students, international or from the UK. If you want a little extra time and help to settle into life in Sheffield and the University, then Orientation Week is for you.

A chalk board with written details of Orientation Week events
On

Orientation Week is Monday 14 September to Friday 18 September 2026.

Check the schedule of events

There'll be daily information talks, campus tours, icebreakers and welcome drop-ins. There'll also be a range of daytime and evening social and cultural events to choose from. 

Attendance is free, but there will be a small charge for some social events. You can take part in as many days as you like, and you only need to attend the sessions and events that are of interest to you. Recordings will be available for all our information talks, so if you miss anything you 'll be able to catch up easily online.

The majority of sessions are held in the Students' Union Building, Firth Court, the Belonging Building or the BNBR centre.

All events and activities are supervised by our team of Global Campus Ambassadors, who you'll recognise in their pink tops. 

It’s a great way to make friends, find out more about the University and help you settle into life in Sheffield. 

We really look forward to welcoming you to our University and city! 

Express your interest by filling in this form.

Orientation accommodation

University accommodation is available to book, at a cost, during Orientation Week.

The self-catered accommodation will be at our Ranmoor & Endcliffe student residences. Rooms are single occupancy and en-suite. 

There are several packages available depending on when you will arrive in Sheffield, and all accommodation packages run through to 10am on Friday 18 September. There is a minimum two-night stay requirement.

Accommodations bookings will be open from 1 July 2026. For further details, and to book accommodation, visit our online shop.

'Meet & Greet'

The University will be running a 'meet and greet' airport pick-up service from Manchester Airport to the University of Sheffield on selected dates in September, including Orientation Week.

'Meet & Greet' service

Communities

We welcome all our communities and have a range of tailored information, resources and guidance for students to help you make the most of your time at university.

Disabled students

The Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS) runs a programme of activities during the week, to support disabled students. These events are labelled 'DDSS' in the programme. Further details can be found on their Transitions web page.

Schedule

Monday 14 September

  • Disability & Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS) information stand
    • 9am to 12pm, Student's Union foyer (level 3)
    • The Disability Transition Officer and a Disability Champion (a current student) will be on the information stand. Come and visit us if you would like to know more about DDSS, if you have any questions, want to say hello, or would like to chat about your plans for the week.
  • Talk: Welcome!
    • 9.30am to 10am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • We'll have different welcome talks with a different theme each day
  • Talk: Cyber, Fraud & Safety 
    • 10.15am to 11.15am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • Presented by South Yorkshire Police
  • Icebreaker
    • 11am to 12pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • International students
  • City tour
    • 1pm to 2pm (meet outside the Belonging Building at 12.45pm)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour in Sheffield city centre. The same city tour route will repeat each day.
  • Global Cafe
  • Tour: Students' Union
    • 3pm to 4pm, meet at Students' Union main entrance
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a walking tour of the Students' Union building showing you key facilities and services available to you during your study
  • Chill out time
    • 5pm to 7pm, the Belonging Building
    • Time to relax in a quiet space, maybe with a book or however you like to wind down!
  • Barbecue BBQ
    • 6pm to 9pm, Bar One (Students' Union)

Tuesday 15 September

  • Talk: Welcome!
    • 9.30am to 10am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • We'll have different welcome talks with a different theme each day
  • Tour: Western Bank Campus
    • 10am to 11am, meet outside Students' Union main entrance at 9.45am
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour of the Western Bank part of the campus; most useful for students studying Architecture & Landscape, Law, Biosciences, Mathematics & Physical Sciences, Geography & Planning. The tour will also show you how to find the Disability & Dyslexia Support Service, the Information Commons and the University Arms
  • Icebreaker
    • 11am to 12pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • Talk: Introduction to the DDSS Champions
    • 10.15am to 11.15am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • Delivered by the Disability Transition Officer and a current student, this talk will explain who's eligible for our support (including who's considered a 'disabled student'), what types of support are available, and how to set them up. A current student will talk about their experience of accessing DDSS support, and there'll be time at the end to ask questions.
  • Sports
    • 11am to 1pm, meet outside the Students' Union main entrance at 10.45am
    • Our ambassadors will then walk with you to the Bramley sports pitches at Goodwin Sports Centre. The event will take place outside, with the option to play cricket, dodgeball, football, rounders or frisbee.
  • Talk: Overview of the Students' Union
    • 11.30am to 12.30pm, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
  • Drop-in session with a DDSS Specialist Mentor
    • 12pm to 2pm, 301 Academic Skills Centre, Glossop Road
    • A one-to-one wellbeing drop-in session with a Specialist Mentor. If you’d like to chat about how your week is going, please come along. Our mentors can provide wellbeing support and signposting to support disabled students in making a positive transition to university life. There's no need to book in advance.
  • Talk: Introduction to the Careers & Employability Service
    • 12.45pm to 1.45pm, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
  • City tour
    • 1pm to 2pm (meet outside the Belonging Building at 12.45pm)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour in Sheffield city centre. The same city tour route will repeat each day.
  • Global Cafe with Friends International
  • 'Quilt of Welcome' launch event
    • 3pm to 5pm, the Belonging Building
    • Be one of the first to design a square before the Quilt of Welcome heads off on its journey around the University!
  • DDSS Social drop-in
    • 5pm to 7pm, the Belonging Building
    • Join us for an informal, low-sensory social event. All disabled students are welcome, whether you plan to access DDSS support or not. While DDSS staff will be there to help, this is a student-led space run by our Disability Champions (current disabled students). It's a great, relaxed way to meet others in a quieter environment. You can play a game, bring your own board game, or just have a friendly chat. There's no pressure - you can talk as little or as much as you like! There's no need to book in advance.
  • Film night
    • 7pm to 9pm,  Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
  • Board games
    • 7pm to 9pm,  Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)

Wednesday 16 September

  • Talk: Welcome!
    • 9.30am to 10am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • We'll have different welcome talks with a different theme each day
  • Tour: West campus
    • 10am to 11am (meet outside Students' Union main entrance at 9.45am)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour of the West Campus part of the campus. This will be most useful for students studying Biosciences, Medicine & Population Health, and Clinical Dentistry. The tour will also include where to find Firth Court, The Wave, 301 Academic Skills Centre, the University Drama Studio and Bar One.
  • Talk - Working on a Student visa during & after study
  • Sports
    • 11am to 1pm, meet outside the Students' Union main entrance at 10.45am
    • Our ambassadors will then walk with you to the Bramley sports pitches at Goodwin Sports Centre. The event will take place outside, with the option to play cricket, dodgeball, football, rounders or frisbee.
  • Icebreaker 
    • 11am to 12pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • City tour
    • 1pm to 2pm (meet outside the Belonging Building at 12.45pm)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour in Sheffield city centre. The same city tour route will repeat each day.
  • Global Cafe
  • Egg Drop Challenge
    • 3pm to 5pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • Autistic Student Social
    • 5pm to 7pm, the Belonging Building
    • This group is for all students who identify as autistic, including those who are self-diagnosed. Staff from Spectrum First will assist with the running of the group session but it’s very much a student-led group. The social group is a great way to meet other students in a quiet and informal setting. There's no pressure - you can talk as little or as much as you like! There's no need to book in advance.
  • Film night
    • 7pm to 9pm,  Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
  • Taste of Britain
    • 7pm to 9pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
    • Booking required - bookings will open soon

Thursday 17 September

  • Talk: Welcome!
    • 9.30am to 10am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • We'll have different welcome talks with a different theme each day
  • Tour: The Wave
    • 10am to 11am (meet outside Students' Union main entrance at 9.45am)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour in and around The Wave. The tour will be most useful for students studying Education - Information, Journalism and Communication - Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations - Economics - Management. The tour will also include where to find the Goodwin Sports Centre and the Management School.
  • Talk: Managing your money
  • Sports
    • 11am to 1pm, meet outside the Students' Union main entrance at 10.45am
    • Our ambassadors will then walk with you to the Bramley sports pitches at Goodwin Sports Centre. The event will take place outside, with the option to play cricket, dodgeball, football, rounders or frisbee.
  • Icebreaker 
    • 11am to 12pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • Talk: Cyber, Fraud & Safety 
    • 11.30am to 12.30pm, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • Presented by South Yorkshire Police
  • Drop-in session with a DDSS Specialist Mentor
    • 12pm to 2pm, 301 Academic Skills Centre, Glossop Road
    • A one-to-one wellbeing drop-in session with a Specialist Mentor. If you’d like to chat about how your week is going, please come along. Our mentors can provide wellbeing support and signposting to support disabled students in making a positive transition to university life. There's no need to book in advance.
  • Talk: Support for mature students
    • 12.45pm to 1.45pm, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • Presented by the Student Experience Diversity & Inclusion (SEDI) team and Education Development Services
  • City tour
    • 1pm to 2pm (meet outside the Belonging Building at 12.45pm)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour around Sheffield City Centre. The same city tour route will repeat each day.
  • Global Cafe meets Culture Compass
    • 1pm to 3pm, the Belonging Building
    • Today's cafe will have a focussed inter-cultural conversation activity, hosted by ISSAC
  • Mature students drop-in
    • 2pm to 4pm, 301 Academic Skills Centre
  • University Health Service tour
    • 3pm to 4pm (meet outside Students' Union main entrance at 2.45pm)
    • Following the conclusion of today's talks in the auditorium, our ambassadors will walk with you to the University Health Service for an introduction to the services you can access there.
  • Quilt of Welcome (part 2)
    • 3pm to 5pm, the Belonging Building
    • Another opportunity to add your design to the quilt early in its journey.
  • Chill out time
    • 5pm to 7pm, the Belonging Building
    • Some time to relax in a quiet space, maybe with a book, or however you like to wind down.
  • Board games
    • 7pm to 9pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)

Friday 18 September

  • Talk: Welcome!
    • 9.30am to 10am, Students' Union auditorium (level 2)
    • We'll have different welcome talks with a different theme each day
  • Tour: St George's campus
    • 10am to 11am (meet outside the Belonging Building at 9.45am)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour of the St George's part of the campus. The tour will be most useful for students studying History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, Computer Science, Languages, Arts and Societies, Psychology and Engineering. The tour will also include where to find the St George's Lecture Theatre and the University Health Service.
  • Accommodation check-out
    • 10am to 12pm, Endcliffe accommodation
  • Sports
    • 11am to 1pm, meet outside the Students' Union main entrance at 10.45am
    • Our ambassadors will then walk with you to the Bramley sports pitches at Goodwin Sports Centre. The event will take place outside, with the option to play cricket, dodgeball, football, rounders or frisbee.
  • Icebreaker 
    • 11am to 12pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
  • City tour
    • 1pm to 2pm (meet outside the Belonging Building at 12.45pm)
    • Our ambassadors will take you on a short walking tour around Sheffield City Centre. The same city tour route will repeat each day.
  • Global Cafe with DDSS
    • 1pm to 3pm, the Belonging Building
    • During today's Global Cafe, colleagues from DDSS will be available for a confidential one-to-one drop-in session with our Disability Transition Officer. They can provide you with an introduction to the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service and explain how to set up support for your studies. You're welcome to have a general chat about how you plan to make the most out of Orientation Week. They can also signpost you to other services within the University.
  • Chill out time
    • 5pm to 7pm, the Belonging Building
    • Some time to relax in a quiet space, maybe with a book, or however you like to wind down.
  • Games evening: 'Race Across the World' quiz special
    • 7pm to 9pm, Uni Central, Student's Union (level 4)
    • Our last games night will feature a quiz game based on the epic 'Race Across the World' TV programme!

See also:

Global Campus

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