Resources for teachers and advisors

Schools toolkit

Download these pdfs for essential information about applying to university. 

Your personal statement (PDF, 101KB)

Personal statement worksheet (PDF, 138KB)

Choosing a course (PDF, 93.5KB)

Choosing a university (PDF, 92.1KB)

Sheffield statistics (PDF, 100KB)

Higher Education glossary (PDF, 96.3KB)

Ask us your questions (PDF, 92.8KB)

Adviser Guide 2025

A guide for teachers, advisers and agents helping students apply to undergraduate study in the UK for 2025.

Download Adviser Guide 2025 (PDF, 4.7 MB)

Advancing Access CPD sessions

The University of Sheffield is a partner in Advancing Access, a collaboration between 24 leading universities working with schools and colleges to support students' progression to Russell Group universities. It supports teachers and careers advisers to guide young people who are making their key stage 4, key stage 5 and university choices. 

We offer free staff CPD sessions at schools and colleges across the country. These sessions can be delivered in person or virtually. Sessions last between 45 mins to 1 hour.

We cover the following topics:

Supporting students to make choices at 16

 Considering how students' Level 2 qualifications might influence their choices

• Understanding the range of qualification types on offer and the pros and cons of academic versus vocational qualifications
• An introduction to future planned qualifications such as T Levels
• Appropriate A level subject choice
• How Russell Group universities treat different qualifications, including core maths and the extended project qualification
• The best resources which teachers and students can use for further support

Supporting students to make choices at 18 

This session will focus on helping teachers and advisers to support students to make higher education choices. Participants will be encouraged to consider the best support for students deciding on a suitable degree subject, by thinking about career ambitions or pursuing areas of academic interest. Resources which enable students to consider appropriate qualification choices for different courses will be demonstrated. The session will also look at types of university course, including sandwich courses and degree apprenticeships as well as the differences between more and less competitive universities. Advice will be provided on how to support students in responding to university offers.

Supporting students to write personal statements

This session will enable teachers and advisers to effectively support students with the UCAS personal statement writing process. The session will look at some the basics of structuring statements and will also examine some of the academic research which has been carried out to establish the characteristics of the most successful statements. Participants will learn how personal statements are used by universities in the decision making process and will be shown how they can make sure their students have the competitive edge. Examples of more and less effective statements will be provided and these will be compared and contrasted.

Writing effective UCAS references

This session will begin by looking at some of the basics of references and how they ought to be structured. Participants will learn about what universities are looking for in a reference and why they are important. The session will cover how to effectively include contextual information in the reference (both about the applicant and also the school or college). There will also an opportunity for participants to discuss how extenuating circumstances should be addressed. Examples of effective (and less effective) references will be provided which can be compared and contrasted.

Understanding contextual admissions processes

This session begins by providing an overview of the current Widening Access agenda within Higher Education. The session then goes on to cover the details of contextual admissions policies which are designed to enable students from a wider range of different backgrounds to progress to university. Participants will learn how contextual admissions processes work, the sorts of factors which are considered to be 'contextual' and how students can best be supported through the process.

Preparing students for interviews and admissions tests

This session will cover some of the additional admissions tests which some universities and courses require. Participants will learn more about the tests, will try example questions and will be encouraged to think about how they can best support their students to succeed. The session will also look at how teachers and advisers can best prepare students for a university interview should they be invited to one.

If you are interested in booking any of the above sessions please contact your regional officer.

You can access the online resources directly at the Advancing Access website

For more information about how the University of Sheffield works with Advancing Access, email us at partnerships@sheffield.ac.uk or ring 0114 222 1027

Online learning: Future Learn

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