Resources for teachers and advisors
Here you will find a number of resources we hope you will find useful in your roles as teachers and advisors.
Schools toolkit
Download these pdfs for essential information about applying to university.
Personal statement worksheet (PDF, 127KB)
Choosing a course & a university guide (PDF, 98KB)
Higher Education glossary (PDF, 94KB)
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.
Faculty Focus
Our faculties and departments have provided specific resources for you here.
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
English - A podcast on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, exploring how literary criticism can help a better appreciation of contemporary pop culture.
Law - The Law in Context podcast provides an accessible overview of the law of current affairs and its broader context.
- Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering
Why study civil and Structural Engineering?
Check out our video showing what some of our students and academics think about studying civil & structural engineering at Sheffield
No-one knows how explosions work (yet)
A video by Tom Scott on YouTube, showcasing research being done at Sheffield about explosion simulation.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
How do drones sense the world?
Join Dr Jonathan Aitken and Dr Owen McAree to explore the high-tech world of drone sensors. From GPS and gyroscopes to ultrasonic "sonar", see how these flying robots process data in real-time to stay stable and navigate the world.
How are electrical and electronic engineers improving the energy efficiency of the 5G network?
Join Dr Stephen Henthorn to learn how electrical and electronic engineers are tackling one of the biggest challenges in tech: making 5G networks energy efficient. As we use more data, the power needed to keep us connected can skyrocket – but these engineers are using clever hacks and AI to keep that energy consumption low.
Taster session for circuit design
Have you programmed an Arduino before? Join this taster session to learn how to use tinkercad to design and test a circuit.
General Engineering
Can you run on custard?
Can you actually run across a pool of custard without sinking? Join Dr Andrew Garrard to see how custard acts like a liquid when you’re still, but turns into a solid the moment you hit it with force.
Mechanical Engineering
I’m an mechanical engineer
Check out our video showcasing the range of applications and careers associated with Mechanical Engineering, through interviews with our staff and researchers.
Mechanical engineering animation
Check out our video from the Department of Mechanical Engineering designed to show the applications and opportunities related to the discipline.
Material Science
What is material science and engineering?
Find out more about what material science is, and the way it impacts the world around us.
Secrets of spider silk
Dr Chris Holland shares more about Materials Science and Engineering. Sample lecture title "Secrets of Spider Silk"
- Faculty of Science
That’s Science!
That's Science! is a University of Sheffield podcast. In each episode we talk with our academics to explore common beliefs and popular myths across Science. Whether you're interested in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, or Psychology you'll get fascinating insights into some of the latest discoveries.
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Politics - SPERI Presents... New Thinking in Political Economy, a podcast which showcases cutting-edge political economy research that helps us to understand the world around us.
Politics - SPERI Presents... Crisis Point introduces the political economy of capitalist crises, providing historical and theoretical rigour to discourses around crisis in the present.
Geography - Urban Radar is a podcast series which reflects on current events and emerging trends through the lens of cities and urban life.
Journalism - Press Pass: Unpacking Media Freedom, a podcast series covering global issues of media freedom and how we can create a safer environment for journalists to act as watchdogs and deliver public interest reporting.
- Faculty of Health
Discover Dentistry
Discover Dentistry is a free, six-week online course taught by dental professionals at Sheffield that will introduce you to the essential principles of dental care.
The Dental and Healthcare Insights podcast
This podcast series is hosted by Dr Daniel Breirly and a series of guests, covering topics such as dental careers, wider healthcare discussions on EDI, sustainability, women in academia and social media.
The Overend-Knight Medical History podcast
What were the medical firsts in Sheffield over the last 200 years? Listen to this podcast – named after two founding figures of medical education in Sheffield - to find out.
Conversations around palliative care
What is palliative care? How can it help people living with health conditions and their families? Join researchers, healthcare professionals, people living with mesothelioma and their families as they answer these questions and more.
Explore the Faculty of Health on Instagram
Discover what it's really like to study a health subject at the University of Sheffield - from student-led placement vlogs to tours of our facilities.
Visit us
Discover what sets Sheffield apart at an undergraduate open day in June or July.