Sheffield Hallam University
The earliest predecessor of Sheffield Hallam University was the Sheffield School of Design, established in 1843. That school was later absorbed into Sheffield Polytechnic, subsequently renamed Sheffield City Polytechnic, and in 1992 the polytechnic became a university under its present name. With some 31,000 students, roughly 22,000 of whom are undergraduates, and about 345,000 alumni around the globe, it ranks among the UK's largest universities.
Sheffield Hallam describes itself as an applied university, focusing its teaching, research and partnerships on health, economic and social challenges. Its research centres include the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre as well as the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering. Design Futures and Hallam Biotech are among the companies spun out of the University. Teaching is split between two Sheffield campuses: Collegiate Crescent, in the south-western part of the city, and City Campus, located centrally near the railway station. Notable alumni include the fashion designer Bruce Oldfield and Nick Park, the animator who created Wallace and Gromit. The University holds membership of both the European University Association and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Information for International Students
Sheffield Hallam's international support team works alongside regional overseas teams, each serving applicants from a different part of the world. Requirements for English depend on the course, typically sitting between IELTS 6.0 and 7.0 overall with no skill below 5.5. The Sheffield Hallam University College of International Education, based on City Campus and run with Oxford International Education Group, provides an International Year Zero, an International Foundation Year, an International Incorporated Masters Pathway and an International Year One. An online pre-sessional English course is offered through the Oxford International Digital Institute partnership, and during study students can use one-to-one language advice, workshops and in-sessional classes.
A room offer in University halls is guaranteed for new international students arriving without dependants, provided they satisfy the application conditions. A CAS follows acceptance of an offer and payment of the deposit, and visa queries can be taken to advisers. To help arrivals settle, there are online pre-departure briefings, a compulsory international orientation and, in September, a City Campus meet and greet desk. Merit-based international scholarships are awarded at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and the Graduate Route is open to graduates.