History welcome programme

Welcome programme for history MA degrees

This programme outlines the key module choice activities and the school-level events that you need to attend as part of your registration and welcome programme. We will be using Google Meet for drop-in sessions. You may find Google’s quick guide to Meets helpful. 

For information about University registration, please see the new student pages.

iSheffield app: iSheffield is the University's mobile app for Sheffield students and it is a great tool to make sure you know where to be in Welcome Week. It includes registration timetables and campus maps as well as library reading lists, contact search and personalised information for your course. You can access the app once you’ve activated your computer account from 23 August. 

Welcome Week for MA students begins from Monday 23 September 2024. Term  begins from Monday 30 September 2024. 

For students on history MA programmes, teaching starts from Monday 7 October. The first week of term will focus on seminar preparation and ongoing welcome activities.

Module choice

Module choice takes place from Thursday 22 August to 12pm on Friday 13 September 2024. Please see our module advice page for details of how to make your choices. You will receive your final module allocations by 4pm on Monday 16 September and these will be uploaded directly to your student record. 

Registration, ID checks and student cards

From Friday 23 August to Monday 26 August, all students who have accepted an unconditional offer will have a student record created and will receive an email confirming the availability of new pre-registration tasks. To prepare for registration, we recommend completing as many of these tasks as you can in advance receiving your module allocations.

Part-time UK students - once you’ve received this email, you can book an online or in person appointment with Beky to have your ID checked. Valid ID includes a passport, drivers licence (full or provisional), birth certificate or adoption certificate. Once you’ve registered, confirm us at history.maenquiries@sheffield.ac.uk and we will order your uCard. You should include confirmation of the address you would like your uCard to be posted to. 

Full-time UK students - once your modules have been loaded to your student record, you will be able to complete online registration. You will then receive an email asking you to book a slot to have your ID checked and collect your student card (uCard). 

UK students taking out a student loan - once you have completed your ID check Student Finance England will be updated. Your loan will be released on the first day of term or within 5 working days, whichever is later.

International students - the pre-registration email will include a link for you to book a slot to complete registration in person, undertake your right to study and ID checks, and collect your uCard. You should book a slot from 16 September onwards so that it takes place after your modules have been approved.

Welcome and induction events

Click on the individual events below for more information. Most of these events will also show up in your timetable. 

For optional or 'choose one' events please sign-up using the links below. 

Wednesday 25 September

2.00pm-3.15pm: welcome meeting

Welcome meeting for all new history and archaeology MA students

With MA Programme Leads Sebastian Gehring (History), Katherine Fennelly (Cultural Heritage Management) and Colin Merrony (Archaeology & Heritage).

The welcome talk will be followed by time for informal chat and questions.

Part-time students - if you haven’t already had an ID check, please bring ID and see Beky Hasnip at the end of this event.

Location: The Diamond, Workroom 2

Thursday 26 September

11.00am-12.00pm: history drop-in (optional)

History drop-in Q&A session (optional) with Beky Hasnip and Sebastian Gehrig

Call in at any point during the slot if you have any questions or issues you’d like to discuss. No need to sign-up. 

You can also book an individual online or in person appointment with Beky via her student hours booking page.

Location: Jessop West, Seminar Room 2

1.00pm-3.00pm: digital learning and academic skills centre introduction

Skills introduction: Digital learning with the Arts and Humanities Digital Learning team and an introduction to 301 Academic Skill Centre. 

This is a School-wide session. The digital learning part of this session is particularly useful for non-Sheffield graduates, international students and anyone else unfamiliar with Google products and/or Blackboard. This workshop will be delivered by the Faculty Digital Learning team. Staff from the 301 Academic Skills Centre will then join to give you a short introduction to what this service can offer you to make sure you’re getting the most out of your degree. 

The final 15 minutes of this session includes an introduction to the wellbeing service, this is a repeat of the wellbeing introduction in the history welcome talk so you can choose to leave before this part of the session. 

Location: Richard Roberts Building, Auditorium 

Friday 27 September 

10.00am-1.00pm: consent and race conversations

These one-hour workshops are peer-led by the University’s Diversity Champions and aim to equip all students with information on support services available at the University and practical intervention tips as active bystanders. Please note that these workshops contains information and discussion around sexual violence and racial discrimination. 

Consent Conversations

This School-wide session will cover key topics on sexual consent, what the law says, some myths and facts about sexual consent and what an active bystander might look like.  The session will consist of a 20-minute presentation on key concepts and a 40-minute interactive workshop.

Race Conversations

This School-wide session aims to explore race and racism, particularly racial inequality in the UK. The session will include examples of privilege, microaggressions as well as reflective and interactive questions on diversifying the curriculum and tackling difficult conversations. We will also discuss practical intervention tips, equipping our students with skills to safely intervene and protect themselves and or the victim(s).  The session will consist of a 20-minute presentation on key concepts and a 40 minute interactive workshop.

Location: Richard Roberts Building, Auditorium

3.00pm-4.00pm: Sheffield history city tour (optional)

Sheffield history city tour (optional)

Whether you’re new to Sheffield and want to get to know the city or just want to meet other postgraduate students, come take part in our history themed city walking tour (takes 50-60 minutes). 

Location: leaving from Jessop West, ground floor foyer.

Let us know you’re coming so we have an idea of numbers. 

4.00pm-6.00pm: welcome drinks (optional)

PG welcome drinks (optional)

Come meet other new postgrad students, as well as current students and staff, over drinks and snacks! Followed by a trip to the pub arranged by the PG Forum. 

Location: Location: Mappin Building, Mappin Hall

Let us know you’re coming so we have an idea of numbers. 

From Monday 30 September

History teaching preparation 

History teaching preparation

Over the course of this week, you’ll continue settling into postgraduate life in the Department and start preparation for your first seminars from Monday 7 October onwards. 

Keep an eye out for introductory emails from your tutors and review the Blackboard site for each module you’re taking this semester.

Tuesday 1 October

1.00pm-2.00pm: history core module introductions

History core module introductory session

Meet the module leader and other students taking your core approaches module for an introductory session. Week one is partly focussed on preparation for teaching beginning from Monday 7 October, so this gives you an opportunity to get to know each other ahead of the first seminar, discuss preparation for the first seminar and ask any questions you might have. 

Location: various - check your timetable for your individual location.

2.00pm-3.00pm: history library induction

Introduction to history PG library facilities

This session run by Steven McIndoe, the library’s history subject liaison, is specifically tailored to history MA students so all students should attend even if you took your BA degree with us.

Location: Broad Lane, Lecture Theatre 10

Wednesday 2 October 

2.00pm-3.00pm: academic tutoring introduction

Academic tutor meeting

Group welcome meeting where you’ll meet your academic tutor.

Location: various - check your timetable for your individual location.

3.00pm-4.00pm: tea & coffee drop-in (optional)

Tea & coffee drop in (optional)

Call in and meet members of the PG support team and the PG Forum in an informal setting - a chance to chat, ask any questions you might have and find out more about the student-led PG Forum group. No need to sign-up. 

Location: The Diamond, Workroom 2