Sheffield is a vibrant, green, modern city with real character. Explore these pages to get a glimpse of what you could enjoy at Sheffield. 

Our student ambassadors and staff are the best people to tell you about what studying at Sheffield is like. You can chat to our ambassadors online. 

At the University of Sheffield, we provide a network of support services to make sure you're happy, healthy and secure, so you can get on with doing what you do best. In particular:

• From arranging accommodation to registering as a student at Sheffield, here's all the information you need before you arrive - you may find 'Smart Move Sheffield' particularly useful for finding accommodations.

• 301 Academic Skills Centre provides workshops, 1:1 appointments and online resources for study skills, maths and statistics, student research and peer-learning activities. You can find the pre-arrival 'Level Up Your Academic Skills' resources/guidance.

The International Student Support, Advice and Compliance team at the University are here to help you with your Student visa and general immigration needs.

The CAS number application process gives you the detailed information on how to obtain a CAS from the University. 

The UK government has introduced eVisas, a digital status which you can use to show your permission in the UK. Please visit the eVisas webpage for further information on how to apply and evidence your eVisa. 

If you wish to bring dependents to the UK, we have some information and guidance to help with your preparations. 

After your visa is granted, check the length and conditions of your visa carefully. If you experience any problems with your visa, follow the guidance and contact the International Student Support team if you cannot find the information you need. 

The University offers a variety of accommodation and you may find 'Smart Move Sheffield' particularly useful for finding accommodations. Information is also available if you are looking for accommodation suitable for families and couples. Here is a list to give you an idea of what to bring when move in to your accommodation. 

The University runs a Residence Life team (including their own student mentor) who can give wellbeing support and run resident-only events to facilitate community building. 

Comprehensive housing advice and support is available from the Student Advice Centre at Sheffield Students' Union. This service can help you if you live in private or University owned student accommodation. They have useful househunting advice and can help you with any problems you may have with your accommodation or landlord.

Don't forget that you can chat to our students online to get their insights. 

Don't be a Victim! Always use the official University Payment Pages to pay for your Fees and Accommodation. Every payment you ever make to the University will be from a link on the payment page. If you always start at this page you can be sure your payment will be accepted and is secure.

Scams are the fastest growing form of crime, so you need to know how to protect yourself against them.

If you make friends with someone on Social Media, such as WeChat, who offers a too good to be true deal for paying your fees with them, this is likely to be fraud and you could lose any money you give to them.

If you do fall victim to fraud and it is affecting you or your studies or wellbeing, you can contact welfare adviser at safeguardingandwelfare@sheffield.ac.uk.

One of the first things you might want to do after arriving at Sheffield is to open a UK bank account. You might also find the money-saving tips and the money tools useful for managing your finances.

Remember you can also chat to our students about the costs of living and how much they typically spend each week/ month in the city. 

Part-time work

If you are studying in the UK on a Visitor or Short-Term Student Visa, you are not permitted to work at any time, including unpaid/voluntary work.

If you are on a Student or Tier 4 Student Visa, your eligibility to work will be outlined in your visa decision letter/email.

• If you are studying at the degree level, you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, however the University recommends you not to work more than 16 hours.

• There are also restrictions on working hours for vacation periods, ensuring you check the guidance before taking any work. 

The Careers & Employability Service runs the Employability & Placements  Hub (accessible once you formally registered with the University) based in the Students’ Union, where you’ll find a dedicated team of recruitment specialists with knowledge of the local area who can help you get started on finding part-time work in Sheffield both on and off-campus, including jobs at Sheffield Students' Union. You can access the service via call or visit in person. 

You can also access the Employability & Placements Hubs at The Cornerstone in the Wave, Jessop West, and at the Engineering Heartspace. All hubs are staffed by Student Ambassadors who can provide initial support with employability and placement-related queries.

Once registered at the university you will also have access to the Career Connect platform via MUSE (My University of Sheffield Environment) where you can search for local, national and international jobs as well as search employability workshops delivered by Careers staff and employers. You can also access our resource pathways and book 1-1 appointments with our advisers.

If you are offered a job you will be required to provide a share code to prove your right to work in the UK before you start work. If you do not have a digital immigration status (such as pre-settled or settled status under the EU settlement scheme), employers will only be able to accept physical documents approved by the UKVI. Please refer to the Proving your right to work  page for details. 

You will need a National Insurance Number in order to work in the UK. You can find out how to obtain one here, or call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 141 2079 to start the process. Please do NOT pay any agency to obtain a National Insurance Number which is issued free of charge.

Employability (Graduate opportunities and resources)

No matter if you plan to remain in the UK to gain work experience or return home right after your graduation, there are actions you can take before the start of your study to help you be considered for graduate roles. The Careers & Employability Service created this webpage for prospective international students to help you gain understanding of the support we exclusively designed for international students before your arrival at the University of Sheffield. 

The 'International Students - make the most of the Careers & Employability Service' video is specifically created with international students' needs in mind, by giving an outline of the Careers & Employability Service’s support in general and introducing the recruitment cycle in the UK. The video covers topics such as exploring your career options, the employability & placements Hub, international student working hours, national insurance number, careers events and fairs, meeting employers across the world, etc. In addition, watch this video where our international students share their employability experiences. 

Our Local & International Job Markets page covers information such as Working in the UK, Working at the University of Sheffield, Global job information, China’s and India’s graduate job market insights and many more. 

During your time at the University of Sheffield you will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and attributes through your course, your work experience and extracurricular activities. You can reflect on and record these using mySkills. 

Volunteering is another great way to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. If you want to know more, have a look at Sheffield Volunteering, Voluntary Action Sheffield, and Sheffield Students' Union Volunteering.

** Top Tip - Begin to use the resources on the Careers Service website to learn more about opportunities and to develop your CV. 

Sheffield is a vibrant city with a lot to offer beyond the University, with the Peak District National Park just around the corner. Have a look at the Bummit which is the world's largest, student organised, charity hitchhiking group. You may also be intested in exploring the incredible Yorkshire.

Have a look at the maps of the city and campus, and travel information for visiting Sheffield from across the nation and world which might be helpful for your travel plan. Oh, don't forget to take the advantage of the travel pass if you are eligible.