Sheffield Hallam University - In Depth

Founded: 1843 as Sheffield Art College; merged with colleges of technology and education to form Sheffield City Poly in 1969; university status in 1992.

Site: 3 campuses: City Campus in Sheffield city centre; Collegiate Crescent and Psalter Lane campuses in the south west of the city.

How to get there: Sheffield well connected to other towns/cities by rail (eg 2 1/2 hours to London, 1 hour to Manchester, 4 to Edinburgh) and road (close to M1, junctions 33/34). For university, City Campus opposite train station and Transport Interchange (for coaches or buses to other two campuses). Good bus and Supertram services within city.

Academic features: Emphasis on applied and vocational courses; high proportion of sandwich courses. Access and credit accumulation and transfer schemes in operation.

Awarding body: Sheffield Hallam University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEd, BSc, BEng, MEng.

Length of courses: 3 years full-time, 4 years sandwich, up to a maximum of 8 years part-time.

Library & information services: Major learning centres on two campuses (City and Collegiate) plus conventional libraries on other campuses: 518,000 volumes in total, 10,000 periodical titles; multi-site catalogue on microfiche. Extensive short loan and reference collection. TV and media resources centres. 2300 study spaces and 1700 seats at tables without equipment. Annual expenditure on information provision £64 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service, open 13 hours/day; 1600 workstations, 1000 with access to library.

Study abroad: Most students taking a language as part of course spend a period abroad (option open to all students). Formal exchange links with a number of universities/colleges.

Careers: Information, advice and placement. Also sandwich training placement support.

Student advice & services: Doctors (equivalent of 8 full-time), 2 solicitors, 1 barrister, 2 chaplains, 12 counsellors. Day nursery (6 months-5 year-olds).

Amenities: Purpose-built SU in town centre; union facilities on each campus; film studios, national exhibitions.

Sporting facilities: Outdoor astroturf football pitch, tennis courts, squash courts, gym, weight training.

Accommodation: 3500 self catered places for 42-45 weeks, average £2000-£3500 pa; 400 catered places for 39 weeks, average £3200 pa. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2-3 years; recommended lodgings rates, £45-£50 per week.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5000-£6000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students (60% believed to work); advisory limit of 15 hours per week. Some work available on campus in SU bars, sports attendants, halls of residence, catering, clerical, library; student part-time employment service helps find work off campus.

Financial help: Total available £1.25 million government funds, 1700 students helped (average award £740). Special help to students with children, high accommodation or travel costs, students with disabilities or self-financing students; own funds also available for part-time, unemployed, local students. Apply for help to Student Financial Support Office.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £6965-£9995 pa.