Sheffield University Student Population: How Many Are There?

Sheffield is England's fifth-largest city and is home to over 65,000 students, making it a popular student city. The University of Sheffield, a public research university, is one of the institutions that make up this large student population. The University of Sheffield has a long history, dating back to the 1800s, and currently teaches over 30,000 students from 150 different countries. With a large international community and a range of highly-rated courses, it is a popular choice for students and staff worldwide.

Sheffield University's student population

The University of Sheffield has a long and distinguished history, with its roots tracing back to the founding of the Sheffield Medical School in 1828, Firth College in 1879, and the Sheffield Technical School in 1884. These institutions merged in 1897 to form the University College of Sheffield, which was granted a royal charter and became the University of Sheffield in 1905. The university has grown and evolved over the years, expanding its academic offerings and physical campus.

The university is not a traditional campus university, but its buildings are clustered around the southwest of the city centre, with most university-owned accommodation located further west. The university offers a range of accommodation options, including apartments and shared houses, with various amenities and facilities to cater to students' needs.

The student population at Sheffield University benefits from the city's vibrant culture and diverse range of activities. Sheffield is known for its music scene, annual festivals, award-winning theatres, museums, and galleries. The city also boasts an impressive range of restaurants, cafes, and shopping destinations, including the Meadowhall Shopping Centre, the largest in Yorkshire.

In addition to its cultural offerings, Sheffield is renowned for its green spaces, with 60% of the city covered in parks, gardens, and countryside. The city borders the Peak District National Park, offering easy access to dramatic countryside and attractions like Chatsworth House. The combination of a vibrant city life and proximity to nature makes Sheffield a popular student destination, known for its strong sense of community.

The University of Sheffield's Students' Union has been consistently recognised as one of the best in the country, providing students with access to an extensive range of clubs, societies, sports teams, and other facilities. The university's academic offerings are also highly regarded, with well-rated courses in Architecture, Communications, Media Studies, and Nursing attracting students and staff from around the world.

Sheffield University's ranking

The University of Sheffield is a leading research university with a global reputation for excellence. It is a member of the Russell Group of leading UK research universities, and has been consistently recognised by international independent assessments for its outstanding performance in teaching and research.

The University of Sheffield is ranked:

• 98th in the world and 12th in the UK in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• 105th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025
• 29th in Europe, 19th in Northern Europe, and 15th in the UK in the QS European University Rankings 2025
• 27th in the world, 16th in Europe, and 10th in the UK in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025
• 10th in the UK and the top university in Northern England in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025
• 14th in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• 18th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025
• 20th in the UK and top 10 in the UK in 12 subject areas in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• Top university in the Russell Group for student experience and student support and joint 10th in the UK in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025
• Top 20 in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
• Top 20 in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025

The University of Sheffield has also been recognised for its student experience, winning the following accolades in 2024:

• University of the Year
• Best Students' Union
• Best for Student Life

Its Students' Union has been consistently ranked the best in the UK, holding the title for seven consecutive years.

Sheffield University's history

The University of Sheffield was formed from three local institutions: the Sheffield School of Medicine, Firth College, and the Sheffield Technical School. The University's history traces back to the foundation of the Sheffield Medical School in 1828, Firth College in 1879, and Sheffield Technical School in 1884.

The Sheffield School of Medicine is the oldest of the three institutions, with a history dating back to the 1810s. It was recognised externally in 1828 and formally opened in 1829 on Surrey Street. The School was founded by Sir Arnold Knight and surgeon apothecary Hall Overend, who is regarded as the father of Sheffield's medical education.

Firth College was founded by local steel manufacturer Mark Firth, who established the college as a centre for teaching Arts and Science subjects. The college was one of a group of university colleges founded in the 19th century as part of the Cambridge University Extension Movement, which aimed to bring university teaching to large towns and cities that lacked higher education institutions.

The Sheffield Technical School was created to address the need for better technical training in the city, particularly in steelmaking. The school was established through funds collected within Firth College, with former mayor of Sheffield, Sir Frederick Mappin, taking a leading role in the fundraising efforts.

In 1897, the three institutions amalgamated to form the University College of Sheffield, with William Mitchinson Hicks, who had ambitions to establish a university in the city, serving as its first principal. In 1904, the University asked the people of Sheffield for donations, and the city responded generously, raising over £50,000 in penny donations—equivalent to over £15 million today.

On May 31, 1905, the University College of Sheffield was granted a Royal Charter, becoming the University of Sheffield. The University's foundation stone was laid, and the new Firth Court Building on Western Bank was opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in July of that same year.

At the time of its foundation, the University had 114 full-time students enrolled in degree programmes in Arts, Pure Science, Medicine, and Applied Science. The student population saw a short-lived peak of about 1,000 in 1919 when returning ex-servicemen were admitted in large numbers. The University's expansion continued, and by the 1950s and 1960s, it entered a period of rapid growth, with many new buildings constructed and older houses brought into academic use.

Today, the University of Sheffield is a global community with a diverse student body, representing over 150 countries. It is one of the original red brick universities and a founding member of the Russell Group, recognised for its research excellence. The University collaborates with individuals, businesses, and organisations to make a difference locally and globally, building on its strong history and heritage.

Sheffield University's student experience

The University of Sheffield has been named the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Experience 2024. The award is based on the University's National Student Survey (NSS) results, its swift shift back to in-person teaching following the Covid-19 pandemic, its commitment to social inclusion, and its work to support the South Yorkshire region. The University is ranked 11th overall in the UK and performed highly for supporting students who are the first in their family to go to university.

Sheffield is England's fifth-largest city, located in the north of England. Over 65,000 students live in Sheffield, making it a true student city. The University of Sheffield teaches over 30,000 students from 150 different countries. The University is not a campus university, but its buildings are clustered around the southwest of the city centre, with most buildings belonging to the university within a mile-long stretch. Much of the university's accommodation is further west, within easy reach of Endcliffe Park, which stretches to meet the Peak District National Park.

The University of Sheffield Students' Union has been voted the best in the country for six years running and was voted the Whatuni Student Choice Award 2023 for Best Students' Union. Students can access 350 sports clubs and societies, as well as facilities that include a bar, cafe, restaurant, and a fitness centre with a gym, fitness classes, and an indoor swimming pool with sauna and steam rooms. The library service offers extensive research collections and specialist librarians for every main subject area.

Sheffield is one of the UK's most popular places for students to go to university. The city is large enough to offer a great range of restaurants, shopping, theatre, cinemas, bars, and culture, yet small enough to easily find your way around and feel part of the community. Sheffield is one of the UK's top 10 most affordable student cities, and the city's friendly, multicultural atmosphere makes students valued as part of its vibrant community.

Sheffield is the UK's greenest city, with 60% of the city consisting of green space, including 250 gardens, parks, and woodland areas. The city borders the Peak District National Park, which offers dramatic countryside just a short bus ride from the city centre. The city also has a rich street food and drink scene, an emphasis on creativity, and a love of sport. Sheffield's arts community is prominent, with several galleries and cinemas, and street art across the city. Sheffield is also a music city, with annual events and festivals, and the UK's biggest rock bands, Arctic Monkeys and Pulp, emerging from the city.

Sheffield University's location

The University of Sheffield is located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is not a campus university, but its buildings are clustered around the southwest of the city centre. The university's presence is centred about a mile west of Sheffield city centre, where there is a mile-long stretch of buildings belonging almost entirely to the university. This main campus area is bounded by Upper Hanover Street to the east, Glossop Road to the south, Clarkson Street to the west, and Bolsover Street to the north. The Upper Hanover Street section of the ring road splits university buildings into the Western Bank and the St George's campus areas. The two campuses started to fuse in the 1960s, with the completion of the Information Commons and Jessop West buildings in the late 2000s, and a new pedestrian crossing on Upper Hanover Street in 2017, physically connecting the two campuses.

The university's 430 buildings exhibit an eclectic range of architectural styles, from Victorian to modernism to contemporary. The Central Block and Sir Frederick Mappin Building are two Victorian-era buildings now linked by a contemporary curved glass roof constructed in 2020. Firth Court, a red-brick Edwardian building in Perpendicular Revival style, was originally opened as the Western Bank Building. It is connected to the adjacent 1971 modernist Alfred Denny Building. The nearby Arts Tower is another example of postwar modernist architecture in the International Style. The Diamond, a contemporary building designed by Twelve Architects, is located next to the Victorian Jessop Building on the former site of the Edwardian wing of the Jessop Hospital for Women.

Sheffield is England's fifth-largest city, with nearly 60,000 students contributing to its population of 564,000. It blends industrial architecture, modern spaces, and natural landscapes, with a third of the city lying within the Peak District National Park. The city is known for its friendly, multicultural atmosphere, offering a range of restaurants, shopping, theatres, cinemas, bars, and cultural experiences. It is also one of the UK's most affordable student cities, with 60% of the city consisting of green spaces.

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