Highlights of the year
Our outstanding achievements over the past year.
August 2024
We became one of the first 20 universities in the UK to commit to new sustainability standards set out in the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.
Our students launched a new record label, managed entirely by students, to help aspiring student musicians break into the music industry.
We were announced as co-leads of a new £38 million centre to develop planet-friendly alternatives to animal proteins that could soon be a sustainable and nutritious part of our diets.
September 2024
The University was ranked as the top university in the Russell Group for student experience and support by the Daily Mail University Guide.
In the same month, we were ranked among the top in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2025, and named runner-up for University of the Year 2025 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
We were recognised as one of the top universities in the country for working with businesses in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework.
October 2024
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, officially opened the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC) at the University of Sheffield. The GTIMC marks a significant milestone in accelerating the development of life-changing treatments.
The University was placed 12th in the UK and 98th in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, reinforcing our position as a leading global institution, providing academic and teaching excellence, as well as innovative research.
November 2024
We launched a new collaboration with John Crane, a global leader in rotating equipment solutions and energy transition technologies and services, to advance high-performance sealing technologies that are crucial for the transition to low-carbon and clean energy.
Dr Julie Hyde, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Excellence in Higher Education Prize in recognition of brilliance in chemistry education.
The University was selected to join the NIHR Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium. This UK-wide initiative aims to transform research and drive meaningful action to reduce maternity inequalities.
December 2024
In the QS World Rankings for sustainability, the University was ranked 27th globally, 16th in Europe, and 10th in the UK out of 1,751 institutions, maintaining our position as one of the most sustainable universities in the world.
New research revealed a secret tribute to a US president hidden in the festive film favourite, White Christmas.
January 2025
We were recognised for the quality of our apprenticeship programmes and close links to industry by Ofsted. The report also praised our apprentices for displaying outstanding behaviour and attitudes.
Broadcaster Reverend Kate Bottley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Medicine, in recognition of her successful career and work to support inclusivity in society.
February 2025
Our researchers developed a new framework that could help businesses better understand and use AI. The guidance encourages businesses to shift from a technology-first mindset to a problem-first mindset to better understand how AI can help reach organisational goals.
Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) showed that we attract more research income and investment in engineering than any other UK university.
March 2025
A new report, highlighting the Russell Group institution’s crucial role in driving economic growth, revealed that the University generates £4.82 billion for South Yorkshire and UK economies.
Former Bank of England Chief Economist, Andy Haldane, was announced as the ninth Chancellor of the University of Sheffield.
April 2025
We announced that the University is pioneering 10 world-leading research studies that aim to accelerate understanding of cancer and find cures that will save lives in the region and beyond.
A satellite conceived at the University and developed by British academics and engineers became the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests from space.
May 2025
Sheffield was declared a ‘City of Languages’, in a new initiative aimed at promoting and helping the city’s multilingualism to flourish.
We officially launched Runway Park - the proposed evolution of our existing Innovation District, already home to the AMRC’s Factory 2050 and other translational research centres. Working with external partners and investors, the 100-acre development will link our world-class research with the real-world challenges faced by a wide range of businesses, from growing companies to household name multinationals.
June 2025
Professor Sue Yeandle was appointed OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to research into care and caring.
With a strong track record in delivering impactful innovation-led growth and providing the skills that businesses need, we demonstrated how we are playing a critical role in helping the UK government deliver its Industrial Strategy.
We partnered with a new semiconductor skills development course to enable more young people to pursue careers in the industry and help create a pipeline of talent to the UK’s semiconductor sector.
Dr Johnathan Cooper-Knock was one of eight outstanding scientists nationwide to receive the 2025 Lister Award in recognition of his pioneering Motor Neurone Disease research.
We were ranked in the top 100 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026, reaffirming our place as a leading global university for teaching and research excellence.
July 2024
We retained our top spot in the Russell Group in the National Student Survey.
Three of our academics were elected Fellows of the British Academy - the highest honour bestowed by the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
England footballer Millie Bright was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her amazing success in the world of women’s football and her place as a key figure in the promotion of women’s sport