Prospective international students

Before your course starts

You can get started with your career thinking as early as you wish. The online course “Preparing for work”, designed by Study UK British Council, helps you to identify your skills, communicate these effectively to potential employers, and start building your understanding of UK organisational and workplace culture. The course is free of charge. Register on the FutureLearn platform to access the course. 

The University of Sheffield International Career Fast Track

Starting in the 2026/27 academic year, international students will have the opportunity to apply for a place on the International Career Fast Track, an exclusive one-year scheme designed by career experts to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful career journey.

Participants will be given the opportunity to engage with a curated list of career development activities, including:

• exclusive employer events,
• one-to-one career advice appointments,
• virtual work experience programmes from global employers,
• the opportunity to qualify for paid internships with Sheffield-based organisations.

If you are ready to put your ambition into action and want to get a head start on your career, you can apply for a place on the International Career Fast Track as early as your first year after beginning your course. The scheme is open to students on undergraduate or postgraduate taught programmes alike, and can be completed in any year of study.

At the University of Sheffield, we provide a dedicated gateway for our Chinese student community. View our Careers Fast Track: China webpage for more information.

During your time in Sheffield

Choosing a university is about more than just a degree; it’s about where that degree can take you. At the University of Sheffield, we provide tailored career and employability advice and guidance to our student community. Whether you dream of a career in the UK, returning to your home country, or working globally, our support and services will help you become career-ready from day one.

During your time at Sheffield, you will have full access to the university’s careers and employability resources and be able to attend our webinars, workshops, employer events, and book career guidance appointments to explore your options, find the right opportunities for you, and ensure your applications are as strong as possible.

You will also get access to Career Connect, the University’s dedicated career portal, where you can find and apply for thousands of job opportunities – ranging from part-time roles on- or off-campus to placement roles and graduate jobs – as well as book your place on employer presentations, networking events, and one-to-one appointments.

Hear from students about their employability experiences while studying at Sheffield

Exclusive opportunities for Sheffield students

• Doing a placement year as part of your degree: Almost every undergraduate course offers the flexibility to add a placement year, allowing you to work full-time for an organisation in the UK or another country, as an integrated part of your degree.
• Going on a year abroad: Study outside the UK for a year, attend an international summer school or organise your own international volunteering or work placement – a great way to explore more countries and gain new perspectives.
• Taking part in exclusive internships: We offer a number of internship programmes exclusive to Sheffield students. These include the University of Sheffield Internship Programme, which offers paid, on-campus internships working on real projects for university departments. Undergraduates interested in research careers can also access the SURE scheme, which offers the opportunity to collaborate with university academics on research projects.
• Getting support with starting your own business: The university’s dedicated enterprise team, Emerge, offers you access to specialist support if you’re thinking about starting your own business, developing enterprising skills, and connecting you with successful business owners and industry leaders to gain firsthand insights into diverse career paths.

Valuable experience to boost your CV

• Part-time work in Sheffield: Our dedicated team can help you find part-time roles, either in the University or with local employers, that fit around your studies and comply with your visa.
• Work-related learning in curriculum: Most courses include high-quality work-related learning, such as employer projects, industry partnerships or short placements within your curriculum. National award-winning examples include the Julia Garnham Centre and Sheffield Policy Campus.
• Virtual work experience: Through our global partnerships, you can access places on free virtual programmes from top organisations across diverse industries. Gain real-world insights into different roles and connect directly with employers to explore future opportunities.

CV and recruitment advice from employability experts

• CV & LinkedIn Boosters: Guided sessions with specialist advisers to perfect your professional profile and write CVs or resumes that help you stand out to employers.
• "How To" workshops: Expert-led webinars on creating authentic applications, finding job opportunities, preparing for interviews, using AI effectively, and building a professional LinkedIn profile.
• Mock Assessment Centres: Practice simulations to help you prepare for  UK graduate recruitment assessment centres.
• mySkills: An exclusive digital portfolio tool that tracks your growth and helps you explain your achievements through the key professional attributes that top-tier employers around the world are looking for.
• Online recruitment tools: Unlimited access to many specialist online career tools, including instant CV feedback, practice video interviews and a platform to practice the online aptitude tests used by top UK recruiters.

Access to employer networks in the UK and overseas

The Careers & Employability Service works with overseas employers to find out what skills they are looking for in graduates, along with the labour market information to support our graduates looking to work outside of the UK.

Our subscription to GoinGlobal (accessible once you start your course) for registered students provides you with useful information on over 190 locations worldwide, including useful country-specific information on recruitment practices, insider tips from local experts and global job search resources.

The University has recently joined the Global University Central Career Union (GUCCU). The GUCCU China job portal provides students with vacancies and events advertised by Chinese employers who specifically target students from the University of Sheffield.

Hong Kong Talent Engage supports students to develop their careers in Hong Kong. You can explore thousands of job vacancies across diverse fields in Hong Kong, and access comprehensive one-stop support services provided by the Hong Kong SAR government to settle in and integrate into Hong Kong.

Graduation and beyond

Unlike many universities, which stop helping you once you graduate, at Sheffield, we offer you career support for life. As a University of Sheffield graduate, you will retain access to our Career Connect portal, digital resources, and support for as long as you need us. 

After graduating from Sheffield, you will become part of a global community of over 300,000 Sheffield alumni. You’ll have the opportunity to join alumni networking events and opportunities to learn from other Sheffield graduates working in an industry or country you are interested in, and share your experience with future students when the time comes. Whether you will be looking for your first role in your home country or a more senior position in the UK five years later, Sheffield remains in your corner.

Visa information and support

The university’s dedicated International Student Support, Advice & Compliance (ISSAC) team helps students with Student or Tier 4 visa needs and a range of study-related immigration matters. 

They regularly offer webinars on visa information for international students, so look for upcoming events once you are in Sheffield. You can access information about working in the UK on a student visa, and applying for a visa to work in the UK after your studies, as well as support with your post-study visa options once you graduate.