University of Sheffield Engineering summer schools

Our Engineering Summer Schools

An Engineering summer school at the University of Sheffield is a great opportunity to broaden your experience, build new friendships and learn from experts in our world-class Diamond teaching building. In addition to a challenging technical programme, you’ll have the opportunity to experience student life in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities. Sheffield is situated in the middle of England, making it an ideal base for exploring the country, and we have outstanding landscape – the Peak District National Park – on our doorstep.

How to get involved

You can participate in two types of summer schools: 

Hosted summer schools

We welcome enquiries for hosted summer schools, in which visiting staff deliver teaching to their students in our Diamond building, with support from Sheffield staff for practical laboratory sessions. We work closely with the visiting institution to co-develop a programme that integrates laboratory work into your curriculum, and can also provide guest lectures from Sheffield academics. A tailored extracurricular programme is provided, including visits to attractions in the city and excursions to the Peak District National Park. 

A hosted summer school was delivered for the Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), in summer 2025. Two academic staff from UTK accompanied a cohort of 35 of their students. You can read more about this case study below. 

Themed summer schools

We are currently planning a two-week summer school themed on Energy and Sustainability, to take place in July 2026. This will be entirely delivered by University of Sheffield staff. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Engineering at Sheffield

Engineering has been a pillar of the University since its founding by Royal Charter in 1905, initially to support the city’s extensive steelmaking economy. The Faculty of Engineering remains one of the strongest in the UK, with around 6,700 students and the highest research income for engineering of any university in the UK (around £89 million annually). Areas of particular research strength include aerospace engineering, manufacturing, energy and sustainability, artificial intelligence, health technologies, and semiconductors and quantum computing. 

The Faculty is comprised of four schools covering the engineering disciplines and computing: School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and School of Computer Science. We have extensive collaborations with national and international companies including Rolls Royce, Boeing, Siemens and Airbus.

The Diamond

Our engineering summer schools are based in Diamond building, a striking £81 million teaching and learning facility. It was opened in 2015 and remains the largest single investment in the University’s history. Specifically designed to support engineering education, the Diamond features state-of-the art laboratories, cutting-edge engineering equipment, lecture theatres, seminar rooms and extensive informal study spaces. You can expect an extraordinary student experience in the Diamond, combining world-class teaching resources, dedicated staff and an inspiring and accessible study environment. 

Facilities include:

• Cleanroom – specialist clean environment for the manufacture of micron-scale devices, including wet chemistry, photolithography and vacuum processing. 

• Electronics and Control Lab – covers all aspects of electrical, electronic and control systems hardware and software, with high-specification equipment from National Instruments, Quanser and Keysight. 

• Thermo, Heat Transfer and Dynamics Lab – provides industrial equipment to test the efficiency of energy transfer in compressors, heat exchangers and engines. 

• Pilot Plant – a pioneering teaching facility for the manufacture of pharmaceutical tablets, including key powder process steps for formulated produce manufacture such as crystallisation, blending, granulation and tableting. 

• Fluids Lab – featuring a 10-metre long teaching flume able to recirculate 117 tonnes of water per hour, allowing lab-scale simulation of rivers, weirs and the interaction of waves with beaches. 

For more information about all 19 specialist laboratories see the dedicated Diamond web pages here. 

Case study: University of Tennessee

In July 2025 we welcomed 35 students and 2 academics from the Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) for a week-long hosted summer school in the Diamond. Classes were taught by the UTK academics, followed by laboratory work in the Diamond labs supported by specialist Diamond teaching staff. UTK made great use of our Electronics and Control Lab and Thermo, Heat Transfer and Dynamics Lab to teach the fundamentals of circuits and electromechanical components, thermodynamic cycles and the properties of gases. A broad choice of extracurricular events was offered, including a trip to the Lyceum Theatre, a visit to Chatsworth House and cycling on the spectacular Monsal Trail.  

See the following video, and also this blog and press release from UTK. We are delighted that UTK will be returning in 2026, and extending the duration of their visit to two weeks. 

Get in touch

Please direct any enquiries to engineering-summer-schools-group@sheffield.ac.uk