English Welcome & Transition information
Congratulations on securing your place to study with us in the School of English - we can’t wait to meet you! On this page you’ll find useful information and tasks to help make your transition to university as smooth as possible.
Your checklist
Complete your registration
The first thing you need to do is complete your registration.
Select Your Modules
Online Module Choice (OMC) is open. Please make sure this is completed before you arrive to enable you to start your studies. You can find all the information you need to select your modules on the link below
Not sure what you need to do? Find more information about module selection (Student hub access required)
Student Laptop Scheme
We are offering a laptop loan scheme for all first-year students in the School of English to ensure you have access to a device to use in teaching sessions and for self-study. Whilst you may have your own laptop and prefer to use it for your course, you are eligible to apply for a long-term loan laptop provided by the University.
If you would like to take part, please complete this online form to tell us if you want to request a loan laptop or use your own. You will need to be logged in to your MUSE account and have your University username to hand. If you submit this form by Monday 14th September, we will ensure there is a laptop ready for you to collect before teaching starts. You can still request a laptop after this date, but there may be a slight delay in your loan laptop being ready for collection.
Watch the welcome from Anna Barton, Director of Education
- Transcript
Hello! My name is Anna Barton and I am the Director of Education for the School of English, which means that I head up the team of staff who are responsible for all aspects of your experience as a student in the School, from your modules, seminars and lectures, the support you receive from your academic tutor, to your engagement with employment opportunities and skills development.
I am delighted to welcome you to Sheffield and wanted to congratulate you on all the hard work you have done to get here.
Whether you are an undergraduate or a postgraduate student, whether you are coming to us from another country, another city in the UK or whether you are a Sheffield local, I am confident you will find us to be a welcoming, inclusive School. We are really passionate about and proud of the subjects we teach and we want to pass that passion and pride on to you.
So take a look around this site, whet your appetite for the modules you’ll be studying, familiarise yourself with the information about Welcome Week, complete your registration and module choice and I’ll see you soon!
You and Your Academic Tutor
We know that Welcome Week will be a busy time for you, with so much to do to settle into University life and to find out what Sheffield has to offer. We also know you will want to get to know about how the School generally and your degree programme specifically will run. For these reasons we have organised a meeting for you with your academic tutor during Welcome Week. Your academic tutor is a member of academic staff in the School who can provide academic support and act as a point of contact and guidance as you progress through your degree.
The meeting will be a relaxed 50-minute group discussion -- so as well as being introduced to your academic tutor and the role you’ll also get to meet up with some other School of English students who share your academic tutor. The main point of the meeting is to welcome you into the School, get you more acquainted with the way teaching and learning works here, and make sure that you’re feeling prepared for the academic year to come. You will also have the chance to ask your academic tutor any questions you might have.
- Introduction to Academic Tutoring
- Reminder about Core Academic Services
Complete your Digital Induction
My Digital Induction is a guide to the apps and software you will use at Sheffield. You should complete this before you arrive to make sure you know how to access everything you need.
You will receive a lot of emails during your time at University, so it’s also important that you learn how to effectively manage your University inbox making sure that you don’t miss any important information.
Welcome Week timetable
Our Welcome Week activities are a great way to meet your fellow students and get to know your new school!
- Monday 21st September 2026
Subject Intro Meeting and Welcome from the Head of School
Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Location: 38 Mappin Street, 107 Workroom 4BA English Literature + Duals (Frances Babbage)
In this session, you will learn more about your School and programme of study.
Subject Intro Meeting and Welcome from the Head of School
Time: 11am -12pm
Location: 38 Mappin Street, 106 Workroom 03BA English Language & Linguistics + Duals (Graham Williams)
BA English Language & Literature (Sara Whiteley)
In this session, you will learn more about your School and programme of study.
- Tuesday 22nd September 2026
What you need to know! - All School of English students
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Location: The Diamond, Lecture Theatre 3In this session, you will meet academic and professional services staff in preparation for the start of your course.
- Wednesday 23rd September and Thursday 24th September 2026
Academic Tutor Meetings: - All School of English students.
You will be allocated an Academic Tutor upon arrival . Your Academic Tutor will play a major role in helping you adjust to university life and get the best experience possible from your time in Sheffield. These initial meetings will be a relaxed group discussion; at which you will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet other students who share the same Academic Tutor.
You will be allocated an Academic Tutor upon arrival and you will meet with them during Welcome Week. See the "You and your academic tutor" section above for more information. Please check your university email account during Welcome Week for the exact time and location of your first meeting.
- Friday 25th September 2026
School of English Welcome and drinks reception All School of English students
All School of English students
Time: 3pm to 4:30pm
Location: 38 Mappin Street - Workrooms 3 & 4Join us for an official welcome to the School! This is a great chance to chat with School of English staff and start making friends with others in your year group.
Dual degrees
If you’re on one of our dual honours courses, you might find it useful to also take a look at the pre-arrival checklist for your other subject.
English and History
Take a look at your History Checklist.
English/Linguistics and Modern Languages and Cultures
Take a look at your Modern Languages and Cultures Checklist.
English and Music
Take a look at your Music Checklist.
English and Philosophy
Take a look at your Philosophy Checklist.
Useful information
Student Societies
The Students’ Union has a wide range of clubs and societies run by students for students, this includes School academic societies. The English Society is a really active society offering a wide range of events and activities that you can get involved with, it’s also a great way to meet other students on your programme - find out more about the English Society.
Reading list
We’ve compiled a list of suggested pre-course reading. This reading is entirely optional, so please don't feel pressured to complete it before you arrive. All recommended materials are available online or in public libraries — no purchase required. Take a look if you'd like to get familiar with key concepts ahead of time!
Recommended for core modules
- EGH113 Contemporary Literature
Zadie Smith’s “The Art of the Impersonal Essay” (2025)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/29/the-art-of-the-impersonal-essay
- EGH127 Renaissance to Revolution: Early Modern Literature
On Renaissance to Revolution: Early Modern Literature, we begin with two plays: Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. You will have access to scholarly editions upon arrival, but you can start reading over the summer via these free links:
Next, we cover lyric poetry by Philip Sidney (Astrophil and Stella), John Donne (Songs and Sonnets), and Mary Wroth (Pamphilia to Amphilanthus). You can browse selections from these poets on the Poetry Foundation website. Don't feel you need to read everything—just dip in and explore what interests you!
- EGH107 History of English
- Horobin, Simon (2018), The English Language: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: OUP).
- Aitchison, Jean (2012), Language Change: Progress or Decay?, 4th Edition (Cambridge: CUP).
- EGH122 Sounds and Structures of English
Crystal, D. (2004). The stories of English (p. 308). London: Allen Lane.
Pinker, S., & Pinker, S. (1994). The language instinct: The new science of language and mind (Vol. 7529). London: Penguin.
Superlingo blog: https://www.superlinguo.com/. Short articles on Linguistics you might find interesting.
International Students
Arriving in Sheffield
You should arrive in Sheffield ahead of Welcome Week starting on 23 September. This gives you plenty of time to settle in, find out more about your course, meet other students across the School and explore Sheffield before teaching starts on the 28 September.
International student success programme
In preparation for arriving in the UK, you might like to take our international student success programme, which is designed to equip international students with the knowledge, understanding and skills that are essential to prepare for and adjust to university study in the UK.
The programme includes four modules focussed on preparing for student life in the UK; culture: adapting and managing expectations, effective communication and looking after yourself and finding support.
Contact us
If you have any questions about our modules, your timetable or any other part of welcome week, please do not hesitate to contact the School of English support services team at: english-studentenquiries@sheffield.ac.uk