Student engagement
In an era shaped by growing concern about climate change and new geopolitical challenges, our students are engaged with the urgent challenges of social and environmental justice, from the local to the global scale. This ethos goes beyond their learning in the classroom.
Geography and Planning students
Student voices are at the heart of the School's learning environment. Students’ ideas, perspectives and ambition are vital to this, and students work with staff to shape the educational experience for all, through:
- student consultation in module and programme development
- student representatives on school committees
- Our student societies, which run social and sporting events, trips to sites of interest and programmes of seminars with guest speakers from academia, policy and industry to enhance student learning
Students in Sheffield
Sheffield students are engaged with civic communities of the Sheffield Region. Our students make an impact outside the University through a range of fundraising and volunteering activities:
- GeogSoc supports two local charities each year through a regular programme of fundraising events, and administers a food collection on campus, which is redistributed to a local food bank
- EnviroSoc - our Environmental Science student society - arrange film screenings and promote conservation volunteering
- PlanSoc work with local volunteer groups, companies and government organisations to understand and shape the local built environment
- Our students work with local school and college students to offer mentoring and further study sessions
- Our students regularly take on summer placements with local charities
Global citizens
The School of Geography and Planning is a truly international school, with students and staff from all over the world, as well as partnerships with academic organisations and NGOs around the world.
Our students are committed global citizens and take part in a range of activities, including:
- Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) (student login required) - our staff and students have high success rates in securing funding for international research projects through this University scheme. Recent field sites have included the Swiss Alps, Nicaragua and Vanuatu in the Pacific
- International Research - school scholarships support ambitious projects. Recently, a group of undergraduates secured a prestigious Royal Geographical Society grant for their expedition to conduct research in Kyrgyzstan
International scholarships
We offer a generous package of financial support for international students, including undergraduate and postgraduate taught scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.
Applications are open for existing offer holders for programmes starting in autumn 2025.