Application process
Here, you'll find information on how to apply for a semester or year at Sheffield via our partner universities or through direct enrolment.
Firstly, it's important to note that the application process varies slightly depending on whether you are currently studying at a partner institution and have been nominated for a study place through your university’s study abroad office. If you haven’t been nominated, you can still apply as an independent visiting student through our direct enrolment route.
Exchange students
To apply as an exchange student, your home university must have an active exchange agreement with the University of Sheffield and must formally nominate you for a place.
How to apply
Once your home university has nominated you for a place, we will send you the link to the online application form, with instructions on how to complete it. Make sure that you fully complete the application before submitting it.
What supporting documents will I need to provide?
All students need to provide a copy of their latest official academic transcript, with a translation into English if the original is not in English. This can be uploaded digitally in the online application. The transcript assists the host school(s) when approving your provisional module choices, and suggesting alternative modules. Your module selection will not be reviewed by the academic school(s) until your transcript has been provided.
Students who will be studying in the School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture and wish to take Architecture modules will also need to provide a digital portfolio (max file size 20MB) providing a sample of your work to date.
Students who do not have English as a first language should refer to the English language requirements of the chosen host school(s).
Application deadlines
The application deadlines are:
- Autumn entry (full year and autumn semester): 31 May
- Spring entry (spring semester and reverse full year): 31 October
Please be aware that your home university may have an earlier on campus application deadline. It's important that you check this with your International Exchange Office.
The School of Law, which administers Law Exchanges, may have different deadlines.
Study Abroad and Exchange Modules Catalogue
To find out which modules are available to you during your time with us as an exchange student, take a look at the Study Abroad and Exchange Module Catalogue. Please make sure you read the 'important information' tab first. The catalogue contains all the modules that are available to Study Abroad and Exchange students to apply to. Modules not listed here are not available for you to study.
This list is subject to change, and any module approvals are provisional until registration at the start of September.
Direct enrolment
If your home university does not have an active exchange agreement with the University of Sheffield, or you have not been nominated by your home university, then you can apply for direct enrolment.
How to apply
Please visit our Visiting Students page and complete the application. Our Admissions team will handle your application.
What supporting documents will I need to provide?
All students need to provide a copy of their latest official academic transcript, with a translation into English if the original is not in English. This can be uploaded digitally in the online application. The transcript assists the host school(s) when approving your provisional module choices, and suggesting alternative modules. Your module selection will not be reviewed by the academic school(s) until your transcript has been provided.
Students who will be studying in the School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture and wish to take Architecture modules will also need to provide a digital portfolio (max file size 20MB) providing a sample of your work to date.
Students who do not have English as a first language should refer to the English language requirements of the chosen host school(s).
After you apply
Application process
- The Global Opportunities & Admissions teams will review your application and check that you meet our basic entry requirements. If anything is missing, we will contact you and request it. You may be considered for a conditional offer.
- Your application form and supporting documents will be used by the academic schools whose modules you have selected to decide whether or not to approve your choices. If any of your modules are not approved, we will contact you by email to discuss alternatives.
- Once you have approval decisions on your modules, we will then send your offer by email.
Your offer
You offer email will include the following:
- Offer email
- Module decisions
- A link to accept your offer online
- Information for applicants
Accepting your place
Once you receive your offer, you should read through the documents and use the link in the offer to accept your place.
Accommodation (Housing)
Once you have received and accepted an offer, you can then apply for University of Sheffield accommodation.
Visa
Where required, we will liaise with colleagues to issue your visa document.
Visiting students
Students who wish to join any other opportunity than our Study Abroad programme (e.g. postgraduate research) should apply via the visiting students programme.