Studying at Sheffield is international, diverse, supportive and it has been a great fit for me!
After a really enjoyable semester abroad in the Czech Republic during my undergraduate degree, my academic advisor encouraged me to apply for a Fulbright scholarship for my master’s degree. When I spoke to our fellowship advisor, she highly recommended studying in the UK because of its established and varied master’s programs. She suggested Sheffield specifically, because of its strong sociology department.
With a background in psychology, I was eager to dive deeper into social psychology or sociology for my graduate studies. When I discovered the University of Sheffield’s MA in Sociology, it seemed like a great fit. The program offered an opportunity to explore current social issues and develop my research skills. Additionally, the sociology department is vibrant and diverse, with faculty members researching topics that I was interested in, such as race, identity, and gender/sexuality. The lecturers are all very supportive and approachable, and I’ve really enjoyed taking interesting modules throughout the year.
What I’ve enjoyed most about Sheffield is how international and diverse it is. The university attracts students from all over the world, and I’ve really enjoyed becoming close friends with many of them, including my flatmates and coursemates. Sheffield is also centrally located within the UK. While living in Sheffield, I’ve visited the Peak District several times for hiking and other cities in the UK including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Bath, Cardiff, and Belfast. Living in Sheffield offers the benefits of living in the city while still being close to the countryside, and its location makes it easy to travel.
The Fulbright application process was lengthy. I started preparing in May 2022 to begin the MA in September 2024. The summer of 2022 was dedicated to crafting my personal statements, which involved a lot of revision and reflection about why I wanted to study in the UK and specifically at Sheffield. I was grateful for the support of my fellowship advisor and professors at my undergraduate university. They were incredibly supportive and helpful throughout the application process.
For anyone thinking of applying to Fulbright, I would recommend connecting with the fellowship advisor at your university—they are a fantastic resource who can guide you through each step of the process and clarify what you need to do. For instance, the application involves both applying to Fulbright and directly to the university. Also, take some time to really reflect on why you want to study in the UK and at the specific university you’re interested in. This will help make your application stand out and show how it is tailored for the award you’re applying for.