Registration for home students (UK and Ireland)

A step-by-step outline of everything you need to do in order to complete your registration at the University as a home student starting in September 2024.

On

If you’re registering outside of September, the process is different. Visit:

Registration at other times of the year


Overview

Your registration with the University is split into three parts.

  1. Online pre-registration phase one (May - August)
  2. Online pre-registration phase two (September)
  3. In-person ID check (September)

You must complete a series of online pre-registration tasks. Half of these tasks you can complete from May onwards, and the other half will be released in September.

Once completed, you’ll attend your in-person ID check to pick up your UCard and complete your registration. 

You can’t start your course/attend lectures & seminars until you have registered with the University. 

The deadline for being in Sheffield and registered as a student for most courses is 21 October 2024.

Some courses have earlier deadlines - check if your course has an earlier start date.

If you’re going to be late, visit our late registration page


Complete online pre-registration phase one 

Once you’ve received an unconditional offer to study, You’ll receive an email from us notifying you to complete the registration tasks below (email subject: ‘Complete pre-registration tasks now’). 

Make sure that we have your correct email address so we can contact you about registration. If you need to update your contact information, email:

Expand the tabs below for information on how to complete each task.

Set up your University IT account

Before you can access and start to complete your online registration tasks, you’ll need to set up your applicant University IT account.  

After the Admissions team has issued your offer, they’ll send you an email from UniversityAccountSetup@sheffield.ac.uk containing your username and inviting you to activate your account. You’ll be asked to follow the instructions in their account activation site.  

This will give you access to MUSE for offer holders

Using MUSE

You’ll use your MUSE account at this stage to complete the majority of your pre-registration tasks.

If you haven't been invited to access MUSE within three working days of receiving your offer, contact UniversityAccountSetup@sheffield.ac.uk

When you’ve activated your account you can access MUSE at any time by clicking ‘Log in to MUSE’ in the bar along the top-left of any www.sheffield.ac.uk webpage.

When you first log in to your student computer account you’ll be prompted to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA is mandatory on all University IT accounts.

If you have problems accessing MUSE or setting up MFA, visit:

Read the admissions requirement

Before you can register as a new student, you must provide evidence that you’ve met:

  • The University's general entrance requirements
  • The specific academic requirements of our course or the conditions of your offer
  • The University's minimum English Language requirement

For more information about verifying your previous qualifications, visit: 

Qualifications verification 

Complete your financial declaration

This confirms the source and level of your funding, and provides us with a guarantee that you have enough money to cover your tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of your degree. 

You’ll also be asked additional questions about any sponsorship you’re expecting to receive, as well as information about your nationality and residential history. 

We need this information to help us determine your status for tuition fee purposes.

Pay your tuition fees

Paying your tuition fee is an essential part of registration at the University. We advise you to arrange your fee payments in advance of your arrival.

You can pay your tuition fees as part of your pre-registration tasks.

If you’re not able to pay your tuition fees at this stage don’t worry. You have up until your course starts to arrange your fee payments.  

The page below provides more information on how to do this:

Tuition fees for new students

Upload your sponsor letter (sponsored students only)

If you’re expecting an external organisation (eg your employer, a government organisation) to pay your tuition fee and you need the University to send them an invoice, you must upload an official letter from your sponsor confirming your funding.

For more information on how to obtain a sponsor letter, visit: 

Sponsored students

Register with the University Health Service

If you’ll be a registered student studying with us for 3 months or more, you can register with the University Health Service (UHS). UHS is our National Health Service (NHS) General Practice. 

If you’re already registered with a doctor in Sheffield you don’t need to register with UHS if you don't want to.

If you don’t live in Sheffield you won’t be able to register with UHS.

To register with UHS, complete the medical questionnaire in your online pre-registration tasks.

University Health Service


Complete online pre-registration phase two

You’ll receive an email from us at the beginning of September notifying you to complete the next set of registration tasks (email subject: ‘Complete pre-registration tasks now’).

If you haven’t received this email by 6 September 2024, contact us.

Expand the tabs below for more information on each step and how to complete them.

Activate your student computer account

You’ll now be able to activate your student MUSE account which you’ll use to:

  • Complete registration
  • Access your course timetable
  • Access your course materials via Blackboard
  • Access the Student Hub to view useful online information 
  • Manage your student record
  • Complete the Student Information Security Training course
Upload your UCard photo

Your UCard is used to verify your identity as a student at the University, and allows you to:

  • access to University buildings
  • borrow books from the Library 
  • use University printers and photocopiers.

You must upload your photo online using our pre-registration system (this task may not appear immediately, but when it is available you will receive an email). Your Ucard will then be printed for you at your in-person registration event. 

Your UCard photo must:

  • be a portrait-sized colour photo of your head and shoulders, such as a passport photo
  • be an accurate representation of you and must not be edited in any way.

If the photo you’ve uploaded isn’t suitable for your UCard, we’ll ask you to take a new one at your in-person ID check. 

You can upload your photo at any point up until you arrive at your in-person ID check.

Choose your modules (undergraduate and postgraduate taught)

As a new undergraduate or postgraduate taught student, if your course allows you to choose optional modules, you’ll be asked to select these as part of your pre-registration tasks using online module selection.

All of your selected modules must have been approved before you can register with the University.

The module selection task will show:

  • Your core modules (compulsory modules that can’t be changed) 
  • How many remaining credits you need to select for a full set of modules
  • A list of module choices that have been pre-selected by your department – you must select your remaining modules from this list.

Once you’ve completed online module selection, your chosen modules will show as:

Pending: Your module selections have been sent to your academic department for approval. This process can take 2-3 working days. You can still make changes to your modules whilst they’re pending approval. 

Approved: The modules you’ve selected have been approved by your academic department and will be added to your student record within 24 hours. Your module selections can no longer be changed.  

Rejected: The modules you selected are unavailable/were not approved by your academic department, select an alternative module/s for approval.  

Your department will email you with specific details about module choice before you arrive. For further guidance on your modules, contact your department.

How many credits you need

Many modules are only taught in one semester each year. The modules you choose, along with your core modules must make up a full and balanced load of:

  • 60 credits per Semester (for Undergraduate students) 
  • 90 credits per Semester (for Postgraduate students). 

Your selected modules must add up to:

  • 120 credits per academic year (for Undergraduate students) 
  • 180 credits per academic year (for Postgraduate students).

For more information about modules offered by different departments across the University, visit our directory of modules.

Changing your modules

If you wish to change your modules after they have been approved you will be able to do this once the module add/drop period opens.

Module add/drop

Provide your bank details

We require your bank details to:

  • Arrange your fee payments (only if you’re self sponsored)
  • Arrange your accommodation fee payments (only if you’re staying in University accommodation)
  • Process any payments you’re expecting to receive from the University (eg bursaries and scholarships)
Complete your online registration steps

To register for your course, you must complete the following steps in the online registration system. 

Once you’ve completed each step it will highlight green to confirm that you have completed it. 

You must have completed all steps before you can register with the University. 

  • Confirm your personal details, term time and home address and emergency contact information
  • Provide disability information 
  • Programme details 
  • Arrange fee payment
  • Register to vote in Sheffield 
  • Register 

Confirm your personal details, term time and home address and emergency contact information

  • Term time address: The address you'll be living at during your studies in Sheffield. Check with your accommodation provider if you do not know your full address. 
  • Home address: Your permanent address.
  • Emergency contact details: Contact details of someone we can contact in case of an emergency (eg a parent, relative or friend).

Provide disability information

If you have an impairment or condition that impacts or can impact on your learning, complete this section. 

Our Disability and Dyslexia Support Service will then contact you with information about setting up support. 

For further information visit:

Disability support
 
Programme details

You’ll be asked to confirm your programme details including:

  • Your course title and length.
  • The core modules for your programme.
  • The modules you’ve selected for your first academic year.

You must have completed online module selection before completing this step. 

See the section on online module selection for further information.

Arrange fee payment

If you’ve already paid your tuition fees / set up a payment plan, this task will be highlighted green. You don’t need to complete this section again. 

If you haven’t paid your tuition fees yet,  you’ll be asked to make payment or set up a payment plan. 

For more information about tuition fees, visit:

How to pay your tuition fees

Register 

Once you’ve completed each step of the online registration and they’re highlighted green the final step is to register. You’ll be asked to complete a registration acknowledgement form.

Once you’ve successfully registered you’ll be prompted to log out of your MUSE account.


Register to vote in Sheffield 

As a home student (UK and Ireland), you’re entitled to register to vote in all national and local elections in Britain.

If you wish to register to vote while you’re a resident in Sheffield, you can provide your details via the ‘Student Voter Details’ task during your online registration. This information will then be securely transferred to Sheffield City Council, who will check your eligibility to vote. If you’re eligible, they’ll add you to the Sheffield electoral register.

The electoral register is also used in credit referencing, for example when you buy a mobile phone or open a bank account. Some employers also check credit referencing.

If you’re registered at your home address

Being registered at both your home address and your term-time addresses doesn't necessarily mean you get two votes.

You’ll need to choose one address and vote in only that area when you're voting in:

  • UK Parliament elections
  • UK referendums
  • London Assembly and London Mayoral elections

You can't vote at both your term-time address and your home address at these elections. Voting in more than one location is a criminal offence. 

For other elections you can vote at both your term-time and your home address.

You can choose to vote in either or both areas (as long as the addresses are in different council areas) when you're voting in:

  • Local council elections in England
  • Police and Crime commissioner elections and mayoral elections

Make sure you understand the rules for the election you’re voting in.

If you don’t want to register to vote

Voting is not compulsory in the UK, so you can choose whether to register to vote or not.


Attend your in-person ID check

If you're a part-time or distance learner student you don't need to attend an in-person event. Contact your academic department to request your student UCard. They’ll arrange for this to be printed and made available for you to collect or be posted out to you.

You must complete all of your online registration tasks (above) before you arrive. 

Once you’ve registered, we’ll send you a link to our online booking system via email where you can select an appropriate time to attend your in-person registration event.

At your event, we’ll check your ID and print your student UCard. 

Why you need to complete an ID check

We’re required to verify your identity in order for you to study with us at the University.

If you’re receiving funding from Student Finance, your first payment will not be released until you’ve completed an ID check. 

Once your ID check has been completed you can expect to receive your Student Finance funding within 3-5 working days.

What you must bring

You must bring one form of ID from the following:

  • Your passport
  • Driving Licence (UK)- Full or Provisional. Isle of Man/Channel Islands; either photocard (only valid with associated counterpart licence, except Jersey) or paper
  • Birth Certificate (UK & Channel Islands) issued within 12 months of birth (full or short form acceptable including those issued by UK authorities overseas, such as Embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces)
  • Adoption Certificate (UK & Channel Islands)

You must also bring:

  • Your UCAS Personal ID or Applicant Number
  • Your University offer letter, if you’ve received one
  • Your pre-registration username and password so that you can upload a photo for your UCard to be printed, if you haven’t done this already as part of your pre-arrival actions

If you have limited mobility or you’re a wheelchair user 

Contact disability.info@sheffield.ac.uk in advance of attending your in-person ID check so we can assist you with any alternative access arrangements.

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