Why choose Sheffield?

We are proud to be one of the UK's leading departments for research and teaching in Politics and International Relations.

Politics in the City

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Festival of the Mind

The Sheffield Festival where the brightest minds from the University of Sheffield collaborate with the city’s cultural and creative industries, to help bring their research to life in exciting, entertaining and innovative ways.

Bring research to life

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City of Sanctuary

In 2007 Sheffield became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary for asylum-seekers and refugees. Some of the department's academics have worked on events and research for City of Sanctuary as well as there being multiple opportunities for volunteering.

Learn more about City of Sanctuary

Performance during the Migration Matters Festival

Migration Matters Festival

Migration Matters is the largest Refugee week Festival in the UK. It is a 'pay-what-you-feel' arts festival that celebrates the positive impact migration & refugees have had on Sheffield & the UK.

Learn more

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Festival of Debate

The largest annual politics festival in the UK, including talks, debates, performances, Q&As, speeches and more. All centred around Politics, Economics, and Society.

Find out more

Why Sheffield?

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A top ranking department

  • 94 per cent of our research is rated in the highest two categories in the REF 2021
  • A Politics Department in #2 Best UK University for the Student Crowd Awards 2023
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Advance your career

A Postgraduate degree in Politics from Sheffield can set you apart from everyone else. You'll have many opportunities across the duration of your course to develop transferable skills for your future career.

Find out more

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A postgraduate community

The knowledge accumulated in the areas of how the world works has given me the ability to explain complex problems in a more presentable and explainable way. 

- Lewis Atkinson, MA International Relations

Read our student profiles

World-class research

RS - Animal Research, Hooded Rat

Sheffield Animal Studies Research Centre

Sheffield is unique in its significant number of Animal Studies scholars. This has led to the development of ShARC! A network of scholars, and graduate and undergraduate students. They host a number of speakers as well as reading groups and other events.

ShARC

Image of someone presenting at SPERI (Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute)

SPERI

The Sheffield Political Economy Research institute is leading the debate on a new political economy.
SPERI develops and promotes new analysis and understanding of contemporary capitalism, and of the major economic and political challenges arising from it.

SPERI

Start your postgraduate journey

Scholarships and funding
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How to apply