Your open day guide

Welcome to our open day

The open day is as flexible as you want it to be. You don’t need to register on arrival, as attendance will be recorded at your pre-booked subject talks, and the rest of the day’s activities can be done in any order. 

If you have any questions or are unsure what to do next, just ask our friendly team of event staff and student ambassadors located in our Information Hub gazebos and spread around campus. They can talk you through the activities listed in this online guide, and help you to navigate the day.

Open day frequently asked questions

Getting here

We recommend travelling to the University via public transport. Sheffield has great transport links, with several park and ride sites, and is easily accessible by train. We are unable to offer visitor parking on campus and the public 'pay and display' parking close by is very limited.

Find more travel advice and plan your journey to our campus.

If you or your guests have a disability read our guidance for disabled visitors.

30% National Express discount

You can also apply for a 30% discount on return coach tickets with National Express. 

Subject talks

These are the only fixed part of the day, which you choose when making your open day booking. You can book places for yourself and up to one additional guest. You are welcome to bring further guests to accompany you on the day and take part in central tours, talks and exhibitions, but in order to maintain safe room capacities, we cannot guarantee spaces for them in the subject talk(s).

You will receive a reminder email before the event with details of your pre-booked subject talks, and your QR code for entry.

If you have changed your mind about which subject talk you want to attend, details are available in the subject talk schedules. However, please be advised that booked visitors (prospective students and up to one additional guest) will be seated first, and only then will any remaining seats will be offered to unbooked students, then unbooked guests.

Some subject talks do become fully booked, but our faculty exhibitions and subject drop-ins offer a great opportunity to meet representatives from the department and find out more about the courses on offer.

Central talks

These 20-minute presentations run throughout the day, to ensure that you can attend one that fits in with your schedule. Full details will be announced nearer the time. 

Topics will include:

• Welcome to our University
• Student life
• University accommodation
• Sport and physical activity at Sheffield
• Funding your studies
• Global opportunities and exchanges

Visit our accommodation 

9.30am to 4pm

Visit our award-winning Endcliffe accommodation site. View our en-suite and shared-bathroom accommodation, the outstanding facilities and beautiful green spaces, and get your questions answered by our accommodation experts at The Edge Hub.

Take our free accommodation shuttle bus from beside the Information Commons on Favell Road, or from outside the Wave on Whitham Road. The last bus departs Favell Road at 4pm, and returns to campus at 5pm.

We advise allowing one hour from stepping on the bus shuttle to stepping back off at campus.

Alternatively, you can walk to or from the accommodation using our online walking maps.

Information about our accommodation rent prices

Please note: our accommodation tours tend to be busiest between 12 and 2pm, where visitors may encounter a short wait for buses and/or small queues at Endcliffe.

We would encourage visitors to take an accommodation tour outside of these times, where possible.

Accommodation information points

Our accommodation team will be ready to answer all of your questions about our award-winning accommodation from the following locations:

• At the accommodation exhibition stand in the Octagon Centre
• At the accommodation information point inside the Wave

Tours

The best way to find out about our world-class facilities is to see them for yourself.

• Our accommodation tours start at 9.30am.
• All other tours start at 10am.
• All tours finish at 4pm.

Campus tours 

Duration: 45 mins

10am to 4pm

Collect a wristband from the campus tours stand located outside the Octagon Centre for one of our walking campus tours, departing every 30 minutes. Our students will show you some of our iconic buildings and excellent teaching spaces.

Alternatively, explore campus at your own pace with a self-guided tour leaflet and online audio guide.

City tours 

Duration: 60 mins

10am to 3pm

Walking tours of our vibrant, green, modern city depart every 30 minutes from the campus tour stand inside the Students’ Union (level 4).

Alternatively, collect a self-guided tour leaflet from here to explore the city at your own pace.

Library tours

Duration: 15 mins

10am to 4pm

Meet our student ambassador tour guides at the reception of the Information Commons and Western Bank Library.

The Information Commons offers a comfy, inclusive study environment with bookable spaces, core reading books, and a Garden Room for relaxation.

Western Bank Library, a Grade II listed building, has 1.2 million texts, 730 study spaces, and serene views of Weston Park for a tranquil study experience.

Sport and physical activity tours​​​

​​​​​Duration: 10 mins

10am to 4pm

Meet at the Sports Hall Foyer at Goodwin Sports Centre for a tour of the site’s impressive facilities, including synthetic 3G pitches, sports hall, studio spaces, squash courts and brand new Fitness Suite.

Students’ Union tours​​​

​​​​​Duration: 15 mins

10am to 4pm

Departing from just inside the Students’ Union main entrance, learn why our SU is consistently voted the best in the country and how it makes the student experience at Sheffield exceptional.

General information stand

9am to 4pm, Students’ Union concourse

Head here to ask our event staff and student ambassadors your questions and to get some tips on what to do next.

Central exhibition

9.30am to 4pm, The Octagon Centre and Students’ Union

Showcasing everything you need to know about the support and services on offer at the University. Talk to the experts and start thinking about your future at Sheffield.

The first hour of the exhibition (9.30 to 10.30am) in the Octagon Centre will be a dedicated quiet hour. 

In the Octagon Centre:

• Accommodation
• Access Sheffield
• Admissions - application advice
• Careers and Employability Service
• Degrees with a foundation year for mature students
• Disability and Dyslexia Support Service
• Global Opportunities (spend time abroad)
• IT Services
• Learn a language
• The University Library
• Safety on campus
• Guidance for parents & supporters
• Student Support Services
• Student Fees and Funding
• 301 Academic Skills Centre
• Sheffield - Your University City

In the Students’ Union plaza:

• Students’ Union information stands
• Sport and Physical Activity information stand

Sports clubs and societies exhibitions

11am - 4pm , Sports Clubs exhibition at Goodwin Sports Centre and Societies exhibition in the Students’ Union Activities Zone

With over 300 societies and over 50 sports clubs there are hundreds of ways to make friends and build communities. Come along to our mini club and society exhibition where you will find a small selection of sports clubs and societies.

You will have the opportunity to speak to club and society members, find out more about how to join, and even watch some club and society demonstrations and performances.  

If your sports club or society is not here today, please feel free to speak with the exhibiting club and society members to learn more about how to join.

Subject exhibitions

Which course is for you? 

It's not unusual if you haven't decided exactly which course you want to do. You will have the opportunity to chat to staff and current students about the different subjects and specialisms you can study.

Arts and Humanities Faculty Exhibition

10am to 3.30pm, Students' Union Level 4, Uni Central

In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities we believe that an understanding of people's lives, experiences, beliefs and values - both past and present - is vital in tackling the greatest issues facing humanity today. Our flexible and wide-ranging degrees, taught by world-leading researchers, allow you to shape your course around what interests and inspires you.

• East Asian Studies
• English
• History
• Languages and Cultures
• Law and Criminology
• Music
• Philosophy 

Engineering and Computer Science Exhibition

10am to 3.30pm, The Diamond 

Head first to the Diamond building, home to specialist labs, flight simulators and the UK’s first student-led 'makerspace', providing you with the experience to become a world-class engineer or computer scientist. You can also check out a showcase of our student-led engineering projects and societies.

Health Faculty Drop-ins

10am to 3.30pm, The Medical School and School of Clinical Dentistry

The Faculty of Health provides excellent student support, practical experience and high-quality learning facilities, in a range of undergraduate courses across medicine, dentistry and allied health professions, including nursing, orthoptics and speech therapy.

Courses are delivered by a mixture of academic staff and clinical staff, all of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their world-class teaching, guided by the latest research in the field.

• Dental School - Medical School Foyer
• Speech and Language Therapy - Medical School Foyer
• Adult Nursing - Medical School Foyer
• Orthoptics - Medical School Foyer
• Medicine - Medical School main entrance
• Pharmacy - Medical School Foyer

Science Faculty Exhibition

10am to 3.30pm, Students' Union Level 4, Uni Central

Science at Sheffield spans biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and psychology. Discover how you can explore the ideas and develop the practical skills that will help us solve challenges such as antibiotic resistance, plastic waste and how to build a quantum computer.

Find out how we've designed our degrees to help you get the experience employers are looking for. 

• Biosciences
• Chemistry
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Physics and Astronomy
• Psychology

Social Sciences Faculty Exhibition

10am to 3.30pm, The Wave

The Faculty of Social Sciences has a long-established reputation for producing world-leading research (REF2021). This means that you'll be taught and supervised by researchers, writers and thinkers who are leaders in their fields.

Many of our teaching staff are also professional practitioners, bringing their rich experience into the classroom.

• Accounting and Financial Management
• Applied Social Sciences
• Architecture
• Business Management
• Data Science
• Digital Media and Society
• Economics
• Education
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Global Sustainable Development
• Journalism
• Landscape Architecture
• Politics
• Politics, Philosophy and Economics
• Sociology
• Urban Studies and Planning

Additional information 

Food and drink

​​There are loads of places to eat on campus, whether you want to grab a quick sandwich on the move or a chance to sit down and reflect over lunch. You can take food away from any of our venues.

Please note that all campus outlets are now cashless.

In our Students’ Union

• Coffee Revolution (8.30am - 4pm), Level 3
• Grill & Go (11am - 3pm), Level 3
• Our Shop (8.30am - 4pm), Level 3
• Pearls Bubble Tea (12pm-3.30pm), Level 3
• Baked (10am - 3pm), Level 3
• Bar One (11.30am - 1am, food served until 9pm), Level 1

In our academic department buildings

• Arts Tower cafe (9.30am - 3pm)
• Octagon cafe (8am-4pm)
• Information Commons cafe (9am - 4pm)
• Jessop Cafe (9am - 3pm)
• Diamond Kitchen (9am - 4pm)
• Wave Kitchen (9am - 4pm)
• Cafe 1828 at the Medical School (9am - 4pm)

At Endcliffe student accommodation

• Endcliffe - Edge Bar (10am to 4pm)
• Endcliffe - Village Store (10am to 4pm) 

On the Students’ Union concourse

Visit one of our external food vendors offering a variety of cuisines (9.30am to 4pm)

Inclusive facilities for visitors

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all visitors.

Our campus offers several facilities and services to accommodate diverse needs, including:

• Quiet spaces and prayer rooms - We offer several quiet spaces and prayer rooms with wudu facilities near campus during offer holder days for religious observance or quiet reflection.  You can locate your nearest prayer room via our Belief, No Belief and Religious (BNBR) Life Centre webpages. We would like to wish a Happy Ramadan to all those who will be observing Ramadan during their visit to the University.
• Gender-neutral bathrooms - We have gender-neutral toilets accessible to visitors across our campus. You can find the location of gender-neutral bathrooms via the map on our visitor web pages.
• Dietary requirements - We have Halal, vegetarian and vegan options available across all catering outlets on our campus. For further information, please visit the dietary requirements page of our website.
• Accessible routes - In partnership with AccessAble, previously DisabledGo, online access information is available for all our buildings and services and includes a number of route plans to help visitors navigate across campus. We have also developed the dedicated mobile app ‘AccessAble - UOS’ to make accessing this information even easier. The app is available free for both Android and Apple devices.

Please note that not all buildings and facilities are open at weekends and during our offer holder events.

For support with finding available facilities and services during your visit, please feel free to ask our event staff at the Information Hubs or General Information stand.

Talented athlete aiming for sporting and academic excellence?

The University of Sheffield's Elite Sports Performance Scheme (ESPS) empowers you to achieve both. Benefit from expert strength and conditioning coaching, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring, and top-tier gym membership. 

Join a community of champions. We're looking for driven athletes competing nationally or internationally. ESPS offers varying levels of support, including annual awards and free accommodation for select athletes. 

Ready to reach your full potential? 

Visit our website or contact us at performance-sport@sheffield.ac.uk to learn more.