Online subject tasters: Engineering

Civil & Structural Engineering: Strengthening against earthquakes

Date: Wednesday 8 October 2025
Time: 5pm to 6.15pm
Location: Online

Can we build earthquake-proof buildings?

Can we design structures to withstand the forces of nature?This session explores how the cutting-edge materials used by the civil engineers who design and build our infrastructure, do just that!

Book your place on our Civil & Structural Engineering subject taster

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Ever wondered how engineers make buildings strong enough to withstand massive earthquakes? 

This session isn't about boring concrete – it's about the super-materials of the future! 

We'll explore how advanced composites (think super-strong, lightweight materials) are being used to reinforce buildings and make them earthquake resistant. You'll discover how these new materials work and learn how they're saving lives.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.15pm - Welcome and introduction to the subject
• 5.15pm - 5.50pm - Interactive mini lecture
• 5.50pm - 6.10pm - Q&A with current undergraduate students
• 6.10pm - 6.15pm - Closing remarks and next steps

Engineering: Optimising your future with Chemical Engineering

Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Location: Online

Chemical engineers tackle global challenges from climate change and energy poverty to sustainable agriculture and green manufacturing. With a dynamic learning environment and global industrial research collaborations, we prepare tomorrow's engineers today. Come along to this Taster Session to see if Chemical Engineering is the right course for you.

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Ever wondered what chemical engineers do and how they tackle global challenges like energy and sustainability? In this session, you'll explore the real-world impact of chemical engineering and even get hands-on by designing a bioethanol production plant, weighing up the trade-offs between cost and product quality. We’ll also guide you through the university application process, and a friendly student ambassador will be on hand to answer your questions about studying and living at the University of Sheffield.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome and get comfortable
• 5.05pm - 5.20pm - Introduction to the subject
• 5.20pm - 6pm - Interactive subject taster: Design a bioethanol production plant
• 6pm - 6.25pm - Q&A with academic and current undergraduate student
• 6.25pm - 6.30pm - Closing remarks and next steps

Materials Science & Engineering: From Engines to Atoms

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Location: Online

Materials are everywhere, shaping the world we live in - from aeroplanes and smartphones to medical breakthroughs. Materials Science and Engineering is a fast-paced, innovative field for curious problem-solvers who want to make a real impact. Join our Taster Session to discover how you can help build the future.

Book your place on our Materials Science & Engineering subject taster

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Did you know that at any moment, around half a million people are flying through the air? 

The engines powering modern aircraft are incredible feats of engineering, built from materials that withstand extreme conditions over hundreds of flights. 

But how do these materials work and how can we make them even better? 

As material scientists, our role is to understand how these materials work and how to improve the materials so they are optimised for specific applications. 

In this session we will explore what Materials Science is, using the example of the turbine engine, finding out how it works, the materials properties required, the alloy design, and how structure all the way down to the atomic scale helps us control the materials properties. 

Come along to our Taster Session and discover how Materials Science is shaping the future of aerospace and beyond!

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome and get comfortable
• 5.05pm - 5.50pm - Interactive mini lecture - From Engines to Atoms
• 5.50pm - 6.05pm - Mini practical demonstration
• 6.05pm - 6.15pm - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield, the courses on offer and examples of top careers after graduating from our courses
• 6.15pm - 6.30pm - Q&A with academic and current undergraduate student

Computer Science: Machine Learning and Data Science

Date: Thursday 16 October 2025
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Location: Online

Computer Science develops ground breaking technology to protect and enhance people’s lives. Come along and see if this subject and career path could be the right fit for you.

Book your place on our Computer Science subject taster

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What is Machine Learning? How does it work? What are the challenges?

In this interactive session, you'll learn how Machine Learning works and experiment with it yourself. We'll discuss some applications we're currently working on, and some of the current challenges in the field that we're tackling here at the University of Sheffield.

You'll also have the chance to hear from and talk to current students studying Computer Science and find out what it's all about.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome and introduction to Taster Session and people involved
• 5.05pm - 5.15pm - Intro to Machine Learning, the application, etc.
• 5.15pm - 5.45pm - Interactive subject taster
• 5.45pm - 6pm - Student Q&A

Mechanical Engineering: We need robots in our sewers

Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Location: Online

Explore how tiny robots are solving big problems in our ancient sewers! This interactive session shows how mechanical engineers tackle real-world challenges using the core skills designing, building, & innovating.

Book your place on our Mechanical Engineering subject taster

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Okay, let's be honest: sewers might seem disgusting but they're also essential. The UK's sewer system is an old, hidden world of crumbling pipes and mystery leaks. Leaks are a huge problem to maintain. Digging up roads is expensive, disruptive, and creates pollution. 

So, what's the solution? Robots! 

Join this online session to learn how a University of Sheffield team is developing tiny, swimming robots to explore our sewers, find problems, and prevent disasters. You'll see videos, learn how engineers solve complex problems, and even test your own ears in a sound challenge – can you hear the difference between a healthy sewer and a blocked one?

Plus, we'll even show you how AI is better at “listening” to sewers than humans are!

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.25pm - Sewer talk. Students vote on which sounds correspond to a blocked sewer
• 5.25pm - 5.35pm - Interactive exercise - “draw the lines of pressure”
• 5.35pm - 5.40pm - Want to be an engineer?
• 5.40pm - 6pm - Q&A with academic and current undergraduate student

Aerospace engineering: What is modern Aerospace Engineering?

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Location: Online

Blast off into aerospace engineering! Race through the history of flight, see A‑Level maths and physics fuel real aircraft and spacecraft, uncover the future of green planes and space travel, and discover how Sheffield could launch you into a top aerospace career.

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Take off into the world of modern aerospace engineering!

Ever dreamt of designing the next generation of aircraft or rockets? In this thrilling lecture, you’ll journey through the evolution of flight – from daring first take-offs to cutting-edge spacecraft.

Watch your A‑Level maths and physics come to life as you uncover how aerodynamics, forces and advanced materials shape real aerospace design.

Looking to the skies of tomorrow, you’ll explore the future of aerospace – electric planes, green fuels and deep space missions – and discover how Sheffield could prepare you for an exciting career in this fast-moving, high-tech industry.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Log in and get comfortable
• 5.05pm - 5.20pm - Welcome and introduction to the subject
• 5.20pm - 6pm - Interactive mini lecture
• 6pm - 6.25pm - Q&A with current undergraduate students
• 6.25pm - 6:30pm - Closing remarks and next steps

Biomedical engineering: What is Biomedical Engineering?

Date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Location: Online

Biomedical Engineering blends engineering with medical science to transform lives, from life-saving devices to advanced diagnostics and antibody treatments. With career paths in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge research, it’s an exciting field. Come along to this Taster Session to see if it's the right course for you!

Book your place on our Biomedical Engineering subject taster

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Have you heard about Biomedical Engineering? 

Biomedical Engineering is at the forefront of innovation, blending engineering with medical science to improve lives. From life-saving medical devices like artificial heart valves to ground breaking diagnostic tools, automated blood glucose monitoring, and advanced antibody treatments, this exciting field is shaping the future of healthcare.

These bioengineered innovations are revolutionising medicine - could you be part of the next big breakthrough? 

In this talk, Dr Pinaki Bhattacharya will explore the field of Biomedical Engineering, how we approach it here at the University of Sheffield and how it could affect you. Discover the incredible potential of this field and the exciting opportunities waiting for you as a future engineer.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.10pm - Welcome & Introductions
• 5.10pm - 5.20pm - Summary about Biomedical Engineering at Sheffield; the course and the University
• 5.20pm - 5.40pm - Subject Taster lecture
• 5.40pm - 6pm - Q&A with academic and current undergraduate student, session round up

Engineering: Robotics - How can we control and shape our future with robots?

Date: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Location: Online

Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering has the potential to transform the world we live in. Including providing safer and more energy efficient transport via driverless cars, intelligent healthcare via medical robotics, and keeping humans safe. Come along to this Taster Session to see if this could be the right course for you.

Book your place on our Robotics subject taster

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How will robots affect our future? Whether you imagine them tidying your home, being part of the production line in a factory, servicing in a hospital, or driving your cars on the road, robots are here to stay and will play a huge part in our world.

In this taster session we will explore how to design and drive the behaviour of robots to improve our lives. We will also present how we envisage robots to deliver the medicine of tomorrow to targeted and precise parts in our bodies. You will be able to acquire a taste of the engineering skills on how to build and control robots in fundamental tasks across these domains.

As a perspective engineer of tomorrow, you will have the opportunity to glimpse in an exciting future world with robots and feel in control of this technology.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome and get comfortable
• 5.05pm - 5.15pm - Introduction to the school
• 5.15pm - 5.45pm - Interactive subject taster
• 5.45pm - 6pm - Q&A with current undergraduate students

General Engineering: Bringing Disciplines Together to Solve Real-World Problems

Date: Thursday 13 November 2025
Time: 5pm to 6pm
Location: Online

Explore how engineers from different disciplines come together to solve real-world problems, and how General Engineering at Sheffield prepares you to lead that change.

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In this interactive online taster session, you'll explore the exciting world of General Engineering. 

Discover what makes General Engineering different from traditional courses, and learn how the University of Sheffield’s programme provides a flexible yet solid foundation across multiple engineering disciplines. We’ll use the example of electric vehicles to explore how engineers from a range of disciplines work together to tackle complex, real-world challenges. 

You’ll also hear from current students and staff, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and find out what studying General Engineering at Sheffield is really like.

Schedule

• 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome
• 5.05pm - 5.15pm - Introduction to General Engineering
• 5.15pm - 5.45pm - Subject taster talk: Engineering in General and General Engineering at the University of Sheffield with an Electrical Flavour
• 5.45pm - 6pm - Q&A with current students
• 6pm - Close

Engineering: Virtual Arduino Lab - an introduction to Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Location: Online

Electrical and electronic engineers turn brilliant ideas into advanced technology, solving real world problems with future-facing solutions. We have consistently built our reputation as world leaders in the areas of electrical machines, semiconductors and communications.

Book your place on our Electronic and Electrical Engineering subject taster

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Electrical and electronic engineers turn brilliant ideas into advanced technology, solving real world problems with future-facing solutions. We have consistently built our reputation as world leaders in the areas of electrical machines, semiconductors and communications. 

Why not come along to this session to see if it's the right course for you? 

Schedule

• 12pm - 12.05pm - Welcome and get comfortable
• 12.05pm - 12.20pm - Introduction to the department
• 12.20pm - 1pm - Interactive subject taster
• 1pm - 1.25pm - Q&A with current undergraduate students
• 1.25pm - 1.30pm - Closing remarks and next steps