Online subject tasters: Engineering
Book your place on one of our upcoming engineering subject tasters.
Biomedical engineering: What is Biomedical Engineering?
Date: Tuesday 5 May 2026
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
Chemical engineering: Optimising your future with Chemical Engineering
Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026
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.
Book your place on our Chemical Engineering subject taster
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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
Civil & Structural Engineering: Strengthening against earthquakes
Date: Wednesday 6 May 2026
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
Computer Science: Machine Learning and Data Science
Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
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
Electrical & Electronic, Mechatronic & Robotic and Computer Systems Engineering: From discrete components to intelligent systems
Date: Wednesday 13 May 2026
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Location: Online
Electro-mechanical and computer systems are transforming the world we live in, from driverless cars to medical diagnostics. Come to this Taster Session to find out about our programmes where you will learn how the necessary components and systems are designed, built and controlled.
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This Taster Session will introduce three interconnected degree programmes on offer at the University of Sheffield: Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE); Computer Systems Engineering (CSE) and Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering (MRE). We will explore how a complex electro-mechanical system is designed, built and controlled.
The session starts with an exploration of the design and fabrication of discrete components (e.g. LED, microprocessor, electric motor). We will then look at how these components are joined together to create an electronic system (e.g. an autonomous mobile robot).
We will also explore the necessary software and control algorithms that are required to safely operate the system. The session will explain the distinctive features of the EEE, CSE and MRE programmes and illustrate the vital parts that they play in 21st century life.
Schedule
- 5pm - 5.05pm - Welcome and get comfortable
- 5.05pm - 5.20pm - Introduction to the subject
- 5.20pm - 6pm - Interactive subject taster: from discrete components to intelligent systems
- 6pm - 6.25pm - Q&A with academic and current undergraduate students
- 6.25pm - 6.30pm - Closing remarks and next steps
General Engineering: Where All Disciplines Meet
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
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.
Book your place on our General Engineering subject taster
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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
Materials Science & Engineering: From Engines to Atoms
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2026
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