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Sheffield, situated in South Yorkshire, is a truly excellent city for student life. Firstly, it's cheap. Various studied have revealed the cost of living to be among
the very lowest for students in the UK. This is reflected in the large number of people, who come to 'study' in Sheffield every year – over 25,000. There are two universities in Sheffield, the University of Sheffield
(an 'old' university) and Sheffield Hallam University (SHU). I attended SHU, which is the larger of the two by far and has an excellent reputation among the so-called 'old polytechnic' universities in the UK.
Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) This university offers a wide range of courses (info: www.shu.ac.uk) and welcomes foreign students, of whom there is a strong contingent. Ophold Some
students will be lucky enough to live in university accommodation and a certain number of rooms are reserved especially for international students (at SHU). Students who must find their own accommodation, benefit
from a surplus of housing in Sheffield. Expect to pay around £35-£45/week living in a shared house. The City of Sheffield Sheffield is a large city and is famous for its tradition in the steel industry. From
this it also seems to have inherited some less than attractive buildings – but don't let this put you off! Much of the city centre has been renovated, including the Peace Gardens (opened by Prince Charles in 1999). The
centre has all the high street shops you'd expect from a city this size, along with more fashionable clothes shops and cafés (many of which can be found in Division Street). If this isn't enough for you, take a trip
north to Meadowhall – one of Europe's largest shopping centres. The 501/502 bus service, or a train from the main station will take you there. Sheffield houses Ponds Forge leisure centre (world-class swimming
facilities), numerous cinemas, including 'Showroom' (multi-lingual films; 100m from the train station), Don Valley athletics stadium, several art galleries, theatres and museums, an ice rink, two indoor climbing
centres, a casino, and too many other things to mention here! The city also annually hosts the World Snooker Championships. 200m from the train station, you will also notice an odd-looking, metallic building, comprising
of a series of four domes. Don't worry – this is nothing to do with Star Wars, but the much-publicised National Centre for Popular Music, which is a hands-on museum of pop music. I mention the centre only in fairness to
warn you of the bad reviews it has had and to give you my opinion of my visit – not very good! It cost £15m to design and build, yet it is quite limiting superficial in substance. I enjoyed the kareoke section, though!
If you're slightly more adventurous, you might like to take a trip into the gorgeous Peak District, which is only 8 miles south-west of town. The Peak District is a huge protected area of countryside with some stunning
scenery – well worth a trip. You can take a bus out here, but travelling by car is much more convenient and gives you the freedom to move around, be it from sight to sight, or pub to pub! Nightlife You will
find the city buzzing with numerous bars and clubs every night of the week. For cheap beer, visit either universities' union bar, but make sure you have your NUS (National Union of Students) card to get in, or befriend
another student with one to get signed in. You will find a shot of vodka or a pint for £1 on some nights in the SHU Union (in the Nelson Mandela Building, opposite the train station), for example. Ecclesall Road, just
south of the city centre, is the major student haunt (also a popular area for students to live in). Not just 'student-friendly', but almost exclusively student pubs dominate this road, accompanied by a multitude of
takeaways and Italian/Indian/etc restaurants. If you want a change from English beer, try out Champs during 'Happy Hour', for cheap cocktails and a lively atmosphere. The city boasts a multitude of clubs (club =
disco) for all manner of taste. For a cheap student night out, try Wednesdays at The Roxy on Arundel Gate, or Pulse and Vogue, which is north of town (free buses run from student unions). At the other end of the
club-spectrum, the Gatecrasher night at The Republic offers the chance to experience top national/international DJs, albeit for a price (~£15 entry). Hvorfor Sheffield? Why not?! It has almost everything
you'd want from a city – a thriving student atmosphere, friendly locals, plenty to do and at reasonable prices, and, most importantly, cheap beer! There is something for everyone here, and everyone feels they have
something here after living here – a second home. |
