FAQs
Here you will find answers to our most frequently asked questions. Click on a question to reveal the answer. You can also access the University of Sheffield's FAQ database which contains answers to hundreds of commonly asked questions.
If your question is not answered here then please contact Beky Hasnip, the Admissions Secretary.
Q. Can I have a copy of your departmental brochure?
A. Yes. You can download a copy of our brochure or request a copy using our Undergraduate Information Request Form.
|
|
Download our UG Brochure (5.3MB) 
|
Q. What degree programmes do you offer?
A. We offer a wide range of degree programmes. Use the link below to access information about degree programmes, course structure, module choices and entry requirements.
Q. What are the entry requirements for the Department of History?
A. Information on standard entry requirements for each course can be found by looking at the particular degree programme you are interested in.
Q. Can I visit the University before applying?
A. The University's central Open Days are a great way of finding out whether the University of Sheffield is for you. You can book a place on-line and will be able to attend a History talk at any open day.
Find out more about University Open Days and book your place.
Personal tours of our facilities are also available on Wednesday afternoons by prior arrangement and you should contact our admissions secretary for availability.
Beky Hasnip
|
Q. How do I apply for an undergraduate course?
A. All applications for undergraduate study must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Please visit the UCAS website for more information on how to apply.
 TEL: +44 (0)870 11 22211
|
Q. What is the University's UCAS campus code?
A. The University of Sheffield is not based on a multi-campus system. This means that we don't have any campus codes, and you should leave the relevant space on your UCAS form blank.
Q. Have you received my application?
A. If you are applying for an undergraduate course then you should be notified by UCAS when your form has been received.
You can also monitor the progress of your application in Track using your Personal ID and the same username and password that you used to apply. Please note that we will usually not contact you directly until a decision has been made on your application.
We will try to make a decision on this two weeks of receiving your application, but please note that we will first need to receive your hardcopy application from UCAS.
If we are able to make you an offer you will receive confirmation via email. If there will be a delay in processing your application then we will try to contact you directly to explain this.
Q. Will I be invited to an open day?
A. If we make you an offer for one of our courses you will automatically receive an invitation to one of these Open Days, which are for successful applicants and their families only. To find more details on these open days select a degree programme from the degree programme page and click on the Open Days tab.
If you have any questions about visiting the department, then please contact Beky.
|
Beky Hasnip
|
Q. How do I travel to the University?
A. The University has a very useful Information for Visitors webpage, which provides travel information and downloadable maps.
Q. What will the course structure be?
A. Use the link below to access information about degree programmes, course structure, module choices and entry requirements. Click on the course content tab to view the course structure.
Q. What modules can I study at each Level?
A. Use the link below to access information about degree programmes, course structure, module choices and entry requirements. Click on the course content tab to view module information.
Q. How many students attend your University and Department?
A. The University of Sheffield currently has over 24,000 registered students. This includes approximately 18,000 undergraduates and more than 5,000 postgraduate students.
The student population includes over 2,300 international students from more than 118 countries.
The Department generally has around 160 single honours and 120 dual honours students at each Level of study at any one time. This is the final number of places that we have to offer once A-Level results are released each year.
Q. How many hours contact time will I have each week?
A. Contact hours are as follows:
Single Honours Students
- Level One You will have approximately 9-10 hours of contact time per week. This is based upon you doing three history modules each semester, each of which comprises 2 hours of lecture (taught in two separate 1 hour sessions) and 1 hour of seminar per week (3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of seminar for the core module: Paths from Antiquity to Modernity). If you choose to take some unrestricted modules your contact time may vary slightly depending on the department you choose these modules from.
- Level Two You will have approximately 6 hours of contact time per week (by this point you will have settled in and will be expected to do more independent reading and research) this is again based upon you studying three history modules per semester, each comprising 1 hour of lecture and 1 hour of seminar per week. Your lecturers will still be available to offer a lot of support and have set office hours each week should you need to ask them any additional questions. The course assignment, which is essentially a mini dissertation in practice for your final year, will involve a number of seminars plus one-on-one sessions with a specific tutor.
- Level Three you will have approximately 4-6.5 hours of contact time per week, broken down as follows:
- Special Subject (40 credits) – two 2 hour seminars per week throughout the full academic year.
- Comparative Option (20 credits) – one 1 hour lecture and one 90 minute seminar per week over one semester
- The Uses of History (single honours core module) (20 credits) – eight 1 hour lectures and five 90 minute seminars over one semester
- Dissertation (40 credits) – nyou will have one-on-one meetings with your supervisor and attend several subject specific skills-based workshops. Again, all of your tutors will also be available in weekly office hours for you to approach with any additional questions that you might have.
--
Dual Honours Students
At each level you will do half the amount of history modules (i.e. three) and will, therefore, have half the contact time with our tutors. Your overall contact time will depend on your other department's policies and you should contact them for more information.
Q. What are the class sizes?
A. Module sizes will vary from Level to Level getting smaller as you progress.
When you start, at Level One, there is a relatively small selection of modules, this is to give you chance to settle in and discover what kinds of history you enjoy studying at degree level. Modular groups at this level can be up to 300 people for the lectures. However, we ensure that the more discussion-based teaching, in the form of seminars, allows everybody to have sufficient contact with their tutors by capping the seminars groups at a maximum of 12 people.
At Level Two there is a much greater choice of modules, you will do two core modules (Historians and History & a Course Assignment) but all option modules are capped at 45 people, the size of your lectures, and seminars are capped at 15 people and all document options are capped at 30 people, so you would again still have small group contact with your tutors where it is most important. The size of your lectures and seminars are capped at 16.
At Level Three there is again a much greater choice of modules, as by now we would be expecting you to specialise more in one period of history. Therefore, special subjects are capped at 16 and this would be the group size for all of your teaching. Comparative options are capped at 80 people, the size of your lectures and seminars are capped at 16. Additionally, there is the core module, The Uses of History, in which everybody takes part and is again a large lecture with seminar groups capped at 15. Your final module, the dissertation, is supervised on an individual basis.
Q. Am I able to take classes from outside of the Department?
A. You can choose to take unrestricted modules as follows:
Single Honours Students
In each year you need to study modules totalling 120 credits (usually 60 credits per semester). You are required to do our core module plus at least one other module from the department. All of the modules within the history department are 20 credits, so doing two modules will give you 40 credits. Your final 80 credits can then either be made up of further history modules (i.e. you can do all six history modules, if you wish) or modules outside of the department ('unrestricted modules'). These modules can be taken from any other department, subject to availability and any restrictions imposed by that department.
At level two there is the option to substitute one of your option modules (20 credits) for an unrestricted module but at this stage in your degree is it only subject to the approval of the department at that time.
At level three no such option is available.
Details of the unrestricted modules available for Level One will be sent out to you in September when you receive your registration pack.
--
Dual Honours Students
At Level One you will study 120 credits in total over the year: 60 credits in history and 60 in your other subject. You are required to do our core module plus at least one other history module. This will total 40 credits, you other 20 credits can either come from another history module or a module from outside of the department ('unrestricted module'). This module can be taken from any other department, subject to availability and any restrictions imposed by that department.
At level two there is the option to substitute one of your option modules (20 credits) in either History or sometimes your dual subject for an unrestricted module, but at this stage in your degree it is not recommended and is subject to the approval of the departments at that time.
At level three no such option is available.
Details of the unrestricted modules available for Level One will be sent out to you in September when you receive your registration pack.
Q. Do you offer any student exchange programmes with other institutions?
A. The History Department allows students to take part in the University's Study Abroad scheme, which gives students the opportunity to spend an academic year (or one semester) studying in Universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Q. What careers are available after I finish my degree?
A. There are many possible career paths open to students who have studied History.
Q. Where can I find information for mature students?
A. The Department especially welcomes applications from mature candidates (over 21 years on entry to the University). A substantial proportion of our current students come from non-standard backgrounds and we have a dedicated admissions tutor for mature students. Among the various criteria used in making offers to mature students are study for A levels, Access to Higher Education Diplomas, or professional qualifications. Mature students are sometimes asked for interview, or to submit written work.
Information for mature students.
For further information within the department please contact:
|
The Tutor for Mature Admissions
|
Q. Where can I find information for international students?
A. There is a vast amount of information for potential international students across the University's webpages.
Information for international students.
Information regarding equivalent offers for alternative qualifications to A-Levels can be found by looking at the particular degree programme you are interested in.
You can also contact us directly:
|
Beky Hasnip
|
Q. When will I hear about accommodation?
A. The University will send a Home from Home information pack (including information on fees, funding and bursaries) to all undergraduate offer-holders. You will then be able to apply for accommodation either using the paper form at the back of the booklet, or online.
Q. How much are the tuition fees?
A. The tuition fees you will be required to pay vary, depending on the course you wish to study and your personal circumstances.
The University has now published online guidance and FAQs on tuition fees for undergraduates starting in 2012.
Q. Can I get a Bursary?
A. While the cost of living for our students is among the lowest in the country, many of the undergraduate students joining the University can still benefit from the extra assistance the University of Sheffield can provide.
Q. I have received an offer from you, but would like to change to a different undergraduate course - is this possible?
A. This is possible in theory, depending on availability of places on your desired course and subject to consideration of your UCAS form.
To discuss your individual case you should contact:
|
Beky Hasnip
|
Q. When do the University Terms Start?
A. The History Department's courses all follow the standard semester dates, which are available for each academic year.
Q. When will my course end?
A. The History Department's courses all end in June, three years after commencement of your course, or four years for dual programmes with languages.
Q. What services are offered by the Students' Union?
A. The University of Sheffield Union of Students provides a wide variety of services and opportunities for students at the University and also represents them as a whole. The Students' Union building houses cafes and bars, a cinema, a learning resource and information centre, a bank and a variety of shops, all catering specifically for students.
The Union represents our students, both here at the University and also at national level. Each year sabbatical officers are elected to represent and work on behalf of the different groups of people who represent our student body.
You can browse the Union's web site for more information about the services it offers and clubs and societies in which you can become involved.
Q. What sports facilities do you have?
A. We have excellent sports and recreation facilities here at the University of Sheffield plus a wide range of established sports clubs, making sport at the University available for everyone.
Goodwin Sports Centre is our flag ship facility incorporating 3 full size synthetic turf pitches, 3 small sided synthetic turf pitches, a multi-purpose sports hall, swimming pool, bouldering wall, 4 squash courts, a tennis court, cricket nets and the superbly equipped S10health Fitness Centre.
Q. What type of clubs and social events are available through the Students' Union?
A. There are opportunities to get involved in a wide range of student activities and sporting clubs run through the Students' Union. Many of these societies and clubs have websites which are accessible from the Union web pages.
The Students' Union also houses a cafe, several bars, a club with gigs and venues hosted most nights.
There are also events and entertainments held throughout the year for all our students. We have our own 400 seat cinema within the Students' Union and play host to high profile concerts and performances on a regular basis.
Q. As a current student can I transfer courses within the Department?
A. This is explained in more detail on our dedicated transferring webpage.
Q. Can I transfer onto an undergraduate course in the History Department from another University?