- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Program Staff
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
Are you interested in studying in the United Kingdom? If so- check out the University of Sheffield. Sheffield has one of the biggest - and best - engineering faculties in the United Kingdom!
The University of Sheffield received its royal charter in 1905 and is located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Sheffield and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 Sheffield specific page and the University of Sheffield website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.
Sheffield accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year.
Typically, semesters are:
- Fall: mid-September to early February
- Spring: early February to mid-June
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in the United Kingdom
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Global Opportunities and Exchanges | globalopps@sheffield.ac.uk
Sheffield is right in the heart of England - only two hours by train from London, one hour from Manchester, and 40 minutes from Leeds. Its central location makes Sheffield an ideal base for travel both within the United Kingdom and in Europe.
A city of stunning landscapes, Sheffield is one of the greenest in Europe - creative, welcoming, rich in culture and history, and full of things to see and do. There's all the buzz and stimulation of city life, but without the stress. Instead, Sheffield offers a friendly, laid-back feel and some staggeringly beautiful scenery. Come to Sheffield and you are sure to get the best of both worlds!
University accommodation is guaranteed to all exchange students who apply for accommodation online before the following deadlines:
- September Arrival: August 1st
- February Arrival: December 1st
Please check the GE3 website for more information. The Sheffield Accommodation Office offers more information about types of housing available.
Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Sophomore standing or higher
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.
Academic Departments:
Review Sheffield's Directory of Modules to learn more about course availability, and check the GE3 website for general course information. The following disciplines are available:
-
- Aerospace Engineering
- Automatic Control and Systems Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Of note:
- All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
- Before visiting the course information, please ensure you read about choosing your programme of study at Sheffield, including information about closed departments/modules to exchange students and course restrictions for departments.
- Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
- Courses taken at Sheffield will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
- Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
Courses taken at Sheffield will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
For information about the grading scale at Sheffield, please see the website.
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Cost |
||
---|---|---|
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit | $2,000 | |
Room & Board | $3,000 - 5,000 | |
Personal Expenses | $1,000 - 5,000 | |
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the University of Sheffield's website, the Global E3 Sheffield's specific page, as well as our budgeting page for more information.
Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
Typically, semesters are Fall: mid September to mid January Spring: mid January to mid June. Pitt students may enroll at Sheffield for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). The Academic calendars of Sheffield may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, the University of Sheffield’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second.
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)