• Read more about School of Geography and Planning (USP)

Faculty of Social Sciences

School of Geography and Planning

At the School of Geography and Planning we explore how people, places, and environments shape the world. We collaborate with professional bodies, alumni, policy makers, practitioners, and communities, together contributing towards creating a more just and sustainable future.

We’re internationally recognised for our expertise in tackling the global challenges of climate and environmental change, urbanisation, sustainability and social justice. Our teaching and research connect the human and physical processes that are woven through natural and built environments, helping to build understanding and knowledge, and to respond to the complex relationships between society, nature and the built environment.

You will join a vibrant, supportive community of scholars and practitioners committed to making a real difference. 

Teaching at Sheffield is research-led and practice-informed, drawing on our world-leading work across multiple subject areas. Our programmes focus on developing your analytical, ethical, professional and wider employability skills. We'll help you engage critically with the most pressing issues of our time - from managing and developing our urban and natural landscapes, to environmental governance, climate resilience and global development.

We place our students at the centre of everything we do. You’ll be supported by dedicated staff, benefit from excellent fieldwork opportunities, and have your voice heard in shaping your experience. Our inclusive culture ensures that everyone can thrive academically and personally.

Graduates from our programmes go on to careers that make a positive social and environmental impact. They work in government, international organisations, consultancy, NGOs and research. If your interests are in managing and developing our natural and built environments, by studying with us you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to shape more sustainable, equitable and resilient futures.

Join us at Sheffield - where geography and planning come together to help us understand the world and change it for the better.

Most of our graduates go on to work in planning or a related career in the built environment professions, including housing, transport planning, real estate, development control, forward planning, regeneration, urban design, heritage and conservation.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for public and private sector organisations such as AECOM, Arup, CBRE, Deloitte, Harrow London Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, Leicester City Council, North Somerset Council, and the Peak District National Park Authority. More than half of our graduate planners take up posts with planning consultancies and several are employed by major global built environment firms.

Our alumni frequently return to the school to give talks on cutting-edge planning topics. Several alumni sit on our Liaison Board, ensuring our courses are in tune with the needs of employers. Many alumni work at organisations which can offer work placements, or deliver guest lectures within our modules and attend other events.

The School of Geography and Planning has its own dedicated school building, where you will spend time with other students, meet your tutors and have some of your classes. You’ll have access to flexible study areas and your own common room, shared by our community of undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. You'll be able to access course-related software such as geographic information systems (GIS), as well as cutting-edge facilities, including our virtual reality (VR) studio.

Our Urban Design Studio supports learning and teaching across our suite of undergraduate urban design modules. 

Explore our facilities

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong school focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

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• Read more about School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations (nee SCS)

Faculty of Social Sciences

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s top providers for research and teaching. Our academics are recognised internationally for their expertise, contributing to national and international policy and working alongside organisations around the world to address society’s major challenges.

Each brings cutting-edge research into your studies and uses their professional expertise to support your learning and development.

During your time with us, you will

• tackle contemporary challenges - all our courses are designed to engage with and discuss the most pressing challenges, with our research-active staff  bringing in their expertise to your learning
• develop your own expertise - we offer a range of optional modules so you can tailor your degree to your own interests
• receive comprehensive support - with a wide range of support available, including academic tutors and dedicated support services, you will be supported throughout your time with us and beyond
• engage with diverse and interactive teaching - a mix of teaching formats ensures you'll learn in new and innovative ways throughout your course
• be career confident - develop key skills for the world of work and gain professional experience with placements, internships and other employability opportunities

Our graduates work in a range of sectors including broadcasting, the police service, teaching and social work. They are also employed in local government, the civil service, charity and campaign organisations and market research.

Some have carried out graduate training with national and international companies, and are employed around the world. Many go on to masters courses in sociology and social policy and other areas such as human resources.

You could pursue a career in marketing, communications and PR, or work in museums, theatres or charitable organisations.

Our staff are based in The Wave, the home of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and across the road in Elmfield. The Wave offers the newest lecture theatres on campus, plenty of collaborative and private study spaces and a cafe.

Elmfield features state-of-the-art seminar rooms and a communal student room to study and socialise.  Teaching may take place across both buildings, as well as other buildings on campus which are only a short walk away.

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

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Our world-leading research shapes our teaching, so you're always challenged and up to date. Our interdisciplinary approach brings sociologists, social policy analysts, digital media scholars and social workers together under one roof.

Your tutors are experts in their fields and work with organisations in the UK and worldwide, bringing fresh perspectives to your studies. They'll give you the advice and support you need to excel in your subject.

School staff also play key roles in the Faculty of Social Science's Digital Society Researchers Network (DSRN), an active group of researchers working on all aspects of digital-society relations. The DSN hosts events and activities to stimulate and support research in this area.

Our courses develop students who are socially aware, with strong analytical skills and a flair for approaching problems in new ways. You'll become skilled at research and bring your own insights to key issues that affect our lives.

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations students are based in the world-class Faculty of Social Sciences building, The Wave. It features state-of-the-art collaborative lecture theatres, study spaces and seminar rooms. Teaching may also be timetabled to take place within other departments or central teaching space. If you want to have a closer look, check out our 360 degree tour.

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• Read more about School of Education (Sheffield Methods Institute)

Faculty of Social Sciences

Sheffield Methods Institute

The School of Education combines expertise from three areas of the University: education, the Sheffield Methods Institute and lifelong learning.

Five reasons to study at the Sheffield Methods Institute

1. Be part of smaller seminar groups - giving you the chance to ask in-depth questions, discuss topics and solve problems with fellow students.
2. We'll get you career ready - we'll develop your employability with industry-relevant skills and you'll have the opportunity to take a placement in industry.
3. Choose your own study pathway - you'll have the chance to tailor your learning experience and follow your own interests.
4. We're here for you - we know you all as individual students and have a dedicated support team.
5. You'll be taught by experts - our academic staff are active in a variety of fields and use their cutting-edge research to bring classes and workshops to life.

Our courses have been specifically designed to meet the growing demand for social science researchers with data analysis skills. You might choose to apply your skills in the public or private sector, for a charity or an NGO.

Previous students from the SMI have gone into analyst roles in local government and the private sector. Some have gone onto research positions and others have started their own business.

We timetable teaching across the whole of our campus, the details of which can be found on our campus map.

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

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Part of the School of Education, the Sheffield Methods Institute (SMI) is a unique organisation that promotes innovation in research methods that can be applied to the social sciences to ultimately help solve the big challenges facing today’s society.

A masters course from the SMI will help you with the next step on your career path, whether you are looking to pursue a research degree or develop your skills as a researcher in the workplace. Our course will advance your research ability and knowledge of research methodology - skills that can be applied to any area of social science research.

Our postgraduate degree has been designed to develop highly skilled researchers in the social sciences to world-class standards as defined by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). You’ll be taught by academics at the forefront of their fields, working to develop new research methods to help solve real world questions and problems. 

You’ll develop highly sought-after qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research skills through our hands-on teaching methods and you can tailor the course to your interests by selecting from a wide range of modules.

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