- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- 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). For more information about the university, see the Global E3 Sheffield page and the University of Sheffield website
Typically, semesters are:
- Fall: mid-September to early February
- Spring: early February to mid-June
Sheffield accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year
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.
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.
.
Items Billed by Pitt |
||
|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
| Tuition* | $10,331 | $18,530 |
| Mandatory Fees | $545 | $545 |
| Study Abroad Fee | $400 | $400 |
| Total Billed by Pitt* | $11,276 | $19,475 |
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!
You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. (Typically SSoE application deadlines are late September for Spring and early February for Fall.) A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Sheffield. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to Sheffield's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.)
Each university might have an additional application. Please refer to the Global E3 Sheffield website for details.
Please contact Dr. Kristine Lalley for more information on Fall 2020 and Full Year 2020 openings for this program.
Many departments at Sheffield offer the option to finish the Fall semester in December and proctor your final exams at your home university. Please read the factsheet to find out more about ending your studies in December.
Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- For the University of Sheffield, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
- Sophomore standing or higher
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 provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives 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.
In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival.
For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.
In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:
- 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)
