The University in the community

Thousands of students and staff from the University of Sheffield live in local communities across our city. Whether through volunteering, supporting local businesses or organising and attending events, they are integral to the economic health and vibrancy of Sheffield's neighbourhoods

People sitting round tables on the patio of Devonshire Green
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Community relations advice to students

Download our community relations leaflet - distributed to all students living in the community.

Download our noise guidelines for students living in the community.

Being good neighbours

Being a responsible member of the local community is a central plank of the commitment we expect from our students.

We work hard to help our students fufil these responsibilities when living in the local community. Our Residence Life mentors give help and guidance to first year students before they leave University accommodation and live in private accommodation for the first time. 

When students arrive in their new homes, the University publishes information to help them settle into their new communities. This includes advice on how to take responsibility for waste, keep their property secure and how to get involved with local community groups. Most importantly, it stresses the importance of being a good neighbour and to be aware of the mixed community or permanent residents of all ages that they now find themselves living in.

Anti-social behaviour is taken extremely seriously by the University of Sheffield. Our 24-hour security service will respond to resident calls about noise or anti-social behaviour relating to our students living in the community. Repeat or serious complaints could lead to disciplinary proceedings being taken by the University.

Students engaging in gardening outside a block of flats

Student waste and recycling

Many of our students are not only new to Sheffield, but have also never had to take responsibility for their own rubbish before.

We work with Sheffield City Council to run campaigns to help our students navigate Sheffield's waste services. This includes advice on ensuring bins are put out and brought in promptly, and our End of Year Clear Out campaign, which each year sees hundreds of tonnes of items donated to the British Heart Foundation instead of going to landfill.

We encourage students to help keep their neighbourhoods clean and tidy by reporting flytipping and graffiti to Fix My Street.

Working with landlords

Our registered private accommodation service, Smart Move Sheffield, helps student to find quality accommodation in the local area and encourages landlords to invest in their properties.

We only register properties which are part of Sheffield City Council's Snug scheme, which promotes good accommodation standards. This helps to ensure that our students are living in safe accommodation and that landlords who do not fulfil their obligations to their students are not rewarded with University endorsement.

Banner on the side of the festival of the mind bus, parked outside city hall

 

A global reputation

Sheffield is a research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.