Category: Extracurricular

Sheffield, one of the masterpieces of England

By Zipeng Zhou, MSc Marketing Management Practice

As an international student from China, I believe many international students like me are impressed by the charm of Sheffield. Sheffield is one of the masterpieces of England and there are many amazing sights in Sheffield whenever and wherever.

  1. Everyday beauty of Sheffield

As a student of the Management School, I think the charm of Sheffield starts from the first ray of sunshine at the school gate in the morning. The old school badge shines brightly in the sun, which makes me feel that the pioneers’ spirit of explored the truth is still well inherited since 1828 when the University of Sheffield was founded. 

At noon in Sheffield, the sky is blue, the clouds are white, and occasionally there is a rainbow after rain. What changes is the weather, and what does not change is the beauty of nature. As long as it’s sunny, you can see it everywhere in Sheffield. Imagine that you are sitting in a coffee shop, ordering a cappuccino or latte and looking out the window. Maybe that’s how life feels.

At sunset, students from the Diamond, the University of Sheffield’s library, are greeted by a fuchsia sunset. The setting sun and the lamplight of the steps echo each other, sketching an aesthetic picture of the fusion of nature and humanity. I believe that all students who study hard and seek the truth deserve to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Throughout the day, you will find that the sun is the most competent decoration workers in Sheffield and it not only dotted the city day as well as night, but also living in this land to bring comfort to the people.

2. A trip to Sheffield

Sheffield is located in the heart of the whole of the UK, and it is very convenient for travellers to travel to other parts of the UK. Public transport in Sheffield is very convenient. In the morning before dawn, you can take the first trains to different cities.

Chatsworth House, not far from Sheffield, is a must-see attraction. On a rainy winter day, the staff of Chatsworth House, displaying the gentlemanly attitude of the English people, invited me to use the fireplace in Chatsworth House. This brings me back to the Dukes of Devonshire era. 

Walking into the magnificent and reserved hall of Chatsworth House, I was deeply impressed by the numerous precious paintings and furniture. I have also been to royal gardens or houses in France, Austria and other countries, but Chatsworth House is obviously different from those in these countries. Everywhere is a kind of astringent nobility, a kind of gentleman’s taste. It’s also a great place to take silhouette photos. Don’t forget, Chatsworth House is just one of Sheffield’s many attractions. I hope to share more of Sheffield with you.

Top tips from my year in Sheffield

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

After living in Sheffield for the past year, I have discovered several things which I would like to share with other students to help them make the most of their time in Sheffield. 

Join societies and clubs:

My first top tip for any student, whether they’re new to Sheffield or not, is: join societies and clubs! At the start of the academic year, it’s worth going along to the Activities Fair at the Students’ Union, where you can get involved with hundreds of different societies. Societies allow you to meet new people, try new things and develop your hobbies and interests. It’s also fun to be involved with something outside your degree course. 

One of my favourite things about this year was being a member of the Dance Society, which is actually one of the biggest societies within the University. The Dance Society holds workshops and weekly classes in lots of different styles which range from beginner to advanced level, so there is something to suit everyone. This year, I joined one of the competition teams, so I was able to compete at several competitions against other universities. Competitions are great fun because you get to travel around the country and meet other people who share the same interests as you from different universities. I also enjoyed going to lots of socials and balls throughout the year with the Dance Society. Overall, being part of the Dance Society was a great experience, which is why I would highly recommend joining societies and clubs during your time at Sheffield.

Explore the Management School’s opportunities:

My next top tip is to explore what the Management School has to offer. In addition to teaching, lectures and tutorials, the School offers lots of different opportunities for you to get involved with outside of your degree programme. It’s also worth taking the time to visit the Employability Hub located on the School site, which enables students to access careers support, job and placement vacancies, and attend skills workshops. 

This year, I was fortunate enough to go to Canada with the Management School to attend the International Graduate Competition. I spent one week in Montreal with three other students from the Management School, and we met, worked with and competed against teams from other universities from around the world. As well as attending lectures and workshops, and putting together our own reports and presentations, we also had a bit of free time to explore Montreal. This was definitely one of the highlights of my year in Sheffield, and it was all arranged through the Management School.  

Discover Sheffield:

My final tip for anyone studying at Sheffield University is: explore the city! Sheffield has so much to offer for everyone, and there are always new things happening. If you walk around the city centre, you’ll find some lovely cafes, shops and restaurants which are only a short walk from the Students’ Union and the IC. Many different events also take place in Sheffield throughout the year, such as Tramlines, a three-day long festival in the city. Whilst you’re studying at Sheffield, it’s a great opportunity to explore and discover the city that you’re living in.  

 

Keeping a good work/life balance

By Vicky Xian, MSc Occupational Psychology

You may think that a masters course means long hours in the library, lack of sleep, and no social life. You may think ‘there’s no chance I’ll be able to work part-time on top of all that!’ But with the costs of a masters degree and no maintenance loan, it becomes an even harder decision.

Yes, a masters requires a lot more time and energy compared to an undergraduate degree. But, it doesn’t almost mean you have to compromise having a life outside of study! There is a lot of financial support for masters students, which you can find here.

But, what if you do get a part time job? And what about scheduling time to see your friends? Well, I’ve managed to keep all these balanced. Here’s what I’ve learnt and some suggestions:

  1. Limit your working hours

If you do have a part time job, with a masters, keep hours on or below 10 hours a week. What I’ve found so great is that the Students’ Union offer a wide range of different job roles, which are specifically catered for students. This means the hours are not contracted, and if you have a particularly stressful week, you don’t have to work! Earning money is important, but remember studies should come first.

  1. Keep a diary

Keeping a diary, where you write all your important deadlines, social interactions, and shifts in the coming week is very important. It helps you visualise what you’ve got on, and gives you a chance to plan your free time. Here’s an example of my normal weekly spread:

  1. Schedule in some down-time

Since being at university, I’ve found delegating alone time in the week really important for my mental health. Having so much on can really put a strain on someone’s happiness. This doesn’t have to be so serious, half an hour after dinner watching your favourite YouTuber can have a massive positive impact on stress. It’s important that you choose to do whatever works for you, whether it’s baking, watching a film or listening to some music!

  1. Socialise on a budget

Guilt can really creep in when I want to see some friends, as it takes time away from studies, and usually I spend more money than I mean to. I’ve come to realise that you can have fun, but not spend too much. Cooking a home meal with a group of friends can be very cheap, and it’s enjoyable! Bar One, located in the Students’ Union, is one of the cheapest bars in Sheffield. Sometimes their burgers are 2-for-1, which makes it even cheaper.

  1. Get extra support when you need it

There has been times where I’ve felt like it’s all too much, and I get really frustrated with how much I have on. If you’re really struggling, and you have similar feelings, please don’t keep it in. The university offers a wide range of mental health support and information for students:

Attending International Summer School in Barcelona

By Nicola Hodson, MSc Marketing Management Practice

One of the things that attracted me most to the masters courses at the University of Sheffield was the option to attend an International Summer School. I have just returned from studying at ESADE Business School in Barcelona for two weeks, which was the most incredible experience, both academically and personally.

During my time at ESADE, I took classes in Global Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking, which proved extremely interesting, particularly as an aspiring entrepreneur! It gave me the opportunity to learn about things I would never normally have the chance to learn about, and the lectures were really fun and engaging. I learnt a huge amount and I’m excited to be able to apply it all in both the remainder of my studies and in a work-place setting. After studying for the day, we would sometimes have company visits- A highlight has to be visiting Barcelona Tech City and learning about all of the amazing innovative solutions they are developing there! During the Summer School, we also had time to explore Barcelona, including looking around the famous La Sagrada Familia, watching the Magic Fountain show, visiting Park Guell, and spending many hours on the beach! There were also excursions during the weekends- I was able to visit Tarragona, a beautiful Roman town, and learn about the history there, as well as visit the old amphitheatre.

One of the most invaluable things I took away from my time at the Summer School was the lifelong friends I made during the trip. I met people from all over the world and was able to learn about so many other cultures, which was honestly one of my favorite things about the Summer School. I now have friends in Estonia, New York, Brazil and many other places, and we have all been excitedly making plans to visit each other at some point in the future!

My experience of the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

A significant aspect of my University experience this year was my involvement in the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme. This is available to all taught postgraduate students within the Faculty of Social Sciences and aims to provide work experience with organisations that may otherwise be unable to take on an intern. Each of these internships are 100 hours long, and you can receive a bursary to cover expenses.

I undertook my internship from January to March 2019 with Breast Cancer Care, the only specialist UK-wide charity which provides care, support and information to anyone affected by breast cancer. As a member of the Community Fundraising Team, I was involved with several different projects and tasks during my internship, including bucket collections and leaflet distributions in addition to office-based administrative responsibilities. However, my main role was to support the planning and delivery of the Pedal the Pennines fundraising campaign, an annual office-based cycle challenge with companies from across the UK competing against each other to cycle a virtual 350km route.

The event took place in March and was a huge success, raising almost £30,000 for Breast Cancer Care. Before and during the event, I was able to visit several different companies within Sheffield and meet all of their participating teams. The two-day event was really fun and exciting for everyone involved, and it was great to see all the hard work that we’d put in over the previous few months paying off!

The internship was an incredibly valuable and unique experience that provided me with the opportunity to develop my personal and professional skills outside of my degree. I enjoyed being involved with the local community external to the University and knowing that I was doing something worthwhile in addition to studying for my degree. I also made many long-lasting friendships within the fundraising team and enjoyed learning about the important work that the charity does.

I would highly recommend applying for the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme as it provides unique opportunities to gain valuable work experience, establish links with external organisations and enhance your CV. It’s also a great way to meet new people and explore Sheffield beyond the University.

Making the most of university

By Nicola Hodson, MSc Marketing Management Practice

There are so many things you can get involved with at university alongside your degree; from sports, to societies, to volunteering, there really is something for everyone! In this blog post, I wanted to share some of the extracurricular things I have got involved with during my time at university.

Volunteering

Getting involved with volunteering is one of the best things I have done. There are so many amazing volunteering opportunities for students, whether you’re interested in helping with conservation, animals or children, there are hundreds of options! When I saw how many opportunities there were I felt a bit overwhelmed, but the staff in the Volunteering Office found me a role that would best suit my flexibility and interests, which really helped! Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the community, gaining invaluable experience and meeting new people- if it wasn’t for my voluntary marketing role for a homeless charity in Sheffield, I wouldn’t have considered a masters or career in that area! I have also been involved in running poetry workshops for elderly individuals in sheltered housing, helped donate wasted food to a food bank and been an ambassador for Cancer Research UK- all roles which I wouldn’t have found otherwise if it wasn’t for the Volunteering Office and the helpfulness of the staff there!

Societies

Societies are such a fantastic way of making friends and pursuing your hobbies. I am a member of the Photography Society- we go on trips, such as outings to the Peaks, have talks from guest speakers who are professional photographers and to celebrate Bonfire Night, we had a go at light photography, using sparklers and fire-wool! If photography isn’t really your thing, there are so many other societies to choose from- I think the most difficult thing is making a decision about which ones to try! Why not take up something completely new you have never tried before? You never know, you could find something you love!

Internships

The Management School provides lots of opportunities to ensure you are prepared for life after university. One of these opportunities is the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme, which allows postgraduate students to take part in a 100-hour internship with an organisation in Sheffield. I have just completed my first 50 hours of an internship for a film production company- and I have absolutely loved it! I have had the opportunity to assist on shoots, and I am also helping put together a marketing strategy for the business – experience which already has provided me with skills and confidence.

Making the most of university is so important- the time will fly by, so make sure you don’t have any regrets!