Societies – Sheffield University Management School Postgraduate Blog

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.

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!

My favourite society: ACA SOC

By Emily Addison, MSc Occupational Psychology

The University of Sheffield offers so many societies, you would be foolish not to join one! There is literally something for everyone, from creative to media, political and academic societies, the options are endless.

Having been at Sheffield for over three years now, I have attended a few societies but there is definitely one that is my favourite: The A Cappella and Beatbox Society, or ‘ACA SOC’.

ACA SOC is an easy-going a cappella group that meets every week to rehearse and experiment with all kinds of music using only their voices. They cover a variety of genres from chart hits to old school classics, choral to hip-hop – it’s varied and a lot of fun! Anyone can join the society as they accept people of all abilities, which means you get to meet so many new people and make friends who are studying different subjects. There is also an auditioned group which is much smaller, who last year performed on Sky1’s ‘Sing: Ultimate A Cappella’ Show.

As well as weekly rehearsals, the society is asked to perform at many Uni and charity events over the academic year. One of my favourite memories was performing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at the Sports Awards and the whole audience sang along followed by a standing ovation. The satisfaction performing as a group can give is crazy; you are not nervous because you have your friends by your side, and everyone knows that singing is good for you!

What I love most about this society is its inclusiveness and light-hearted nature. Yes, it is serious when we are rehearsing for shows and performances, but everyone has fun and it has always provided me with a little break from studying. This is why getting involved in societies is so important, it gives you the break from academia that you need while developing skills and making new friendships.

If you enjoy singing or even just like the idea of ACA SOC, you should definitely give it a go! They are always open to new members, and if you would like to find out more information, you can email them at acappellasoc@sheffield.ac.uk or follow their social media accounts (@shefacappella).

If you don’t want to join, then you should consider attending their end of year show which showcases what they have been working on over the year. It is always a sell-out event, so I would recommend keeping your eye out for tickets this year!