Sheffield is a uni town with a lot to shout about. It strikes a superb balance between quality of education, low cost of living, employability, fun social scenes, and access to nature. Located in South Yorkshire, bordering the famous Peak District National Park, Sheffield provides a huge variety of opportunities to everyone from academics to adventure seekers. There are two major unis in the area and if you’re thinking about enrolling at either of them, then we have you covered. Our guide provides some key insights into how to save and spend your money wisely.
For an undergraduate degree course, you are very probably going to be charged the typical tuition fee of £9,250 per year (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year). This will form a substantial portion of your yearly expenses, and you’ll additionally need to organise accommodation and fund your living expenses for the time you’ll spend studying.
Student loans are available through Student Finance, and this is a good option for offsetting the cost of study until you’re employed and in a position to pay for it. The two loans offered are the tuition fee loan, which covers up to 100% of your course fees, and the maintenance loan which is means-tested and subsidises the cost of rent and other university related expenses. For the latter, you can receive up to a maximum of £9,710 per year, based on your household income (this will be rising to up to £10,544 from the 2025/26 academic year).
Both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University provide a wide range of scholarships, bursaries and funding opportunities, so make sure to check out their options and see if you’re eligible for anything. Their financial services departments are available to contact all year round for advice, and they can also help you apply to external funding schemes such as national grants and sponsorships. Visit the website of your chosen uni website to learn more.
Read more about student finance.
Student accommodation in Sheffield mostly comprises halls of residence buildings which are divided into shared self-catered apartments housing between two and eight students with communal kitchen and living spaces. Sheffield Hallam University offers a choice of 15 different halls of residence, varying in price between £91 and £190 per week, and with a range of room types and facilities all within walking distance of both uni campuses. Similarly, the University of Sheffield offers lots of different location options, starting at £130 per week, and at each uni, your rent includes utility bills, contents insurance and internet access.
If you’d prefer to rent privately then you’ll be pleased to learn that Sheffield has a very accessible rental market for students, having undergone extensive redevelopment in recent years. If you prefer to live alone, a studio apartment in the city centre will cost around £830 per month, and if you’d rather share a house with friends, a three-bedroom apartment will set you back around £1,450 on average. These prices drop significantly if you choose to live outside the city centre, so do bear this in mind.
Sheffield is a large city with a population of around 580,000 and is very well serviced by major supermarket outlets such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. Keep an eye out for weekly street markets and local fresh produce vendors, where you can often find end-of-day bargains.
Average spending for commonly bought grocery items:
Milk (1L): £1.31
Bread Loaf: £1.12
Rice (1kg): £1.29
Eggs (12): £2.96
Cheese (1kg): £7.70
Chicken fillets (1kg): £7.05
Apples (1kg): £2.46
Potatoes (1kg): £1.27
Once you’ve found your favourite local supermarket, be sure to pick up a loyalty card. You’ll get access to the best deals and discounts, as well as accumulating points which you can spend at a later date.
Sheffield’s nightlife is a lively bustle of activity. There are many events which cater directly to students, so keep an eye out for weekly student nights and events with concession tickets available, and you can save quite a bit of money on entry fees.
Eating out is quite affordable too, with a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costing just £13, and a fast-food meal averaging £7 per person. This makes it easy to get around and stay out and about, exploring what the city has to offer, without breaking the bank. While you’re in Sheffield, don’t forget to sample some of the local traditional dishes such as Yorkshire Puddings or the Sheffield fishcake.
Happily, pints are cheap in Sheffield, with domestic beer averaging around £4 each. Yorkshire has a long history of beer and ale brewing so you’ll have many opportunities to pop down your local pub for a local pint. Lovely!
Getting around in Sheffield is fast and effective and doesn’t cost too much money either. There is a network of buses and trams which can take you just about anywhere you’ll need to go, and the average cost of a one-way ticket is only £2. Bus operators such as First and Stagecoach offer student rates for single tickets, including the student single bus ticket which is almost half price at just £1.20.
Of course, the most cost-effective way to travel is to use your own two feet. Cycling is a close second, although Sheffield is known for being a rather hilly city, so be prepared to work for it! You’ll benefit from a lot of free exercise, and there are a lot of downhill routes to enjoy as well.
Sheffield is a strong sporting city, and if you’re keen on live sports then there are a lot of things so see, from top-flight football and county cricket, to swimming, cycling, athletics and much more. Save a bit of money for big events, or if you’re more into playing than watching, you can put some money towards a gym membership or club fees.
Sheffield is known as the ‘Outdoor City’ for good reason, and for the more adventurous, there are activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, kayaking and more. These activities require a bit more in terms of cost and organisation but the experience is well worth it. Your uni may even have some clubs and societies which you can join to meet people who share your interests.
Overall, we’d recommend budgeting around £950 per month as a student in Sheffield. This figure is a rough estimate only, and your exact spending will depend on your rental costs and lifestyle, so make sure you take everything into account when working out your budget.