Sheffield Hallam University

What Sheffield Hallam University does

Sheffield Hallam University is a public higher education institution headquartered at City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield, United Kingdom, with origins dating to the Sheffield School of Art (1843), established as Sheffield Polytechnic in 1969, and granted university status in 1992. The university serves approximately 30,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate, degree apprenticeship, PGCE, and online masters programmes, supported by 1,001–5,000 employees and dual-campus infrastructure (City Campus and Collegiate Campus). It is Gold-rated under the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, ranked Top 5 in England at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026, and holds University of Sanctuary accreditation with 95% of graduates in work or further study.

The core product portfolio spans taught education (foundation, bachelor's, master's, PhD, MBA, PGCE, and online masters via the HEP Online platform), student support services (Hallam Progress, Access Hallam, Black British Pathway, Uni Ready, Skills Centre, Sanctuary Scholarships, Refugee Rights Hub legal service), and a careers stack anchored on the UniHub portal, Handshake integration, and Hallam Freelancers. The university operates digital infrastructure including the MyHallam student portal, Blackboard LMS, Hallam Digital Skills platform, SHURA institutional repository, and SHIMMER digital collections. Research is concentrated in the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), which developed the Active Together cancer prehabilitation programme — delivered with Yorkshire Cancer Research and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals across four NHS acute trusts — and the SwimTrack 10-camera machine learning sports-analytics system built with the UK Sports Institute and deployed in a four-year collaboration with Aquatics GB and the University of Stirling.

Revenue is generated primarily through UK government-backed tuition fees (£9,535 per year for home undergraduates in 2025/26, capped by regulation), international student tuition (set independently), competitive research grants (REF 2021 rated), commissioned health and consultancy services, and philanthropic donations supporting Sanctuary Scholarships and hardship funds. Distribution operates through UCAS applications, dedicated clearing processes, contextual offers (up to 16 UCAS tariff points below standard), a network of widening participation programmes, international recruitment teams and scholarships (Transform Together, Vice-Chancellor's Award), online study channels, and degree apprenticeships. Strategic partnerships span NHS trusts, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Aquatics GB, UK Sports Institute, University of Stirling, Jeju National University, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Homes England, and Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme.

Name

Sheffield Hallam University

Legal name

Sheffield Hallam University

Website

https://shu.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sheffield Hallam University is a UK public university in Sheffield serving ~30,000 students with undergraduate, postgraduate, apprenticeship, and online programmes. It operates Gold TEF teaching, 95% graduate employment, and runs the AWRC cancer prehabilitation and SwimTrack sports-analytics research centres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programmes
• Postgraduate research degrees
• Student support services
• Vocational training courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. UK Government-Funded Tuition Fees: The primary revenue stream is tuition fees paid by UK students through government-backed student loans administered by Student Finance England (and equivalent bodies in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). Students borrow up to £9,535 per year for full-time undergraduate tuition via a tuition fee loan paid directly to the university. Standard 2025/26 home undergraduate fee is £9,535 per year.
2. International Student Tuition Fees: International students pay tuition fees set independently of the home fee rate. The university operates dedicated international recruitment, scholarships (Transform Together, Vice-Chancellor's Award), and support services for overseas students.
3. Sanctuary Scholarships (Funded by Donations): The university funds three Sanctuary Scholarships per academic year (one undergraduate, two postgraduate) from university funds and generous donations from former students. Undergraduates receive a full tuition fee waiver plus £4,000 study costs. This represents a cost/revenue offset rather than a revenue generator.
4. Research Grants and Contracts: The university generates research income through competitive grants from UK research councils, government bodies, and industry partners. REF 2021 results demonstrated world-leading research output across multiple disciplines including health, sport, and social sciences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sheffield Hallam University is a public higher education institution delivering undergraduate degrees, postgraduate taught and research degrees, online masters, degree apprenticeships, and PGCE teacher training. The university also provides specialist student support services, widening participation programmes, applied research through centres such as the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), and ancillary community-facing services including the Refugee Rights Hub legal clinic and the Active Together cancer prehabilitation programme.

Product overview

Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes and support services. The core offerings include undergraduate programmes (foundation, top-up, and bachelor's degrees), postgraduate programmes (masters, PhDs, MBAs, PGCEs, professional development), and online masters degrees through HEP Online. The university provides extensive student support through Hallam Progress (specialist applicant support), Access Hallam (widening participation), and Contextual Offers (reduced entry requirements). Unique support services include the University of Sanctuary initiative with Sanctuary Scholarships for asylum seekers, the Refugee Rights Hub providing free legal services, and Active Together cancer rehabilitation in partnership with the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. Career services are delivered through Handshake, UniHub, and Hallam Freelancers platforms. The institution also conducts research through centres like the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, including digital healthcare partnerships and sports performance analytics using SwimTrack technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programmes Foundation, top-up, and bachelor's degree programmes across arts, business, computing, engineering, health, sciences, and social sciences, taken by full-time and part-time UK and international students via UCAS, clearing, or direct application.
• Postgraduate Programmes Taught and research-based masters degrees, PhDs, MBAs, PGCEs, professional development courses, and degree apprenticeships delivered on campus and online for graduates and working professionals.
• Online Masters Degrees Flexible online postgraduate courses delivered through the HEP Online platform (online.shu.ac.uk) for career advancement, targeting working professionals and international students who need distance learning.
• Sport Business Management (Blended) Foundation degree and one-year top-up to a full honours degree in Sport Business Management, delivered through strategic partnerships with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Community Programme and B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, combining academic study with practical sport business, coaching, and community development experience.
• Active Together South Yorkshire Pioneering cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation service developed by Sheffield Hallam's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, delivered in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Offers free physical activity, dietetics, and psychological support to cancer patients with curative intent, with a reported 95% one-year survival rate versus 85% for non-participants and over 2,000 referrals since launch.
• Refugee Rights Hub Free immigration and legal support service for refugee families in Yorkshire and Humber, helping with family reunion applications. Established September 2018, has helped more than 1,000 family members, regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (registration N201600017).
• Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) Specialist research facility developing innovations to improve people's health and wellbeing through real-world research, partnering on the Active Together cancer exercise service and the SwimTrack sports performance analytics programme with the UK Sports Institute, University of Stirling, and Aquatics GB.
• Digital Healthcare Research Platform Joint research initiative with Jeju National University focused on digital healthcare including wearable technology, exercise science, behavioural intervention design, and nature-based health interventions using the Jeju Olle Trail. Includes joint seminars, researcher exchanges, and initial demonstration studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% one-year survival rate for Active Together cancer patients vs 85% for non-participants
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Sheffield City Council led a senior delegation at UKREiiF 2026 in Leeds alongside Homes England, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield Property Association, and both Sheffield universities. The city aims to build 38,000 homes by 2039 through the Sheffield Together programme, with schemes potentially supporting over 18,500 jobs across advanced manufacturing, research and technology.
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Key partner in Sheffield's UKREiiF 2026 delegation showcasing major housing, regeneration and innovation projects. The combined authority supports Sheffield's £400m-plus Heart of the City programme and city-wide regeneration efforts across South Yorkshire.
• Homes EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Government housing partner in Sheffield's UKREiiF 2026 delegation. Supporting Sheffield's ambitious housing targets of 38,000 homes by 2039 and regeneration projects including West Bar, Station Campus, and the former Cole Brothers building transformation.
• Sheffield Property AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 May 2026Property industry association partner in Sheffield's UKREiiF 2026 delegation, supporting the city's housing, regeneration and innovation showcase to attract further investment.
• The University of SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Both Sheffield universities (Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Sheffield) participated in the Sheffield delegation at UKREiiF 2026 to showcase housing, regeneration and innovation projects and seek further investment in the city.
• NHS Humber Health PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Partnership with NHS Humber Health Partnership to support oncology patients at the Active Together specialist exercise hub at Cherry Tree Court in Hull. The hub, developed in partnership with Sheffield Hallam's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, occupies 6,000 sq ft in a refurbished city centre building provided through a £2.5 million refurbishment by FI Real Estate Management.
• University of StirlingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Four-year research collaboration between University of Stirling and Aquatics GB deploying SwimTrack technology — a 10-camera swimming analysis system developed in partnership with the UK Sports Institute and Sheffield Hallam University. The study deploys predictive analytics and machine learning to optimise performance for Olympic swimmers at Stirling's National Swimming Academy, supporting athletes targeting Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
• Aquatics GBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026National swimming governing body partner in a four-year research collaboration with University of Stirling deploying SwimTrack predictive analytics and machine learning to enhance performance for Olympic swimmers. Led by PhD researcher Adham Sanoufi, the project aims to develop coach-assistance tools using data from strength, physiology, wellness, and training load.
• UK Sports InstitutecoreTechnology or Integration · 25 February 2026UK Sports Institute partnered in the development of SwimTrack technology — a bespoke 10-camera swimming analysis system — alongside Sheffield Hallam University and University of Stirling for elite sports performance analytics. The technology is used in a four-year research collaboration with Aquatics GB for Olympic swimmer performance optimisation.
• Curtin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Curtin University in Australia partnered with Sheffield Hallam University scientists on research published in the Journal of Quaternary Science, suggesting Ice Age glaciers transported Stonehenge's Altar Stone from northeast Scotland to Salisbury Plain.
• ThinkNDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026ThinkND, a consultancy, leads a neurodiversity employment initiative in Yorkshire backed by the Communities Innovating Yorkshire Fund (running until June 2026). The project explores barriers in recruitment, onboarding, and long-term employment for neurodivergent people, working with Sheffield Hallam to develop practical tools and guidance for employers. Selected from over 200 applications.
• Lighthouse Futures TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Partner in a neurodiversity employment initiative led by ThinkND and backed by the Communities Innovating Yorkshire Fund. Working with Sheffield Hallam University to develop practical tools and guidance for employers to improve job opportunities for neurodivergent people.
• Jeju National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Sheffield Hallam University researchers formalised a strategic research partnership with Jeju National University through a joint research agreement ceremony, building on a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2024. The collaboration establishes a research platform focused on digital healthcare including wearable technology, exercise science, behavioral intervention design, and nature-based health interventions using the Jeju Olle Trail. Includes joint academic seminars, researcher and student exchanges, and initial demonstration studies.
• Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Sheffield Hallam University works with the UK charity Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), which helps academics identified as at-risk of violence, persecution or repression in their home countries to pursue their research through fully funded PhD scholarships. This supports the university's University of Sanctuary commitments.
• Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Community ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Strategic partnership to provide real-world workplace experiences for sports students through blended learning. Delivers courses combining academic study with practical sport business, coaching, and community development, including a foundation degree and one-year top-up to a full honours degree in Sport Business Management. Aims to strengthen South Yorkshire's educational ecosystem and enhance student employability.
• B. Braun Sheffield SharkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Strategic partnership providing real-world workplace experiences for sports students through blended learning, integrating sport business, marketing, event management, and leadership skills. Strengthens South Yorkshire's educational ecosystem and enhances student employability through practical sport business experiences.
• British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2025British Metals Recycling Association commissioned Sheffield Hallam University to conduct research on the economic impact of proposed UK government restrictions on scrap steel exports to non-OECD countries. The research found such restrictions could cost nearly £5bn in gross value added and eliminate over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• Justice First FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Refugee Rights Hub offers traineeships to early-career solicitors as part of the Justice First Fellowship, growing the next generation of human rights advocates.
• SolidaritechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Solidaritech is a Bradford-based organisation helping Refugees and people seeking asylum to access technology. The Refugee Rights Hub collects IT equipment donations on their behalf, refers clients to their service, and works closely with them to improve technology use in the hub.
• Refugee ActionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Refugee Action operates the Frontline Immigration Advice Project (FIAP) which provides training to Refugee Rights Hub advisers. The Hub is also supported by Refugee Action in its mission to reunite refugee families.
• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Active Together South Yorkshire is a pioneering cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation service developed by Sheffield Hallam's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, delivered in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals across four acute trusts in South Yorkshire. The service offers free physical activity, dietetics and psychological support to cancer patients with curative intent, receiving over 2,000 referrals since launch.
• Yorkshire Cancer ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Yorkshire Cancer Research is the primary funder of the Active Together cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation service, developed by Sheffield Hallam's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. The charity has committed significant funding including £2.5 million for the Cherry Tree Court hub refurbishment in Hull. Nearly 3,000 people across Yorkshire have participated in structured exercise programmes through this partnership.
• Frontline Immigration Advice Project (FIAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Refugee Rights Hub receives support from Frontline Immigration Advice Project (FIAP), operated by Refugee Action, which trains advisers in immigration law. The Hub is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA Registration Number: N201600017).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Derby: Post-92 university with comparable size, professional focus, and widening participation emphasis. Similar reliance on employer-linked curriculum and applied research.
• De Montfort University: Mid-sized post-92 university with similar vocational orientation, widening participation focus, and employer-linked curriculum. Comparable in scale and student demographics.
• University of Huddersfield: Yorkshire-based post-92 institution with comparable size, professional programme mix, and regional employer engagement. Direct competitor for the South Yorkshire applicant pool.
• Oxford Brookes University: Established post-92 modern university with similar professional/vocational positioning, comparable widening participation work, and broadly similar student demographics.
• Manchester Metropolitan University: Large post-92 modern university in northern England with a comparable focus on professional/vocational programmes, employer engagement, and similar student demographics. Closest direct comparator in size, mission, and market positioning.
• Nottingham Trent University: Leading post-92 university with a strong employer-facing profile, comparable widening participation strategy, and similar reputation trajectory in national student surveys. Highly comparable in scale and programme mix.
• Leeds Beckett University: Yorkshire-based post-92 institution competing for the same regional applicant pool. Similar size, professional/vocational orientation, and employer partnership model.
• Northumbria University: Large post-92 university with a comparable mix of professional programmes, strong employer engagement, and similar regional city footprint. Direct competitor for the same UK and international student segments.
• University of Wolverhampton: Post-92 institution of comparable scale, with similar widening participation focus and professional/applied programme mix. Direct comparator for applied, employer-driven higher education.

Broad incumbents

• The University of Sheffield: Russell Group institution based in the same city. Competes with SHU for both domestic applicants and research funding, but operates at a more research-intensive tier with a wider portfolio and stronger global brand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sheffieldhallamuni
• Facebookfacebook.com/sheffieldhallamuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheffhallamuni
• Xx.com/sheffhallamuni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheffield-hallam-university

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sheffield Hallam University