Hallam: The Review (Sheffield Hallam University in general)

Member Name: mrcordel

Product:	Sheffield Hallam University in general
Date:	21/04/02 (577 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modern, Focused, Career-orientated

Disadvantages: Little student community, Faceless, Dull?

A stonkingly huge ex-polytechnic (one of the first polys in the country) based in the Hallam area of Sheffield in the city, with two other fairly large campuses not far away. Hallam has more than 20,000 students, half of which are classed as "mature" (over 21 when on the course). There are also significant amounts of international students, students on distance learning courses and students on sandwich courses (where you take a year out to go into the world of industry mid-degree).

The place has three campuses, the business/tech minded City campus, the teacher training college of Collegiate Crescent and the artistic base of Psalter Lane. The place feels more like a gigantic sixth-form than a University, with serious, mature students running to lessons then running home to their families. This means there is a dreadful lack of societies (around 7 general interest societies if you take away those related to sport, nationality, religion or subject choice).

There is a definite "get in, get your degree, get out, get a job" mentality, with a lack of student community. Hallam can be a lonely place, but the students are serious and thoughtful (although you do get some losers), and the mature undergraduates bring an air of, well, maturity to the place. Relations with locals are excellent, mainly because Hallam is made up of locals!

The intimidatingly excellent "proper" University of Sheffield up the road rarely bothers Hallam students, who just get on and do their own thing. The two institutions barely acknowledge each other at all, although Hallam students often visit Sheffield's Union facilities to escape the shabby inadequacy of their own.

If you are a bit of an artsy dreamer you may find Hallam's determination to be vocational intimidating. While everyone else is off on their placement year you may get the feeling that the humanities don't count at Hallam. There isn't a lot of learning
for learning's sake at SHU, everyone is very practical and the student politics tend to be mainstream. Indeed Hallam students can often be pretty uninvolved, while I attended SHU the head of the Student Representative council described her own fellow Hallamers as "lazy and apathetic"! Hallam students are often people who felt they have left education too soon, and are coming back for another try with an incredibly determined attitude, meaning socialising is often on the back burner.

However there are some great facilities, from the modern Adsetts Centre (a library!) in the City (although nothing there for humanities/arts students), to the newly refurbished library at Collegiate. The shabby and undeveloped Union facility called the NMB is heading for a much-needed refurbishment soon (now done but only the downstairs bar).

Some students complain that class sizes are too large and there is little personal tutor attention, this is a problem which differs from course to course, but does exist. Bullying can occur, too. SHU feels like a work in progress, improvements are always being made such as refits to Collegiate's library (three major refits while I was there) which can be annoying wile you're there, I just hope future students appreciate the better facilities.

Sheffield itself is an ugly city. There's no getting away from it, it is generally architecturally grim and isn't as prosperous as northern cities like Leeds or Newcastle. However Sheffield people are like gold, friendly, warm, down to earth but not brusque like many Yorkshire folk. It is fairly cheap to live there but don't expect a lot of help from SHU's housing department. Not even all first years are accomodated in halls, and SHU needs to invest in this area.

To be honest, Hallam isn't a good choice if you are looking for a good time. If, however you are determined to get started with an industry that SHU is involved in, you pro
bably couldn't find a better, more focused institution.

I would class SHU as a degree machine. If you like being left to your own devices, good. If you want a tight-knit community and lots of involvement in your studies and social life, avoid the place. More needs to be done to get the career prospects of art graduates on a similar level to the employer-focused technical subjects.

I was lucky enough to write the SHU opinion for the 2000 Virgin guide, but to be honest I wasn't as critical as I should, and space was limited, I hope this review gives a bigger and more detailed picture. Thanks.

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