Let&’s time-travel to 1843, during the industrial revolution, when Sheffield, currently the third largest English district by population, was on the verge of becoming the steel, tool and cutlery-making capital of the world. Renowned artist Benjamin Haydon was the man behind the founding of the Sheffield School of Design. In 1969, this very school merged with the city&’s College of Technology to form Sheffield Polytechnic. In 1976, after a further merger with Sheffield City College and Totley Hall College, the institution was renamed Sheffield City Polytechnic and in 1992 became Sheffield Hallam University, with the right to award its own degrees. 

The university has two campuses at Sheffield, Yorkshire, and is currently the sixth largest university in the UK, with approximately 31,530 students. The Media Arts and Communication Department is offering interesting undergraduate and postgraduate courses in animation, digital media production, filmmaking, games designing, photography, media, public relations and journalism. 

Brian Hamilton Tweedale, head of the Department of Media Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University talks about why students from India should choose this university for higher studies, on-campus placements and scholarship opportunities after graduating and on the future prospects of being a gaming or digital media professional. Excerpts from an interview:

What kind of facilities does the Media Arts Department of Sheffield Hallam University offer international students?

The department offers first-class specialist facilities and dedicated international student support and career guidance. Industry-specific software and facilities are available to students in each subject area. For example, for game designing students, we have the largest play station teaching facility in the world, with more than 50 professional development kits. 

Game designing is one of the courses offered. Could you tell us about the entry requirements for this particular course?

The entry requirements for a Bachelor&’s (honours) in game designing are a standard +2 with an average score of 65 per cent or equivalent.  International English Language Testing System requirements are 6.0 with a 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.

Considering the growth of the graphic designing industry in India, students now are finding this new field attractive, given the lucrative offers and and infinite growth. What&’s your say on this?

Yes, graphic design continues to provide attractive job opportunities internationally for suitably qualified graduates. In the UK, however, there is a strong demand for graduates from the creative, digital and communication sectors. Gaming, in particular, is experiencing strong growth and there are a multitude of opportunities for graduates who understand the digital media and communication sectors really well and in fact have the core skills and expertise to function within it. New roles, such as social media and digital content managers, have opened up in recent years and many graduates find well-rewarded careers in these sectors.

Besides gaming and animation, what other courses in media and computing do you offer?

The university offers more than 700 different courses across its four faculties. The faculty of arts, computing, engineering and sciences offers a broad range of courses in art and design (graphic, fashion, interior and product design), engineering and computing. The Department of Media Arts and Communications offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in animation, digital media production, filmmaking, games design, photography, media, public relations and journalism. 

Why should students choose to study media, computing or any other course at your university?

Whichever subject students choose to study, they will be taught by excellent tutors who will bring their subjects to life with their experience and expertise. Over the past 10 years or so, we have invested around £110 million into new classrooms, lecture halls and industry standard facilities so students who apply can learn and develop the skills required for their chosen careers. Sheffield is one of the UK&’s safest and most affordable cities. It is a vibrant place to study, with a population of more than 50,000 students. Moreover, our university is a friendly community of students and staff from more than 100 countries. We have a dedicated international student support team in our New Delhi office and are happy to provide advice and guidance to any student considering to study here. 

What are the scholarship options?

The university is offering Transform Together Scholarships for students starting a full-time taught course in 2016-17. A half-fee waiver is available for postgraduate courses and for each year of an undergraduate degree. Scholarships are awarded to the highest achieving students who can demonstrate excellent academic achievement and also ambition, determination and dedication.

Are there any campus placements facilitated by the university? What kind of employment opportunities have your students secured in the past?

Many of the courses in Mac are sandwich courses with students having the option to do a one-year placement as part of their studies. One of our Indian students enrolled in our sports journalism course is currently on placement with the Manchester United Football Club. The department also has a dedicated placement team that sources opportunities for students and the Employability and Careers Service offers further support. According to the annual Destination of Leavers in Higher Education survey, 93 per cent of our students are in work or further study six months after graduating. Moreover, our students find employment in a wide range of occupations and recent graduates are now working for the BBC, Liverpool Football Club, Sumo Games, among other places.

What are the long-term goals your university has set to contribute to the field of media arts?

The university plays a central role in the development of creative digital media in the city of Sheffield and beyond and plans to become a first choice destination for those seeking careers in these sectors.