Welcome to all you need to know about our 2025 Scholar Festival

(January 2026, Sheffield)

We are welcoming our 2025 cohort and meeting up with Scholars, alumni, speakers and the Cowrie team to inspire, network and motivate – in readiness for the year ahead. 

N.B. The 2026 Scholar Festival will be held in November 2026 – information to follow soon. 

View the programme

Friday 9th January 2026:

Getting to Sheffield:

It’s up to you to book your train ticket to arrive at Sheffield station. Check-in to the hotel is from 3pm and we start at 6pm. For help booking a ticket that is good value for money, see https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/student-travel-guide .

Claim your ticket cost back from us by emailing your receipt and bank details to info@cowriescholarshipfoundation.org. Please note, we cannot refund open return tickets.

From Sheffield station to our event:

At the station, you will be guided to the tram to The University of Sheffield campus stop: Take te Blue route Supertram towards Malin Bridge (runs every 12 minutes). The University stop is under 10 minutes journey time at Upper Hanover Street, only a short walk from most buildings on the main campus. 

• • • • Campus Map of Sheffield
      • Sheffield city map
      • City Centre Campus Map (updated Aug 2025)

From campus, you will need to walk (c.30 mins) or take a bus (c.20 mins) to Jonas Hotel (Endcliffe Vale Road Sheffield S10 3ER). 

Walking information:

• Walking map (directions from the university tram stop) c.  30mins

Bus information:

• A list of public transport from the university (buses 50, 120 and 6) 
• Buses leave from Glossop Road/Gell Street. Walk from the tram stop on Upper Hanover Street and turn left towards the stop on Glossop Road:

Bus routes are shown here:

Please save your bus tickets in order to claim the cost back from the Foundation.

Check-in:

Upon arrival at the hotel, please report to Reception where they will allocate you your room. All rooms are single en-suite rooms.

Before Friday dinner:

Scholars are free to use the hotel’s communal lounge, kitchenette and billiards room before dinner at c.6pm.

Friday dinner is provided for you at the hotel.

Our Friday evening group social event will be in the city; the activity and transport to and from the activity will be provided for you.

Saturday 10th January 2026:

Getting between the campus and the accommodation / activities:

Your transport will be arranged by coach between accommodation and the Saturday Festival space in the Students’ Union Discovery Rooms (Level 5).

Saturday lunch:

After the Festival, a light sandwich lunch will be provided at 12.45pm for everyone prior to departing.

Getting home after Sheffield:

Trams run regularly from the campus directly back to the station.  Please arrange your own train ticket back that afternoon.