UniMove is a door-to-door student storage service that collects from your Sheffield address and delivers to wherever you move next. The service fits the gaps that postgraduate students routinely face: the weeks between a tenancy ending and a new one beginning, the months between thesis submission and a viva date, and the period after finishing a Sheffield degree when the next step has not yet been confirmed.
Why postgraduate storage in Sheffield is different from undergraduate storage
Undergraduate students usually know their September start date well in advance and can plan a predictable summer storage window accordingly. Postgraduates face a far less uniform set of circumstances, and the timing of their moves rarely lines up neatly with available accommodation.
Sheffield’s two main universities, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, together support more than 12,000 postgraduate students. MSc programmes typically end in September, but student housing contracts written at the start of the academic year often expire in July or August. A PhD student might submit their thesis in the spring and then remain in Sheffield waiting for a viva scheduled in the autumn. A postdoctoral researcher on a fixed-term contract might be offered a position at another UK university and need to vacate their current address before the new start date arrives.
In each of these cases, the question is the same: what happens to your belongings while you sort out the next step? UniMove answers that question by collecting from your current Sheffield address, holding your belongings at its depot in Longcot, and returning everything to any new address on the UK mainland or in Belfast when you are ready.
UniMove has run door-to-door student storage since 2014. You do not hire a van, visit a self-storage unit, or make multiple trips to a depot. Collections and deliveries happen at your door.
Common scenarios for Sheffield postgraduates
MSc completion gap
Most MSc programmes at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University conclude between September and October. Student housing contracts signed at the start of the academic year typically expire in July or August, before the course is formally finished. The usual approach is to move out, spend a few weeks in short-term accommodation or at a family home, then move again once the degree is complete. UniMove collects your belongings at the July or August move-out date and holds them until you have a confirmed next address.
PhD submission and viva gap
Many PhD students at the University of Sheffield submit their thesis several months before the viva takes place. If your Broomhill or Endcliffe tenancy ends in the summer but your viva is not scheduled until October or November, you face a storage decision. UniMove’s minimum period is one month, so even a comparatively short gap between moving out and receiving your results is covered. There is no need to pay for a full additional year of housing simply to have somewhere to keep your possessions.
Graduate move to another city
Sheffield graduates who accept jobs in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, or elsewhere often face a timing mismatch: their Sheffield tenancy ends in August or September but their new role does not begin until October or later. Paying for a professional removal service before you have a confirmed new address adds unnecessary cost and complexity. With UniMove, your belongings stay in storage until you know exactly where you are going, then travel directly to that address.
Postdoctoral and fixed-term academic positions
Fixed-term postdoctoral contracts are common at the University of Sheffield, particularly in chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. When a contract ends, any associated housing or privately rented accommodation tied to that period of employment may end shortly afterwards. A brief period of storage provides a practical bridge while the next position is confirmed, whether in another UK city, at another university, or in an industry role.
Where UniMove collects in Sheffield
UniMove collects from all Sheffield postcodes. The areas with the highest concentrations of postgraduate students and recent graduates are:
- Broomhill and Crookesmoor (S10): popular with University of Sheffield postgrads due to their proximity to Firth Court and the Western Bank campus buildings
- Crookes (S10): a residential area with a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate house shares
- Ecclesall Road (S11): a long corridor of private rental housing running south from the city centre, used by students from both universities
- Sharrow and Nether Edge (S7, S11): favoured by Sheffield Hallam students and postgraduates, within reach of the City Campus
- Endcliffe and Ranmoor (S10, S11): quieter residential streets popular with older students in house shares or small flats
- Kelham Island and Neepsend (S3): growing in popularity with postgraduate students in creative, architectural, and design disciplines
- City centre (S1): purpose-built student apartments increasingly chosen by postgraduates wanting to live centrally
You can also find more detail about student storage in Sheffield and about summer student storage in Sheffield on this site.
UniMove compared with your other options
| Option | Convenience | Flexibility | Cost | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UniMove door-to-door | Collected and delivered to your door | Store from one month upward, for as long as you need | Fixed monthly rate, no van hire needed | Secure depot with insurance |
| Sheffield self-storage unit | You carry boxes to and from the unit yourself | Monthly contracts typically available | Unit fee plus van hire or taxi costs | Access-controlled, but you manage access |
| Leaving items with a friend | Relies on a willing friend with spare space | Limited, depends entirely on your friend’s plans | No direct charge, but creates an obligation | No formal insurance or security |
| Taking everything home | Only practical if you have a car or live close by | Low, requires another trip to retrieve everything | Travel and vehicle hire costs | Depends on your home’s security |
Get a quote for Sheffield postgraduate storage
How UniMove works
- Get a quote online. Use the form at studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote. Enter your Sheffield postcode, your intended collection date, and the approximate volume of what you are storing.
- Book your collection date. Choose a date that fits your move-out schedule. UniMove collects on the agreed date.
- Pack your items. Box everything clearly and label each box. We collect boxes, bags, suitcases, and most furniture and household items.
- We collect from your door. Our team comes to your Sheffield address and handles the loading. You do not need a vehicle or a second pair of hands.
- Items go to our depot. Your belongings are stored at Plover Barn, Kings Lane, Longcot, SN7 7SS, in a secure environment.
- Book your delivery. Once you have a confirmed new address on the UK mainland or in Belfast, contact us to arrange return delivery at a time that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store for just a few weeks between my Sheffield tenancy ending and my next address being confirmed?
Yes. UniMove’s minimum storage period is one month. If your Sheffield housing contract ends in July or August but your next tenancy does not begin until September or October, that gap is exactly what the service is built for. We collect from your door and deliver to your confirmed address when you are ready.
Do I need to be present in Sheffield when you collect my belongings?
You, or someone you authorise, needs to be at the address during the agreed collection slot. If you have already left Sheffield and cannot arrange this yourself, contact smile@unimove.org in advance. Many postgraduates arrange for a current flatmate or a friend still in the city to be present for the collection.
Can UniMove deliver to a different city when I start my new job or postdoc?
Yes. UniMove delivers to any address on the UK mainland or in Belfast. Sheffield graduates moving to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, or any other UK city can request return delivery to their new address once they have confirmed it. Simply contact us with the destination details when you are ready.
What types of items can I store with UniMove?
UniMove stores boxes, bags, suitcases, bicycles, soft furnishings, and most standard household items. Items that cannot be accepted include hazardous materials, perishable food, and valuables such as cash or jewellery. If you are unsure whether a specific item is suitable, email smile@unimove.org before booking and the team will confirm.
How is the price for postgraduate storage in Sheffield calculated?
Pricing is based on the volume of items stored and the duration. You receive a fixed quote online before booking, so there are no unexpected charges. The quote covers collection from your Sheffield address, storage at the depot, and one return delivery to your next address anywhere on the UK mainland or in Belfast.
Is it safe to store a printed PhD thesis or specialist research equipment with UniMove?
The depot is secure and the storage environment is controlled. For truly irreplaceable items, such as a printed and bound thesis or sensitive laboratory equipment, consider keeping them with you rather than putting them into storage. Always maintain digital backups of research documents. For specialist equipment, check with smile@unimove.org before booking to confirm suitability.