University of Sheffield voted top for its “pioneering” methods of getting students registered to vote

Sheffield was crowned joint first alongside the universities of Hull and Worcester, in a vote by Vote for Your Future in collaboration with Times Higher Education.

Students are asked if they’d like to register to vote, when registering for each new academic year.

The University started its scheme with Sheffield City Council to boost awareness of the benefits of registering to vote and to improve the level of student electoral registrations.

It has since been cited in Parliament as an example of best practice for its success in achieving high student voter registration figures.

Professor Wyn Morgan, Vice-President for Education at the University of Sheffield, said: "Universities have an important role to play in encouraging students to engage and participate in political processes as active citizens.

"By working with Sheffield City Council since 2014 to integrate voter registration into our University enrolment process, we've made it as easy as possible for our students to join the electoral roll. So far this academic year, more than 11,500 of our students have registered to vote through this process alone.”

He added: "At the University of Sheffield, we're proud that our students are so politically engaged.”