University of Sunderland

Whether you’ve already checked us out at an Open Day and want to know more, or have never even heard of Sunderland, we’re sure there’s a few things about the city and the University that you don’t know. Here’s ten great reasons to choose Sunderland:

Ranked within the top 50 UK universities
We’re pleased to say that the University of Sunderland has been placed within the top 50 UK universities by the Guardian University Guide 2023. This achievement recognises our immense efforts towards providing teaching excellence, being professions facing and employability-focused. At the heart of everything we do here is the drive to help our students reach their potential and get where they want to be after graduating. This commitment has also been reflected by our standing as the best university in the north-east for teaching quality according to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

Investment in facilities
We’re always investing in new facilities, like our Living Lab and Helen McArdle House which features mock hospital wards, a pharmacy dispensary, training ambulance and a hi-fidelity simulation suite. We’ve also invested over £1m in engineering and computer science facilities, including a dedicated mechanical lab and a fluid lab and a 3D interactive igloo space. Acclaimed independent production company Fulwell 73 – makers of Netflix show ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ – has even launched a new regional office in our David Puttnam Media Centre.

Great transport links
Getting between campuses couldn’t be simpler. The Connect Bus service and the Campus Circular service are both free for students with a valid student card. There is also a metro stop situated on our City Campus. If you prefer getting fresh air when travelling, we also have a cycling hub and on foot it will take around 20 minutes to get between the two campuses. You’re never too far from where you need to be.

An inclusive university
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion was celebrated when we were named University of the Year for Social Inclusion (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021). No matter your background or circumstances, we will help you to achieve your potential.

Convenient location
Sunderland is a vibrant city that benefits from a metropolitan city centre and coastal scenery. Roker beach is a short stroll from Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s where you can treat yourself to ice cream and fish and chips. Sunderland is also only 30 minutes away from Newcastle Upon Tyne, another lively city, and we are in easy reach of Gateshead and Durham.

Opportunities to engage in cultural experiences
While in Sunderland, there are always opportunities to engage with cultural activities. You can catch a show at the Empire Theatre, listen to some live music at at an eclectic mix of clubs and bars or learn something new at one of the many museums. The Stadium of Light has hosted some of the world’s biggest artists such as Beyonce, Foo Fighters, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran and Elton John.

Access to sport
Here in Sunderland, we love sport. We have over 50 sports clubs and societies and have excellent facilities such as a 70 station fitness suite and an indoor climbing wall. If you are more of a spectator, the Stadium of Light is home to Sunderland AFC, a football club that has a dedicated fanbase.

Famously low cost of living
The north-east is famous for low living costs. Sunderland is the third most affordable city in the UK according to a 2021 ‘Graduate salaries in the UK’ survey conducted by Prospects Luminate. With rent being as low as £77.79 a week and the average price of a pint costing just £3.30, we are accessible for all budgets.

A welcoming community
Coming to Sunderland means you will be joining a community of both home students and international students. There are 20,000 University of Sunderland students spread across our campuses in Sunderland, Hong Kong, and London. 156 nationalities are represented within our student body. And whether you are a mature student or a school leaver, you are sure to fit in with our community.

Enhanced employment prospects
Our huge range of extracurricular activities coupled with our incredible courses will leave your CV bursting at the seams. Sunderland Futures offer careers fairs, appointments with career advisors, and help with sourcing placements, internships, and jobs. Our Enterprise Place and Digital Incubator also provide dedicated support, workshops and funding opportunities for students and graduates looking to set up a business or embark on a freelance career.

So there you have it, ten reasons to choose Sunderland. If you’re still not convinced, there are plenty more.

The life changing University of Sunderland has over 24,000 students based in campuses on the North East coast, in London and Hong Kong and at its global partnerships with learning institutions in 15 countries.

Ranked as a top 50 university in the Guardian University Guide 2023, we are proud of our long-established commitment to widening participation, our world-leading research, and public and private sector collaborations. We also have a track-record for providing quality student experiences that result in graduates who are the tomorrow-makers of our societies and economies. The University is focused on ensuring our graduates leave equipped with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and connections to make a positive difference in the wider world.

Sunderland is recognised internationally as a leading university, receiving five stars for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities in the QS World University Rankings 2023. The University is also one of the UK’s leading widening participation Universities and was named The Times/Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2021. We were also shortlisted as University of the Year by the THE – Times Higher Education, and our We Care programme picked up the Widening Access Initiative (Retention and Progression) Award at the 2020 NEON awards.

The University of Sunderland is integral to the city and our region. Our Strategic Plan 2020-25 sets out our “Life-Changing” mission, through transformative experiences for our students, career-focused and professions-facing teaching, and the positive difference we aim to make to society. All of these have a distinct local and regional impact.

We have been rooted in the city of Sunderland since the establishment of Sunderland Technical College in 1901 and this year we celebrate our 30th anniversary as a university.

Our careers and employability service, Sunderland Futures allows students to engage in person or online with employers through employer talks, employability conferences and careers fairs to ensure that they are well placed to make connections with potential employers. We offer a wide selection of experiential opportunities ranging from volunteering, work shadowing, paid projects, Student Ambassador roles, support in finding a student job, professional mentoring and the Sunderland Professional Award (SuPA) to help enhance our students’ future employment prospects.

Alternatively, if a student is a budding entrepreneur, then they may decide to run their own business alongside studying at university. At Sunderland, The Enterprise Place provides support for our students to help them realise their start-up ambition whilst with us and for three years after graduation.

Living in a student-friendly city like Sunderland is an amazing experience. We know moving away to university is one of the biggest and most exciting decisions you’ll ever make, and you’ll find a home from home at Sunderland.

We offer a great choice of accommodation for you to choose from and our rent prices include heating, lighting, water, fuel, Wi-Fi and personal possessions insurance.

Sunderland is the second most affordable city in the UK, according to a 2018 ‘Graduate salaries in the UK’ survey conducted by Prospects Luminate. Living comfortably on a budget is much easier at Sunderland than other universities.

Sunderland house prices are lower than in other parts of the country, which means lower-cost private renting and university accommodation. Travel costs are low too – our two main campuses are within walking distance from each other and the centre of town. Typical monthly living costs Below are some typical monthly costs for a student living in Sunderland, to help you work out your own budget.

• Guaranteed a place
  We want you to settle into student life as quickly and as smoothly as possible, and to do that we are offering first year students the opportunity to guarantee a place in our University accommodation, so it is one less thing for you to worry about. T&Cs apply*
• Great locations
  Within a short distance of our two campuses, you’ll find three University-managed residences, each providing you with an excellent range of locations to choose from. You can enjoy a superb riverside view from Panns Bank or Scotia Quay, or the spacious surroundings of Clanny House. We offer free transport across each of our accommodation residences, so you’ll be within easy reach of our two campuses and the city’s bustling social scene. Miles of golden, sandy beaches are just a ten minute walk from The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, close to Panns Bank and Scotia Quay, offering you the ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

• Meet new people
  Living with other students is a great way to meet new people, and each accommodation residence provides you with the perfect opportunity to make friends with people from around the world. You’ll have the option to choose who you want to live with, whether that’s with friends you already know, in a single gender flat, or in a single culture flat. We also have family and couples’ accommodation available if you’re coming to the University with your partner and/or children.

For more information see the Accommodation Handbook.

*Take a look at the Accommodation Guarantee Terms and Conditions .

International Scholarship 2022/23

What it is:
£1,400 tuition fee reduction (undergraduates) or £900 tuition fee reduction (postgraduates).

Who it’s for:
All international students studying on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate courses excluding preparation courses such as foundation courses, EAP or pre masters.

Which intakes:
Students starting with us in September, October, November 2022, January, February, April, June 2023.

• Sunderland is one of the UK’s leading widening participation Universities and was named The Times/Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2021
• A shortlisted as University of the Year by the THE – Times Higher Education, and our We Care programme picked up the Widening Access Initiative (Retention and Progression) Award at the 2020 NEON awards.
• # 101-150 , QS WUR Ranking By Subject.

How much you spend is up to you and your budget – for this reason, we’ve provided three versions: a budget option, an average option and an expensive option. You can also use this online student budget calculator to help you put together a budget for living and studying at the University of Sunderland or try our PANDA budgeting tool.

Living costs in detail

• Accommodation: £300 – £540 per month Rents vary depending on whether you choose university or private accommodation, the facilities available and the size of living area. University accommodation tends to include some utility bills with the rent, making them even better value for money. The cost of our university accommodation starts from approximately £72 per week for a standard room in Clanny House.
• Everyday travel: £0 – £17 per month Sunderland is a compact city, and the two campuses and all university accommodation are within walking distance of each other. If you don’t want to walk, the University also provides a free campus bus. For trips further afield, a return train ticket to Newcastle is about £4, to Durham is about £9, and to Middlesbrough is about £10 (and with a Young Person’s Railcard you can get an additional 33% discount).
• Food: £100 – £200 per month How much you spend on food is up to you. Cooking is the cheapest option, but there are plenty of restaurants and cafes in Sunderland with great student deals – look out for happy hours and 2 for 1 offers!
• Course materials: £15 – £50 per month Depending on your course, you may need to pay for field trips, specialist clothing or books. Remember that the University has 2 libraries, so you may be able to borrow all the books you need during your course. You may be eligible for a StudyPLUS award which will help you with your costs.
• Clothes, toiletries and grooming: £15 – £75 per month How much you spend on clothes, shoes and haircuts is, of course, a matter of personal choice. Just remember that your student card entitles you to an additional 10% discount from many shops in the city of Sunderland.
• Social life: £40 – £150 per month There are a huge number of social activities available in the University and the city. Here are just a few examples:

1. Empire Cinema ticket: around £6
2. Pint of beer in Sunderland city centre: around £2.85
3. Cappuccino in Murray Library: around £2.50

Our Gym membership costs are typically £130 for the full year.

• Other miscellaneous costs: £15 – £52 per month

1. Mobile phone: £5 – £30 per month
2. TV licence: £12 per month
3. Laundry and household items: £5 – £10 per month