university of
sunderland
university of
sunderland
sunderland, england
The University of Sunderland is a highly-respected UK university that combines academic excellence with fantastic student support and pastoral care. As you would expect from a university that has been providing education since 1901, we offer a rich and high-quality education and facilities. We’re proud to be an innovative, accessible and inspirational university.
If you choose Sunderland, you’ll be joining a global community of students from all over the world. Around a fifth of our students come from outside of the UK and each year we welcome new students from over 100 countries. The University was ranked 9th in the ‘International’ category of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSC) 2019. The WUSC are the only national awards voted for by students. The QS Stars World University Ranking 2019 awarded Sunderland five stars (the highest accolade) for teaching in their prestigious stars rating system. In addition, the University received five stars for employability, internationalisation, inclusiveness and outstanding facilities.
Our students from overseas have the opportunity to experience living in the UK, to absorb its culture and language, and to make valuable contacts and friendships.
You’ll gain an internationally-recognised qualification and also the skills, experience and knowledge you need to develop a career wherever you choose to go in the world.

- University of Sunderland, Sunderland
- Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD & Research
- Established 1901
- 20,000 Total Enrolment
- 7,000 international students from 85 different countries
- September 2021

departments of study
- Arts
- Business & Management
- Computing
- Design
- Teacher Training and Education
- Engineering
- English
- Health & Clinical Sciences
- Journalism & PR
- Law
- Media
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Performing Arts
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences
- Psychology
- Public & Allied Health
- Social Sciences
- Sport & Exercise Sciences
- Hospitality, Events, Aviation and Tourism
Awards & Recognition
- 16th (out of 131 universities) in the ‘University of the Year’ category Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2019, the only national awards voted for by students
- 9th in the ‘International’ categoryWhatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSC) 2019
- Awarded five stars (the highest accolade) for teaching in the prestigious QS stars rating systemQS Stars World University Ranking 2019
- University of the Year for Social InclusionThe Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021
- Our We Care programme picked up the Widening Access Initiative (Retention and Progression) Award 2020 NEON awards

University highlights
- The university has invested over £130 million in the last 20 years
- 93.4% of graduates in employment or further study within six months (based on UK undergraduate students).
- 156 nationalities are represented by our student population.
- We understand the pressures of balancing your daily finances with your studies. We’re here to support you with your finances in every possible way, and we offer generous grants, including cash bursaries, reduced tuition fees, free accommodation and free public transport.
- Our Students’ Union offers a buddies scheme and a peer support scheme so if you want make some new friends, we can connect you with other students to help and guide you through your first weeks and months of university life.
- There are also over 50 Sports Clubs and Societies for you to join, covering everything from feminism, football, games, and hockey, to snow sports, debating and rugby. Whatever your interests, we’ll help you find friends and have a happy and fulfilling student experience.
other attributes
- We are research active, with ten areas of 'world-leading’ research – real-world research that is taught in your lecture halls and labs. Sunderland will put you, our student, at the heart of everything that we do.
- We help students achieve academic excellence in a diverse range of disciplines and fields – through our five unique Faculties. Each Faculty is made up of distinct schools and areas of research. The faculty structure enables high-quality teaching by gathering together academic expertise, and also encourages interdisciplinary research across faculties.
- We're internationally known for the quality of our teaching and research, and all of our research-active staff also teach, which means that you benefit from cutting-edge research at every stage of your degree.
- (International Student Barometer 2017) You can enhance your degree with a range of study or work abroad opportunities, enabling you to broaden your horizons, enrich your university experience and gain the edge in the graduate job market.


Location & campus
- Within a short distance of our two campuses, you’ll find four residences (three University managed and one private). 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, the spacious surroundings of Clanny House, or The Forge U-Student Village offering a secure student environment with excellent student facilities.
- 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.
- There are several cafés and places to eat on campus, all offering a range of healthy and vegetarian options at reasonable prices.
- Sunderland has some fantastic facilities, including an aquatic centre with a 50m pool, a dry ski slope, an LTA accredited tennis centre, an athletics track, rugby and cricket grounds, and a marina and watersports centre on the beach.
location and campus
- For fitness lovers, our multi-million fitness suite features 70 stations, cardio, strength, free weights and flexibility areas, body stats tests and a huge range of courses and classes. If the gym isn’t for you, being so close to the coast means there is never a bad time to take a walk along the beach.
- Sunderland has a rich history and one of the UK’s lowest costs of living. City Campus is at the centre of our modern city, and is home to our main administration and support services, library, lecture halls, and our excellent sport facilities at CitySpace. It is also the centre for the University’s Arts and Design courses and the Northern Centre of Photography.
- The Campus is also home to our main Sciences provision, housing our world-famous Pharmacy School, our Living Labs, School of Nursing and the newly-established School of Medicine.
‘I Appreciated your attention to detail’
I want to commend you for your great effort on making a lot much easier. I appreciated your attention to detail and relentless determination to make sure I had everything I needed to go safely to Liverpool.
Manal Alasmari
Saudi Arabia | University of Liverpool, UK | Sept 2019
‘an easier way to understand education’
I have never seen an easier way to understand education globally, and to find my place for my Master’s degree. You helped me determine where to apply with the counselling you provided