University of Sunderland

Overview

The University of Sunderland was founded in 1901 as Sunderland Technical College and was awarded university status in 1992. It has four campuses: two in Sunderland on the northeast coast of England, one in London, which is used for teaching business, tourism and nursing degrees, and a new development in Hong Kong. In 2018, the University was named one of only five new medical schools in the UK, established to address the regional imbalance of medical education places across England and to widen access to the medical profession. The first cohort of students will join the School of Medicine in September 2019.

The University of Sunderland has close links with business and industry and a close working relationship with many leading blue-chip companies. Many take work placements with such companies as part of a degree, with links particularly strong in engineering and media.

In their feedback from the Teaching Excellence Framework, assessors highlighted the University’s embedded professional practice and the tangible contribution made by business and industrial partners to programme content.

Links with industry are a key part of the University’s approach, with each faculty having its collaborative business partners to influence programme content, collaborate on research or degree apprenticeships, give guest lectures or provide work placement opportunities to students and graduates. There have been recent developments with organisations including Accenture, Sage, North East Automotive Alliance, Caterpillar, Northumbria Police, Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Army Medical Squadron, Dance City, BBC and Arts Council England, to name a few.

University of Sunderland in London

Situated in Canary Wharf, the heart of Europe’s most important financial centre, the University of Sunderland in London now caters to more than 2,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from all over the world. The campus offers world-class teaching and state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, providing a dynamic learning experience for students.

A wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered at the University of Sunderland in London including:

• Business, Management and Finance
• Engineering and Project Management
• Tourism
• Nursing and Health
• English for Academic Purpose Preparation

MBAs are also offered in the areas of Finance, Human Resources Management, Marketing and Supply Chain Management.

Services for International Students

The University of Sunderland offers English language tuition to students before the start of term and in-sessional courses. The University of Sunderland also runs a free airport pick-up service for students who arrive at Newcastle Airport. The faculty runs a one-week induction programme for new students, while the University also organises several welcome parties for new arrivals.

Ranking

• 105th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 33rd in the Guardian University Guide 2025

The university doubled the proportion of its world-leading or internationally excellent research since the REF was last held in 2014 following the results of the 2021 REF. In addition, Sunderland’s Grade Point Average (GPA) – the aggregated ‘score’ for the overall quality of research – shows a significant improvement since 2014.

Accommodation

Sunderland has five halls of residence, and all first-year students are guaranteed a place in University accommodation. Over 2,000 rooms are available, with various options, including en suite and shared, and sizes ranging from medium to extra large. Rooms are arranged in flats with a shared kitchen.

All halls are self-catered, with fully equipped kitchens and on-site laundry facilities. Personal possessions insurance and Wi-Fi are included in the rent, and a free campus bus service links all halls to both campuses.

Location

The University of Sunderland has three campuses: two in Sunderland and one in London, where business, tourism, and nursing degrees are taught. Sunderland is a city with a mixture of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian architecture and is a short walk from miles of sandy beaches.

As one of the largest cities in the northeast, it has many large bars and nightclubs and is a regular stop for touring bands. Sunderland is also home to numerous sports clubs, like Sunderland FC and facilities, including Olympic standard swimming pools, a dry ski centre and one of the largest climbing walls in Britain. Sunderland is about four hours by train from London.