Study at this UK top 40 university, recognised as being one of the most supportive universities for international students that offers real value for money on tuition and living costs.
About the University of Sunderland
Shortlisted for the prestigious University of the Year and Business School of the Year in 2024 by the Times Higher Education, the University of Sunderland holds a number of enviable subject rankings and accolades including offering the only undergraduate MPharm qualification in the UK which leads to professional registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Students at Sunderland's main campus in the North East of England, enjoy a vibrant campus and student experience, combined with Sunderland's famously low cost of living.
Why the University of Sunderland
33rd overall
in the UK
(Guardian University Guide 2025)
iCAS
available on a number of programmes
Meaning you need only one visa for the duration of your pathway programme and degree study
1st in the UK
for Pharmacy and Pharmacology
(Guardian University Guide 2025)
Sunderland is recognised for excellence in
The University of Sunderland has a long history of success in subjects across the Health Sciences, from Pharmacy - currently ranked no. 1 in the UK - to Sports Science and Cosmetic Science, the University's credentials in this subject area are impressive. Sunderland applies a 'hands on' approach to learning with new state of the art interactive facilities such as a 'Living Lab' with mock hospital wards, pharmacy dispensaries, and a high-fidelity immersive simulation suite. The Lab also has an OSCE suite – this is a number of stations within a circuit where students rotate to complete various tasks in each one.
- The University consistently achieves high pass rates in the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) pre-registration assessment for pharmacy. Specifically, their pass rate was 93.1% in a recent assessment.
- Ranked 1st in the UK for Pharmacy & Pharmacology (Guardian University Guide 2025) and the The MPharm is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the regulatory body of the pharmacy profession
- 33rd in the UK for Health Sciences (Complete University Guide 2025)
- Ranked 17th in the UK for Sports Science (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 20 years of working with GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer has funded research projects at Sunderland for over 10 years
- BSc (Hons) Psychology is accredited as conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society, provided the minimum standard of Second Class Honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Learn the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing sector from academics with real-world experience. Graduate and follow in the footsteps of recent graduates at some of the most prestigious companies in the country.
- Top 17 in the UK for Computer Science and Info Systems (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- BEng Mechanical Engineering is 8th in the UK for Overall Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
- BEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as partially fulfilling the educational requirements for Chartered Engineering (CEng) status, which is the highest level attainable for any undergraduate programme
- The David Goldman Informatics Centre is a ‘computing cathedral’ housing over 200 workstations
- BSc Computer Sciences is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the further learning academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional
- Boasting the second-fastest growth in digital turnover outside of London, Sunderland is the ideal city to study computing and set up a business
- Past Engineering students have secured paid placements with Jaguar, Nissan, GlaxoSmithKline, Assystem, Cummins Engines, Delphi Powertrain Systems and Tata Steel. These partnerships allow students to experiment with cutting-edge and current applications and many provide modern hardware and software for our courses, including Microsoft and Sony gaming console technologies and TIM (Blackberry) mobile smartphone and tablets..
- The Engineering department enjoys close collaboration with a number of industrial partners, including Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Fabricom, ThyssenKrupp Automotive, Tallent Chassis Ltd and Nicholson McLaren.
- Students design, build, test and race a 600cc single-seat racing car against other universities in the Formula Student contest. Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd supports our Formula Student team, allowing the University to use their test track and providing car parts and engine development.
The University of Sunderland has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2024 and its Business and Management courses are 1st in the north-east (and 6th in the UK) for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025).
- Ranked 20th in the UK for Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- LLB Law courses have a 100% positivity score for 'learning resources' (National Student Survey 2024) and 6th in the UK for Graduate Prospects Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Law students benefit from a mock courtroom and moot court to practice their skills.
- The Sunderland Business School is a member of ‘The Association of Business Schools’.
- The Business School has accreditation with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), with many of their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes approved to meet the level 5 and level 7 management standards.
- BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance has a number of exemptions from ACCA, CIMA and CPA.
- Human Resource Management degrees (both undergraduate and postgraduate) are accredited with CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).
- BA (Hons) Business and Marketing Management has dual award status from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Whether you want to launch your career in film and work in Sunderland's thriving media centre's sector-leading studios, or turn your creative vision into words through their journalism courses, the University offers a great range of creative courses for you.
- Ranked 6th in the UK for Film Production and Photography (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- Ranked 3rd in the UK for Media and Film Studies (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- Ranked 6th in the UK for Journalism (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- The University's students are award winners; from the Royal Television Society and Sunderland International Short Film Festival, they've seen their work used in promotional materials across the country
- The University of Sunderland’s David Puttnam Media Centre provides students with outstanding television and video production facilities and allows students to experience real-life work situations during their study.
- The University of Sunderland’s journalism courses are accredited by the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) and Broadcast Journalism is accredited by the BJTC (Broadcast Journalism Training Council).
- Graduates are working as journalists and stylists at Victoria Beckham, Vogue, Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, ASOS, Harrods, Burberry and Stylist, among others
- BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism is the only Fashion Journalism course in the country to be accredited by NCTJ. Learn more about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course here.
Student Life
You'll find a lively and supportive atmosphere on both campuses, ensuring you have the best student experience possible. Voted University of the Year for Student Support (Daily Mail University Guide 2025), students are supported throughout their university journey not only academically but through a range of services that ensure you're happy, feel included, and reach your full potential. There are a wide range of sports and societies to help you settle in and make friends, join the Students' Union, run by students, for students, where you'll find support, and enhance your student experience during your time at university.
Located in the North East
The best of city and coast
Sunderland is a welcoming and diverse city, attracting students from over 100 countries. You'll be part of a vibrant, multicultural community both on campus and in the city. Based in the North East of England, it's a fantastic part of the country and a great choice for somewhere to live and study. Sunderland's population of around 175,000 strengthens the University's reputation as a small and friendly city, but you'll also be just a stone's throw from Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham.
International students enjoy exploring Sunderland’s award-winning beaches, relaxing in one of the UK’s oldest parks with beautiful lakes, sculptures, and green spaces, and experiencing some of the region’s biggest events — including the spectacular International Airshow, the magical Sunderland Illuminations and Festival of Light, the inspiring Literature Festival, and the lively Summer Food and Drink Festival.
The cost of living in the North-East of England is renowned for being much lower than other parts of the country, and Sunderland is a great choice if you want to go to university and stick to a budget. As the 7th cheapest city in the UK for student accommodation (according to Student Crowd), the North-East’s student living costs are around £124 a month less than the national average (Save the Student, 2024).
