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About the University


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The life changing University of Sunderland has 27,500 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 Team won the prestigious Social Mobility Project Award at the 2022 Inclusive 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.

93.4%

Percentage of graduates in employment or further study within six months (based on UK undergraduate students).

Read more about this graduate employment statistic

27,814

Total number of students at the University.

Read more about this student numbers statistic

160

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160 nationalities are represented by our student population.

Read more about this nationality representation statistic

46%

International students make up 46% of our student population.

Read more about this student population statistic
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graduates

93.4% of our graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on UK undergraduate students).

95.3% of postgraduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on UK postgraduate students).

Our students graduate with more than just an academic qualification; they have a CV full to bursting with the essential extra-curricular skills and experience needed to get ahead in their career. This is reflected by how many of our graduates go on to secure employment or further study after leaving us.

Read more about where a University of Sunderland degree has taken our students in our student case studies.

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Students talking
Level Enrolments
Undergraduate courses 18,286
Postgraduate taught courses 9,183
Postgraduate research courses 345
Grand Total 27,814

For more information, download our Facts and Figures 2021/22 document.

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international students

International students make up 46% of our student population:

  • 54.1% of our students are classified as Home/EU
  • 45.9% of our students are classified as Overseas

 

Fee Status

Enrolments

Home

13,428

EU

1,595

Overseas

12,791

Grand Total

27,814


For more information, download our Facts and Figures 2021/22.

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students on beach
Nationality Enrolments
UK National 10666
Chinese 2104
Uzbek 1915
Nigerian 1712
Romanian 1248
Malaysian 1102
Nepalese 964
Bulgarian 707
Hong Kong 666
Indian 618
Sri Lankan 615
Greek 410
Irish 348
Vietnamese 314
Pakistani 287
Botswanan 204
Kuwaiti 201
Canadian 197
Ghanaian 186
Portuguese 159
Egyptian 129
Italian 121
Bangladeshi 119
United States citizen 115
Cypriot (European Union) 113
Singaporean 108
Polish 106
South African 95
Trinidad and Tobago 88
Spanish 87
Burmese 82
Zimbabwean 76
Kenyan 74
Moroccan 74
Jordanian 72
Philippine 70
French 52
Slovak 46
Lithuanian 44
Hungarian 44
German 43
South Korean 42
Indonesian 42
Jamaican 41
Iraqi 40
Russian 36
Tajik 33
Congolese (DRC) 32
Albanian 32
Dutch 31
Syrian 30
Lebanese 28
Turkish 27
Australian 25
Thai 24
Maltese 23
Iranian 23
Czech 22
Saudi Arabian 20

In addition, the University of Sunderland has between 1-19 students from a further 101 countries.

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CitySpace

The University’s facilities are undoubtedly among the best in the UK. Almost £130m has been invested in our two campuses over recent years.

The £12m sports and social facility at CitySpace, £14m Sciences Complex, £6.5m transformation of Priestman Building, and the newly opened Hope Street Xchange – home to FabLab Sunderland, the North East’s first digital fabrication laboratory and the Enterprise Place – are just a few highlights of our outstanding campuses.

The two uniquely placed campuses – one in the city centre and one by the sea – offer an unforgettable student experience.

Read more about our facilities.