Undergraduate study

Join us and embark on a life-changing journey. Our selection of career-focused courses will help nurture and develop your passions and the ever-developing city of Sunderland provides the perfect location for an exciting start to your student life. 

A student listening to music walking around campus

Undergraduate study at Sunderland

As an undergraduate student at Sunderland, you’ll belong to a vibrant community of 27,500 students across our North East, London, and Hong Kong campuses. You'll be taught by warm and engaging academic staff whose main aim is to help you get somewhere after you’ve completed your degree with us.

We have everything in place to set you up for your dream career; ranging from careers and placement support to entrepreneurial and freelance facilities on campus to help you set up your own business.

For your downtime, you’ll be able to explore everything that the vibrant city of Sunderland has to offer. There are plenty of independent bars and restaurants for you to sample and even a couple of sandy beaches to enjoy, whatever the weather!

A beach in Sunderland

Our fantastic location

The University of Sunderland is based in the North East of England, with excellent transport links to Scotland, Newcastle, Northumberland, and beyond, so it's perfect for students looking to explore the best of what the UK has to offer. Find out more about living in Sunderland.

We have two campuses here, and our City Campus sits in the heart of Sunderland so you can reach the shopping centre, restaurants, and bars within minutes. Our second location is the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's which has a wonderful riverside location perched on the banks of the River Wear.

St Peter's campus is also a short walk from both Roker and Seaburn beaches, with excellent walking routes and views of the coastline. Find out more about life on campus.

Students looking out over Wearmouth Bridge

What is an undergraduate degree?

An undergraduate degree is an academic qualification at Level 6. Typically, undergraduate students possess A-level or equivalent qualifications and are taking the next step in their academic journey by going to university.

Undergraduate degrees come in different lengths and subjects. A standard undergraduate bachelor's degree has a length of three years, or four years if you choose to participate in an industrial placement or study abroad.

Depending on your chosen course, the title of your bachelor's degree may vary slightly. You'll find that some courses may be a Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons), a Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) or a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).

A person sat in a coffee shop looking at a phone

What qualifications will I need?

The entry requirements for undergraduate degrees vary, so it's always best to check the relevant course page for your chosen course to see what it requires.

Commonly, an undergraduate course will require an amount of UCAS points from A-levels or equivalent qualifications. The UCAS website has a handy calculator for you to work out the points you hold or may be predicted to gain.

For students who don't hold formal qualifications, there are other pathways to undergraduate degrees and this may be based on work experience. Our integrated foundation degrees are the ideal pathway for students who have missed the required grades or have valuable experience. 

A group of students

Get funding support

Choosing to go to university and pursue a degree is a significant investment in your future and we want to support you during your studies.

With the cost of living rising, we know that affordability is more important than ever. For our undergraduate students, we offer a selection of scholarships and bursaries to make your time at university more affordable. 

Learn more about our undergraduate scholarships and bursaries.

Why us?

Top 50

The University of Sunderland is a life-changing Top 50 UK University

(Guardian University Guide 2024)

World-leading university

Internationally recognised as receiving five stars for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
1st

We're 1st in the North East for teaching quality.

(The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).
£250m

invested in the next 10 years to transform our facilities

Location

Our city by the sea has beautiful beaches and a modern city centre.

We're also only 30 minutes away from lively Newcastle on the Metro, and within easy reach of historical Durham.