Jump to accessibility statement Skip to content

About the University


Home / About / About the University

The life-changing University of Sunderland has 25,600 students based in campuses on the north-east coast, in London, Hong Kong, and at its global partnerships with learning institutions in 15 countries.

Ranked as a top 50 university in the Guardian University Guide 2024, 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.

Among our achievements, Sunderland is recognised internationally as a leading university, receiving five stars for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities in the QS World University Rankings 2023. Our We Care Team also 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.

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

18,326

Total number of students at the University.

Read more about this student numbers statistic

123

Earth icon

123 nationalities are represented by our student population.

Read more about this nationality representation statistic

39.5%

International students make up 39.5% of our student population.

Read more about this student population statistic
x
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.

x
Students talking

Home student enrolments:

Home Enrolments
Undergraduate courses 9020
Postgraduate taught courses 2070
Grand Total 11,090

International student enrolments:

International Enrolments
Undergraduate courses 2716
Postgraduate taught courses 4520
Grand Total 7236

Grand total student enrolments:

Grand Total Enrolments
Undergraduate courses 11,736
Postgraduate taught courses 6590
Grand Total 18,326

 

x
international students

The percentage of our undergraduate students are:

Fee Status

Undergraduate

Home

76.9%

International

23.1%

The percentage of our postgraduate students are:

Fee Status

Undergraduate

Home

31.4%

International

68.6%

The total percentage of our students are:

Fee Status

Grand total

Home

60.5%

International

39.5%

 

x
students on beach
Nationality Enrolments
UK National 8697
Nigerian 3229
Romanian 1103
Chinese 967
Indian 617
Bulgarian 530
Pakistani 323
Ghanaian 201
Nepalese 192
Greek 182
Bangladeshi 158
Irish 121
Malaysian 118
Canadian 116
Kuwaiti 116
Egyptian 112
Moroccan 85
Italian 83
Portuguese 83
Polish 81
Sri Lankan 74
Vietnamese 64
Spanish 63
Cypriot (European Union) 59
Burmese 45
Jordanian 45
Philippine 43
Saudi Arabian 43
Slovak 35
French 32
Turkish 32
Kenyan 29
Zimbabwean 29
Lithuanian 28
German 27
Hungarian 27
Congolese (DRC) 25
Indonesian 25
Iraqi 23
United States Citizen 23
Dutch 22
Iranian 22
Lebanese 20
Syrian 20
South Korean 19
Moldovan 16
Albanian 15
Sudanese 15
Thai 14
Cameroonian 12
Czech 12
Hong Kong 11
Libyan 11
Austrian 10
Swedish 10
Taiwanese 10
South African 9
Yemeni 9
Algerian 8
Singaporean 8
Ukrainian 8
Eritrean 7
Norwegian 6
Omani 6
Palestinian 6
Sierra Leone 6
Uzbek 6
Angolan 5
Belgian 5
Brazilian 5
Croatian 5
Japanese 5
Latvian 5
Afghan 4
Somali 4
Ugandan 4
Zambian 4
Bahraini 3
Botswanan 3
Colombian 3
Finnish 3
Gambian 3
Ivorian 3
Rwandan 3
Not Known 3
Bruneian 2
Cambodian 2
Congolese (PR) 2
Gabonese 2
Honduran 2
Macedonian 2
Malawian 2
Manx 2
Peruvian 2
Russian 2
Stateless 2
Tanzanian 2
Virgin Islander (British) 2
Antigua and Barbuda 1
Argentine 1
Australian 1
Azerbaijani 1
Barbadian 1
Belarusian 1
Belizean 1
Bolivian 1
British Antarctic Territory 1
British Indian Ocean Territory 1
Cape Verdean 1
Cuban 1
Danish 1
Ethiopian 1
Gibraltar 1
Guinean 1
Icelander 1
Israeli 1
Jamaican 1
Lao 1
Macanese 1
Mauritian 1
New Zealander 1
Nicaraguan 1
Seychelles 1
Slovenian 1
St Lucia 1

 

x
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.