With the creative industries being the fastest-growing sector of the UK economy, we provide opportunities for our students to develop the necessary skills to move into their chosen area of work, be that freelance, in small creative companies, or major employers such as Sky and the BBC. Uniquely, we work closely with Sunderland Culture, which means our students can experience real-world work opportunities, from exhibiting in professional settings to working with, and learning from, leading cultural professionals.
Our Faculty is supportive and nurturing, with fun being central to our approach.
School of Art and Design
Our Art and Design students are makers, using their creativity to make artworks, designs and products that enhance or even change the world. We have a range of distinctive courses, in the areas of Fine Art, Photography, Glass and Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fashion, and Animation and Games Art. Sunderland was a pioneer of the PhD in art and design and we currently have around fifty research students.
The School is career and industry focused; lecturers are all creative practitioners or scholars in the field, while courses feature live and industry led projects, as well as chances for students to present work externally. Additionally, our partnership with Sunderland Culture provides exclusive opportunities for our students for example work experience and exhibition opportunities.
The School of Media and Communications
Our industry-focused courses enable Media and Communications students to prepare for rich and rewarding careers, particularly in the booming creative sector. All students can learn alongside working journalists from BBC Newcastle and can broadcast on our community radio station SparkFM, as well as gain unique insights through our strategic partners such as Live Theatre, Dance City, Sunderland Culture, and Tyne and Wear TV.
Students benefit from world-leading research in media and the humanities and are supported by expert scholars and practitioners to find their voice, nurture their talents and collaborate in exciting, innovative learning spaces such as the mediaHUB. Our courses are endorsed by professional bodies such as Screenskills, the National Council for the Training of Journalists, and the Professional Publishers' Association and are connected to businesses and communities of practice in the city and beyond.