We’ll help you build a talent pipeline and raise your profile while supporting regional growth and student success. Connect with our students and graduates through placements, internships, recruitment events, and more.
We’re proud of our strong track record of collaboration with organisations across a wide range of sectors. By working together, we enhance the teaching and learning experience while equipping our students with the practical skills and real-world insight they need to thrive in the workplace.
In close partnership with academic colleagues and the local business community, we’re helping to bridge the gap between education and industry. These connections not only support graduate retention in the region but also empower students to make a meaningful contribution to the local economy and society.
Partnering with us also offers a valuable opportunity to raise your organisation’s profile on campus. We’ll work with you to create a tailored approach that meets the needs of your business while offering students relevant, career-enhancing experiences.
Placements and work integrated learning
Students benefit from engaging with industry through a variety of activities integrated into their degrees, all designed to enhance employability and develop enterprise skills. While the specific activities vary by course, they typically include the following:
Many of our undergraduate courses include the option of a 48-week assessed placement year, typically starting in the summer. Most placements are paid, and we can advise you on appropriate salary levels.
Placement years offer a valuable opportunity to identify future talent ahead of the recruitment cycle, while giving students hands-on industry experience. Many go on to join their placement employer full-time after graduation.
Our team is here to support you through the recruitment and placement process. Recruitment typically begins in late September, with students actively seeking placements from the start of the academic year.
Some courses offer in-year placements, where students complete a set number of hours with an organisation as part of a specific module. These placements are assessed and help students build essential employability skills.
Typically voluntary, in-year placements award academic credits rather than a salary, though this may vary by course. Unlike placement years, they’re shorter and can start at different points during the academic year.
Where possible, organisations can interview students to ensure a good match.
Business challenges offer students a valuable opportunity to engage with real-world problems faced by your organisation. These experiences test their ability to collaborate, perform under pressure, and think creatively to develop practical solutions. It’s also a unique chance for your business to connect directly with students in the classroom – whether through a lecture or workshop – while enhancing your visibility and reputation.
Business pitches provide students with essential experience in presenting their business or innovation ideas to industry professionals. They receive valuable feedback, sharpen their communication skills, and develop a range of employability competencies crucial for their future careers. For your business, it's a unique opportunity to connect with entrepreneurial students and identify emerging talent.
Consultancy projects allow students to work individually or in teams on real challenges faced by your business, as part of their academic studies. Drawing on the latest insights from their course, they can offer fresh perspectives and practical ideas. For your business, it’s a powerful way to raise brand awareness among students while contributing to their learning through a meaningful, degree-integrated project.
Workshops engage students in collaborative activities aligned with their course learning objectives. These sessions offer students the chance to receive immediate feedback while working alongside industry professionals. Typically lasting a few hours, workshops provide a dynamic and interactive environment that bridges academic learning with real-world experience.
Our industry and alumni speaker series gives students insight into life after graduation by showcasing experiences from professionals and graduates. Through personal stories and career journeys, speakers help students build confidence, understand different industries, and recognise the value of their transferable skills.
Competitions across our courses are tailored to align with students’ learning objectives, providing a dynamic way to develop key employability skills. These activities can be adapted to suit different subject areas, helping students apply their knowledge in practical, competitive settings.
Simulations and professional role plays offer experiential learning opportunities that immerse students in real-world scenarios. These activities can be tailored to specific courses and graduate roles, helping students develop relevant skills in a practical context. They also provide a valuable opportunity for your business to engage with students and raise your profile on campus.
Focused discussion activities – such as fishbowls and sandpits – create opportunities for students to engage directly with industry professionals in an open, informal setting. These sessions can be tailored to suit specific learning objectives and provide a relaxed, ‘no pressure’ environment where students can explore ideas, ask questions, and gain valuable insights. For employers, it’s an excellent way to connect with students in a meaningful and approachable format.
Vacancy advertising
Whether local, national, or international, recruiting our students and graduates helps your business meet current needs and plan for the future. We can support your organisation in targeting and attracting the right applicants by advertising your vacancies.
Your opportunities will reach over 10,000 students and graduates via our online vacancy service, email alerts, social media, and our extensive network. We advertise a wide range of roles, including:
Graduate jobs
Part-time positions (we recommend 16-20 working hours for part-time roles during term time)
Vacation work
Voluntary roles
Placements
Internships
Short-term paid projects.
We can also offer advice on the best time to recruit in the academic year, local and national graduate recruitment markets and salaries, and additional contacts to help you fill your vacancy.
Once registered, you can create your own profile with your company logo, and make updates to your vacancies 24/7. When advertising a vacancy, we require you to provide:
A clear description of your organisation
Full contact details including address, business email, and landline contact number
The job title and clear description of the role
The skills, experience, and qualifications required
Details on how to apply
Where to find further information
Specific remuneration details
A closing date (if not provided, we'll assume a date one month from submission).
By publishing a vacancy, you agree that you hold valid Employers' Liability and Public Liability insurance and a current Health and Safety Policy. You must ensure that all UK-based opportunities are paid at or above the National Minimum Wage, however, we'd encourage you to consider offering the National Living Wage.
We reserve the right to edit adverts for the purpose of brevity and clarity. If we feel that a vacancy is constructed as discriminatory, we may contact you to rectify this.
We reserve the right to not advertise or withdraw vacancies which, in our opinion, aren't suitable or in the best interests of our students or graduates, which may include adverts that:
Have misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate job descriptions
Have missing or incomplete company information
Don't meet the National Minimum Wage
Require the jobseeker to be self-employed without the guarantee of National Minimum Wage
Are partnership or equity-only opportunities
Are advertised by agencies who don't give details of who they're recruiting for or involve pyramid-selling, are commission-based, or pay 'in kind' rather than being salaried, or require an upfront payment from the job seeker of any kind
Promote roles which require students to work in door-to-door sales or similar
Promote courses or events provided by commercial or competing training providers
On completion of due diligence, the University of Sunderland deems inappropriate.
For vacancies that require students or graduates to work from their own homes, it's your responsibility to have a Home Working Policy which adheres to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The University doesn't check or verify that individual applicants are legally entitled to work in the UK and we don't accept any liability for this – it's solely your responsibility. Visit the government website to find out more about:
If your organisation operates in marketing, law, or the creative industries, you can tap into fresh talent and innovative thinking by partnering with our students. Through our Marketing Hub, Law Clinic, and Sunderland Creatives Agency, you’ll gain access to student expertise while supporting their learning. It’s a mutually beneficial way to solve business challenges, explore new ideas, and invest in future professionals.
Sunderland Marketing Hub connects businesses with talented marketing students and experienced academics to tackle real-world marketing challenges. Through fresh insights and professional support, we help your business grow while contributing to the development of future marketing professionals.
Our Student Law Clinic offers businesses the opportunity to collaborate with our law students and academic staff on real legal cases. Professionally supervised and operated to high standards, the Clinic provides free legal advice and assistance to the local community. By getting involved, your business can contribute to meaningful community impact, demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and help shape the next generation of legal professionals.
Sunderland Creatives Agency offers businesses, entrepreneurs, and charities the opportunity to work on creative projects with real impact. Powered by the talents of our students and the industry expertise of Sunderland-based agency Creo Comms, the agency delivers high-quality support in areas such as brand development, graphic design, photography, illustration, video, animation, and more. Get involved to access fresh creative thinking while supporting the development of future industry professionals.
Joining us on campus gives you the opportunity to raise your business’s profile among our students. It's an excellent way to ensure your organisation stands out when they begin their graduate job search. Activities can include:
Recruitment events
Career fairs
Employer on Campus presentations or pop-ups
Career Discovery
Participation in module-based sessions.
We also run the Professional Insight Scheme where you can share your knowledge and expertise with students and graduates who are keen to learn from real-world professionals and gain insight into a specific industry or job role.
We'll make every effort to promote employer events but can't guarantee student attendance. Organisations visiting any of our campuses must not canvas students or graduates, distribute leaflets, or display materials outside of their designated delivery area. We can't accept financial or other liability if a booking is cancelled for any reason. While on University premises or engaging with students virtually, representatives are required to adhere to all relevant policies on our external speakers page.
What we ask of employers
When working with the University, we ask employers to:
Provide accurate information about your organisation, recruitment needs, and contact details
Share clear, comprehensive vacancy details so we can promote opportunities effectively to our students and graduates
Give adequate notice for vacancies and events, and inform us promptly of any changes
Adhere to relevant recruitment Codes of Practice (available on request) and comply with all applicable legislative frameworks
Provide constructive feedback to help us continually improve our service.
Feedback
We're committed to continually improving our service and welcome your feedback at any time. You may also receive short questionnaires covering different aspects of our provision – your insights help us refine and enhance what we do.
We review all feedback, both positive and constructive, alongside our own observations to inform service improvements within available resources. An annual evaluation report supports our review and planning process and is available on request.
Feedback can be provided anonymously; however, if you'd like a response, please include your contact details.
Contact us
To arrange a discussion around how your business can benefit from working with our students and graduates, please contact Duncan McDonald (Partnerships and Work Integrated Learning Manager) or Donna Bainbridge (Partnerships and Work Integrated Learning Officer).
