What is the Customised Awards Scheme?
Our Customised Awards Scheme lets you design your own degree around your career goals or personal interests – at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
You can focus on one subject or combine areas that aren’t offered as a single named degree. Each course is built to ensure academic quality and coherence. The award title can be individually negotiated or you can graduate with a general degree in Customised Studies.
Graduates of this course are well placed to enter a wide range of careers, having had the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills and qualities that employers value.
How is the Scheme structured?
Core and optional modules are negotiated for each individual subject and your teaching and assessment will depend on the subjects and modules you choose. Each module has its own mix of learning activities and assessment methods, so you’ll experience a variety of ways to learn and demonstrate your knowledge.
The Scheme includes the following in full-time and part-time modes:
- University of Sunderland Foundation Certificate via Customised Study for those wishing to study up to and including 120 credits at level 3 or equivalent
- Certificate in Higher Education for those wishing to study 120 credits at level 4 or equivalent
- Diploma in Higher Education for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and 120 level 5 credits or equivalent
- A degree without honours for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and 120 level 5 credits, and 60 level 6 credits or equivalent
- A degree with honours for those wishing to study 120 level 4 credits and 120 level 5 credits or equivalent, and 120 level 6 credits
- Postgraduate credits for those wishing to study between 10 and 55 credits at level 7
- A Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) for those wishing to study 60 credits at level 7
- A Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) for those wishing to study 120 credits at level 7
- A master's (MA/MSc) degree for those wishing to study 180 credits at level 7.
What are the entry requirements?
Due to the nature of the Scheme, the entry requirements are flexible and negotiable. However, degree routes will normally request the minimum qualifications for entry which are at least a grade C/4 in GCSE English language and mathematics or Level 3 key skills qualifications, with 102 UCAS Tariff points or equivalent.
Subject specific entry requirements will be defined by the Director of Study. If you hold non-traditional qualifications or have relevant work experience, please contact the Programme Leader to discuss.
For other routes within the Scheme, you'll be admitted at the discretion of the Programme Leader.
What are the tuition fees?
The tuition fees for this course will vary depending on whether you wish to take an undergraduate degree, a postgraduate degree, or individual modules.
Typically, annual, full-time fees are:
- £9,535 if you're from the UK*/Europe
- £17,500 if you're an international student.
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,535. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
Tuition fees for part-time students are £7,145 per 90 credits. Please note, part-time courses aren't available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Please contact the Programme Leader if you wish to discuss your personal circumstances.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
How do I apply?
To apply for the Customised Awards Scheme, please contact Nik Clarke (Programme Leader) by emailing nik.clarke@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).
For more information about studying at the University of Sunderland, call 0191 515 3000(opens in new tab) or email student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).