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We take our students' health, wellbeing and career prospects seriously. We know, as you do, that students need to be healthy and happy in order to fulfil their potential and maximise their chances of getting that dream job.
We have a range of free and confidential support systems for all students, such as our Wellbeing service. The service offers advice on a range of issues such as stress, anxiety and low mood, self-harming behaviours, bereavement and loss, eating issues, dependency and addiction, concerns about sexuality, issues with self-esteem and confidence and long-term mental health difficulties. We also have a guide of useful links to support services for students that parents and supporters can recommend to students.
Students can access these services in person, or make a confidential appointment by phone, email or using an online referral form.
The team is made up of highly-qualified health and wellbeing professionals with a wealth of experience, so you can be confident about your child receiving the support they need.
The Disability Support team provides information, support and guidance to students with disabilities, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) and long-term medical conditions.
The team outline the services and support they offer to all students, from the application stage and throughout the entirety of their time with us:
Your student will receive regular examination and module marks and will be fully aware of how well they are doing academically. Your student is also allocated a personal tutor, who will be available to discuss academic or personal concerns on a one-to-one basis. If they have any queries or difficulties within their subject areas, they can book an appointment with their tutor for more in-depth support and guidance. There is also further support available using our library services.
We are not permitted to release information about academic progress to any third party without the consent of our students, this also applies to parents, supporters and family members.
Some students need a little help making new friends and feeling comfortable in their new environment. That's why our Students' Union offers SU Buddies, which pairs new students with a current student who can help them find their way around, find the best place to get a cup of coffee, share study tips and much more.
There are also over 50 Sports Clubs and Societies for you to join, covering everything from feminism, football, games, and hockey, to snow sports, debating and rugby. Whatever the interest, we’ll help your student find friends and have a happy and fulfilling student experience.
We can offer individual, bespoke support to estranged students and care-experienced young people. Our award-winning We Care team can offer individual bespoke support whenever prospective and current students need it. They can assist on a wide range of issues including accommodation, student finance and funding, employment and part-time work, academic queries, mental health and wellbeing, and accessing the We Care bursary.
The Employability and Enterprise Hub allows students to engage in person or online with employers through employer talks, employability conferences and careers fairs to ensure that they are well-placed to make connections with potential employers. We offer a wide selection of experiential opportunities ranging from volunteering, work shadowing, paid projects, Student Ambassador roles, support in finding a student job, professional mentoring and the Sunderland Professional Award (SuPA) to help enhance our students’ future employment prospects.
Alternatively, if a student is a budding entrepreneur, then they may decide to run their own business alongside studying at university. At Sunderland, The Enterprise Place provides support for our students to help them realise their start-up ambitions while with us and for three years after graduation.
Our University chaplaincy offers friendship, support, pastoral care and advice on religious matters, regardless of any particular religious affiliation or none.
The full-time University Chaplain is the Reverend Chris Howson. He is based within Student Support Services, 1st Floor Edinburgh Building, City Campus.
As a team, the Chaplains host many events such as meditation socials, weekly Global Friendship evenings and walks across the year that are open to all students to meet and get to know one another. All current and former University of Sunderland students are welcome to join. Contact Chris Howson to get involved.
We have partnered with Homegroup, who provide our out-of-hours support overnight. Support staff can offer support to all students from 6:30pm – 6:30am, seven days a week. Students can call 0191 515 2451. All calls are free and confidential. The support is in addition to the current support offered by the University.
Other resources include:
During office hours you can contact Student Support Services: 0191 515 2933 / wellbeing@sunderland.ac.uk.
A trusted contact is someone a student nominates as a person we can contact in usually rare, circumstances. This tends to be a parent or guardian, but it can be anyone over the age of 18, such as a family member, neighbour or friend.
As a wellbeing service, we support thousands of students both from home and internationally each year, so it's important that we work across the University linking with partners and family wherever possible to provide the best support for students. All students should ensure the University has up-to-date details for both next of kin and trusted contacts.
The University of Sunderland Childcare Service at St Mary’s Childcare Centre is open to students, staff and the general public, who can take advantage of the excellent staff and facilities at St Mary’s on Chester Road.
As a parent or supporter, we may not be able to discuss an individual's specific circumstances with you, however, you are welcome to contact any of our support services, visit them in person, or speak to them at an Open Day and find out more about the comprehensive support that's on offer at the University of Sunderland.
Don't just take our word for it though, read graduate Sophie Dishman's blog about how the University supports our students' mental health.
If you have any questions about health, wellbeing and the services we offer to students, please get in touch:
0191 515 2933
To learn more about our careers and employability service, you can contact the Employability and Enterprise Hub:
0191 515 2920
To find out more about our Students' Union and the services they offer, visit their website or contact:
0191 515 3030
Find out more about our University Chaplaincy, our Interfaith Centre, and how you can practice and explore your faith at the University, whatever your religion or denomination.
If you feel you need a little bit of extra support, the University also has a Wellbeing team. They can offer free and confidential counselling as well as access to online CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) in the form of Silvercloud, and can signpost you to the Disability Support Service, who can help if your mental health is getting in the way of your academic life. The Chaplaincy is also there to offer a listening ear."
Sophie Dishman – BA (Hons) Journalism