Medicine is a challenging but highly-rewarding subject to study at university. A passion for the sciences, a willingness to help people and a commitment to learn are just some of the things you will need to succeed... but you know all that. So let’s cut to the chase. Why should you study Medicine at Sunderland?
The Sunderland experience
Sunderland is one of only five new medical schools, established to address the regional imbalance of medical education places across England and to widen access to ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves.
The University of Sunderland experience is different from most UK medical schools. We have a relatively small student intake, a city-centre campus by the sea and a supportive community with enthusiastic and committed staff.
It’s important to choose a medical school that provides the right balance of personal and professional development for you, that enables you to graduate as a fully competent and caring clinician.
A healthy dose of quality tuition
At Sunderland, you’ll be taught by renowed academics in some of the UK’s most groundbreaking facilities, gaining unique insights into some of the health needs of our population. You’ll study in some of the best-performing Trusts in England and receive the right balance of personal and professional teaching methods. The North East region was ranked number 1 in the UK in 17 of 18 indicators in the 2019 Annual National Training Survey published by the General Medical Council by Junior doctors training in hospitals, GP practices and other healthcare settings.
We have an outstanding reputation for delivering a comprehensive range of health-related courses. You will study alongside pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, and biomedical, sport and physiological scientists, offering opportunities for inter-disciplinary working.
We’ve teamed up with the highly-accredited Keele University School of Medicine to develop a new medical syllabus, which means you can be confident our course will truly deliver. Our aim is to train excellent and innovative clinicians, who are well prepared for future practice and the globalisation of health care.
Fantastic facilities
From the start of the course you will be using our Anatomy Lab which has a range of resources, from Adam Rouilly anatomical models, touch-screen computers, portable ultrasound equipment, to an Anatomage Table.
In early 2022 we opened our new multi-million pound Anatomy Centre which has been designed to support your anatomy learning through the use of prosections. It will allow you to improve your depth perception, spatial orientation and visualization of body structures below the skin.
And then we have our Living Lab with mock hospital wards, immersive suite and simulation manikins. All designed to allow you to run different scenarios, from clinical skills, to role playing, fully immersing you in your surroundings from the safety of the University. Read more about the Living Lab.
Sustainability at Sunderland Medical School
We are living through a climate emergency. At Sunderland we recognize the impact climate change is having on health. We are embedding teaching on sustainability into the medical curriculum and offer opportunities to be involved in this area through our student and staff sustainability group.
It costs less than you might think
We’re sure you won’t need reminding that the financial rewards of a degree in Medicine are pretty great. Want to hear it anyway? The average medicine graduate is earning £46,600 five years after completing their course – the highest of any subject (according to PAYE and declared self-employment earnings data). Always a good thing to hear, isn’t it?
That might seem a little far away at the moment though – and we know getting to that point requires a sizeable investment in tuition fees first. At Sunderland, we offer a range of scholarships to support you during your studies. For full details, see the Scholarships, discounts and specialised grants section of our website.
Sunderland living is the perfect remedy
By studying in Sunderland, you’ll be based in a fantastic city by the sea – one which was shortlisted for City of Culture 2021 in fact. There’s a shortage of doctors here in the North East, which means you’ll be helping to address a national imbalance, plus the chances of you securing a job after you graduate should be pretty good too!
Sunderland is already a very affordable part of the country to live (it's the second most affordable city in the UK according to a 2018 ‘Graduate salaries in the UK’ survey conducted by Prospects Luminate, to be precise), but we know the university experience can add up.
So, in summary, Sunderland offers an outstanding combination of a distinctive curriculum, excellent educational and clinical resources, and a friendly environment where staff are keen to help you succeed in your medical career… not to mention a number of generous scholarships and discounts. Perhaps the more appropriate question is, why wouldn’t you study Medicine at Sunderland?
Published: 28 February 2022