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Study support

Whether you’re looking for academic advice, IT support, or library guidance, our study support services are designed to help you get the most out of your course.

Students taking notes and listening in a classroom

Academic support

Personal Academic Tutors (PATs)

Our academic staff are here to support you throughout your studies. Alongside your programme and module leaders, you’ll be assigned a PAT who'll be your main point of contact for course-related advice. Your PAT will meet with you regularly, getting to know your strengths and areas for development, and helping you build confidence in your work. They can also connect you with other university services when you need additional support, ensuring you always know where to turn.

Student Success and Transition team

You can also speak to our Student Success and Transition team, who are available throughout the year for drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments. They can support you both pastorally and academically, and can refer you to other services at the University. You can get in touch with them by emailing student.success@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab) or calling 0191 515 2600(opens in new tab).

Students' Union (SU)

Our SU offers a range of academic support to students, including the SU Buddies Scheme(opens in new tab) where you'll be paired with a more experienced student who can offer advice and support. Visit the SU website for more information(opens in new tab).

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

We run a range of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Business Studies (EBS) courses to support you alongside your main degree. Most are designed for students who speak English as a foreign language, but there are options for native speakers too. Courses take place during term time and focus on building your academic and language skills so you can feel more confident in your studies.

You can find out more, including how to apply, on our library website(opens in new tab).

Library support

We have four libraries across our Sunderland campuses, each offering flexible study spaces, extensive opening hours, and access to both print and online resources. Most of your recommended reading is available online, making it easy to access materials whenever you need them. We invest in high-quality, profession-focused resources to support your learning and future career.

Our libraries also provide opportunities to build your study and digital skills through workshops, drop-ins, and personalised one-to-one support. This includes our Digital US programme, developed in partnership with other university services, to help you grow the skills and confidence you need to succeed in your studies and beyond.

The Library Customer Support Team are on hand to support you with your queries, both on campus and through our 24/7 live chat – LibraryTalk(opens in new tab).

Read more about our library services(opens in new tab).

IT support

Our friendly IT Support team is here to help with any issues you might face when using university IT facilities and services. From resetting passwords and connecting to Wi-Fi, to accessing software and troubleshooting technical problems, the team is your first point of contact throughout your studies.

You can visit the Technical Services desk on either campus or get in touch online through the IT Portal(opens in new tab) or by phone. For urgent queries, call 0191 515 3333 to get help as quickly as possible.