Student Handbook

Academic Regulations are the rules that govern how you'll be assessed, progressed between stages, and given awards. You can find more information, including an explanation for key elements of the regulations, in the student guide to the Academic Regulations.

The attendance monitoring system allows us to regularly review your record to see if you're having any problems attending your classes. It's really important that you use the system and register your attendance at all teaching sessions you go to. This involves tapping your Campus Card against a reader when you go into class.

There'll be fixed card-readers on the wall of all main teaching rooms. Where no fixed reader is available, you may be asked to use a hand-held device.

Read more about attendance monitoring and the Learning Engagement Policy.

The extenuating circumstances policy and procedure is in place to help with events which affect your work, but aren't predictable and beyond your control, such as illness. Outcomes may include short-term extensions or deferral of a piece of work, allowing you to submit it at a later assessment point.

By submitting an assessment or sitting an exam, you’re confirming that you’re fit to do so. After this point, claims for extenuating circumstances won't be considered.

If extenuating circumstances are on medical grounds, medical evidence must be attached. If a claim is made on other grounds, appropriate documentary evidence must still be attached.

Supporting evidence is likely to be documentation from a professional (doctor, counsellor, member of the University’s Student Wellbeing Services, disability support adviser).

Read more about the extenuating circumstances process.

In some circumstances, you may need to take an authorised period of absence leave from your university studies. Further information about this can be found in our Leave of Absence Policy.

Student Enquiries is your first point of contact for any student related enquiries. Whether the issue is big or small, quick or complex, we're here to help. We'll work closely with a variety of different departments to get you the support and guidance you need.

You can expect a warm welcome when visiting either of the Student Enquiries desks located at both City Campus in the Gateway Building and the Prospect Building at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's.

Personal Academic Tutoring supports you to achieve your academic and personal aspirations. It's designed to help you develop skills and gain experience outside of your course.

The sessions aim to show that while your degree is important and opens doors to graduate jobs, it’s not enough on its own. Employers also look for evidence of initiative, real-world experience, key skills, and an understanding of how businesses work. Developing an understanding of these areas will help you stand out and improve your chances of securing a role.

Further information on Personal Academic Tutoring, including student responsibilities, can be found in the PAT Policy.

The University has a number of systems in place to ensure your safety, security, and wellbeing. The Campus Security team work closely with their colleagues in Northumbria Police.

Find out more about safety on campus.

Reporting an incident or crime

There are also procedures in place for any victim of crime, witness to an incident, or witness to suspicious or unusual activity to report their concerns to the University Security team.

This service is 24/7 and reports can be made:

• By calling the Security team on 0191 515 2028
• In-person with the Security team
• By making an anonymous report online.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Alongside your studies you'll have the opportunity to build on your academic skills and experience by applying for a part-time job or undertaking a placement or volunteering opportunity.

Read more about placements and job opportunities.

The University’s free speech Code of Practice sets out how we promote free speech and academic freedom. The Code contains key information on what's meant by free speech and academic freedom, how this links to the University’s values, and how free speech and academic freedom is part of our admissions, appointment, and employment practices.

The Code was revised in response to those parts of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 which have been passed into law and associated Office for Students’ guidance. This version was approved by the Board of Governors in July 2025, to be implemented with immediate effect.

The University of Sunderland remains committed to working closely with the Students’ Union, who also have their own Code of Practice, to ensure a joined up approach to securing free speech on campus.

The University collects and holds personal data relating to its students for a variety of purposes. For further details on the way in which we process your personal data, including the legal basis for doing so, please see our Privacy Policy.

On-campus students (Sunderland and London)

The University has a duty of care to our student community. This is supported by our University Policies and Regulations within our legal framework of duty of care. This is informed by both the adult status of our students and the need to take reasonable steps to provide a safe, secure environment that supports positive wellbeing and good mental health for students who live and work in a shared community. The University should provide information, guidance, and support for students so they can make informed choices to shape their actions.

The particular care of students who are minors is addressed via specific policy under Safeguarding.

The University will always take reasonable steps to support students in difficulty but recognises a shared responsibility between student and University to assure both personal wellbeing and safety. The University recognises both the proportionate capacity of its Support Services and the role of wider NHS statutory services in the immediate and ongoing support of our students.

University of Sunderland – off-campus students (UK and overseas)

The University has a duty of care to our student community. This is supported by our University Policies and Regulations within our legal framework of duty of care. This is informed by both the adult status of our students and the need to provide a safe, secure environment which supports positive wellbeing and good mental health for students.

The University requires partner centres to provide appropriate student support for our students in their local context. The University has a responsibility to ensure that this support is in place via its established Quality Assurance procedures.

Our Student Protection Plan sets out what measures we have in place to protect you as our students in the event that a risk to the continuation of your studies should arise.

The type of event or changes which might cause such a risk are also detailed in the Plan. This plan has been approved by our regulator, the Office for Students.

Read the Student Protection Plan.

The University of Sunderland values and celebrates the diversity of all its students and staff. Through our policies and practices, we work to ensure all students and staff are welcome in our community and don't face discrimination with regard to any aspect of their identity. This includes age, disability, gender (including gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, and maternity), ethnicity (including race, colour, or nationality), religion or belief (including non-belief), or sexual orientation.

Find out more about our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

If you're dissatisfied with a service provided by the University you should always raise any issue of complaint informally at a local level as soon as possible, and you'll receive a response which, most of the time, will resolve your complaint.

If you're still not happy with the response and any proposed solution, you can take your complaint further through the formal Student Complaints Policy.

Contact Student Casework, or the Students' Union for advice on the process, advocacy and support, or find out more about student casework and complaints.

We'll use the virtual learning environment and your Student Success Coordinator to check how you’re getting on with your studies. To help us support you, make sure you use the system regularly and stay in touch with your Student Success Coordinator.

If you don’t register for two modules in a row and don’t respond to our attempts to contact you, you'll be withdrawn from your course. For courses lasting more than a year, you’ll also need to re-enrol each year. We'll get in touch when it's time to do this.

If you don’t complete re-enrolment, your place at the University could be withdrawn.

As an online learner, you'll work in a very different environment to the traditional classroom. This offers many benefits, such as flexibility, more independence, and the opportunity to work at your own pace. We recognise that you may also be concerned about getting the support you need, maintaining your self-motivation, or feeling isolated.

We aim to combat these concerns by providing our online learners with a named Student Success Coordinator (SSC). The role of the SSC is to provide you with proactive encouragement and support throughout your online journey. We aim to ensure you're given the right level of support and that we recognise if you need any extra encouragement or guidance to succeed.

Your SSC will get in touch to welcome you once you're fully enrolled on your course. In this initial welcome call, your SSC will:

• Introduce themselves and offer congratulations on starting your student journey
• Explain the role of the Student Success Coordinator
• Emphasise the importance of undertaking the Orientation module
• Direct you to the Student Handbook and Programme Handbook
• Check you can access Canvas, your online learning environment
• Advise on how to access other University support and resources
• Explain the importance of engaging throughout the module
• Revisit any concerns you expressed during your application process and reconfirm any planned absences/events
• Discuss processes around submission deadlines, the withdrawal/refund process, study breaks (formal/informal), and how these impact on your overall course trajectory and student financing
• Advise on future registration expectations and deadlines
• Set a precedent for future communications with you.

Your SSC should always be your first point of contact for any queries or concerns. The SSC won't provide any academic advice or guidance but will direct you to the appropriate member of the academic team if an academic issue is identified. Should assistance be required from another department, the SSC will advise you to contact the relevant student services department.

Your SSC can be contacted by email or telephone using the details below:

studentsuccess@online.sunderland.ac.uk

Freephone: +44 808 175 5684