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Things to do and testimonials


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Your Study Abroad time is more than university credits

Your time at the University of Sunderland is more than just an education in the classroom. This is your time to explore the world and soak up as much culture as possible.

Explore while you are here

The Sunderland campus and our London campus are strategically located to give you the opportunity to see beautiful beaches and coastlines as well as historical sites, major cities and towns in just a few hours, whether by train, car, plane or ferry.

  • Living in Sunderland, you have easy access to a lively coastal city with beautiful beaches, history, and a modern city centre.
  • National Glass Centre, a contemporary art gallery and learning centre, is based on our Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s.
  • Sunderland Empire Theatre hosts a variety of shows and West End productions, from ballets to musicals.
  • You are 30 minutes away from Newcastle, a large, exciting city with vibrant nightlife, diverse shops and great restaurants.
  • Metrocentre in Gateshead is one of Europe's largest malls with over 340 shops.
  • World Heritage Site, Durham, is only an hour away via train or bus. You might recognise Durham from movies such as Harry Potter and The Avengers!
  • Alnwick Castle on the Northumberland coast was used as the location of Hogwarts.

 

UK map


Where to go from here

If you want to see more, our Sunderland and London locations are a convenient gateway to international travel. 

  • Edinburgh, Scotland is only two hours away from Sunderland via train and four hours from London.
  • From our Sunderland campus, the beautiful historic city of York, filled with famed architecture and great shopping, is roughly one hour by train. 
  • From Newcastle International Airport you are within easy reach of destinations such as Ireland, Spain, Italy and France.
  • The ferry from Newcastle to the Netherlands offers a short minibreak cruise!
  • All the London airports are easily accessible from the University of Sunderland in London.
  • Travel to France on the Eurostar from London in a couple of hours!


* Please note, when traveling outside of the UK ensure that you are following your personal visa guidelines. These will vary per country. If you need assistance with navigating your visa guidelines, our Study Abroad support team will be able to assist you.

Testimonials

The experience of studying and living abroad proved to potential employers and more importantly to myself that I could be independent and thrive and succeed in new environments - it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. After researching Study Abroad online, it struck me that England was a gateway to Europe but had a culture rich in diversity in its own right. The education that I received at the University showed me how businesses worked with an international perspective."

Alice Ortlieb, USA

The best aspects of studying abroad are that you learn to stand on your own two feet and how to deal with the unexpected. You meet a lot of people from different countries so you open your mind to different cultures. I am proud to have played for the University of Sunderland Football Team and have defended their colours passionately and enjoyed the social life attached to the sport. My advice to other students looking to Study Abroad would be to forget the risks if you want to do it, it is worth it!"

Guillermo de Dios, Spain

It was a great opportunity to learn another culture, to improve the language and enjoy learning with motivated and experienced teaching staff. The tutors are very supportive and want students to succeed. They also have had work experience and can link to practical professional context – not just purely theoretical teaching. I enjoyed the multi-cultural experience, it makes it more interesting rather than everyone being English. Studying in the English language is very attractive to employers."

Henry Humpenoder, Germany

The European Term dates are a good fit for the academic calendar at Sunderland so there was no delay to my academic study. The modules I chose were well suited to my home programme. The cost was a big consideration and the cost of living in Sunderland is a lot lower than in other main cities. The tutors at the University have good interaction with students. There was a good multi-cultural mix at the University and this diversity enabled me to enjoy other cultures."

Raphael Mazanetz, Germany

I have enjoyed hearing different types of English accents, discovering a new culture, seeing how education is in England. It has been great to meet new people from different countries and to speak English in my daily life. On the resume Study Abroad is an enormous advantage. Nowadays employers are really sensitive to this kind of experience, it shows autonomy and adaptation skills. It was a good experience to test my language skills. Sunderland is a nice place to live and you have nice people to go out with."

Adèle Blons, France

The people that I have encountered have made a huge difference in this experience for me. Everyone at the Study Abroad office was very helpful at the beginning of the semester, and since then, every person working at the Gateway has also been incredibly helpful and supportive. I also enjoyed the charm and character of the city itself. The people are very nice, and I’ve really liked the pace of life here in Sunderland."

Amanda Wagner, Canada

I believe I gained a better sense of professionalism. I was able to make contacts in my field, and in general, expand my knowledge on how to make it in the working world. You should take part in Study Abroad, even if it scares you a little bit because it’s that slight fear that will change your life and make your adventure that much more exciting. I can’t tell you what exactly you will experience, but I can say no matter where you go or how long you stay there, experiencing that culture is worth it."

Amanda Schwanke, USA