The University of Sunderland is a UK-based university known for its commitment to providing high-quality education and research relevant to industry and society. It's a global institution with campuses in Sunderland, London, and Hong Kong, and partner colleges worldwide, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
| Nickname | the friendly university |
| Motto / Slogan | Sweetly absorbing knowledge |
| Colour | Nasturtium & dark blue |
| Mascot | The Griffin |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Undergraduate Programmes | |
| Postgraduate Programmes | 181 |
| Location | Sunderland, England, United Kingdom |
| Address | The University of Sunderland Edinburgh Building City Campus Chester Road Sunderland SR1 3SD |
to be a "life-changing university".
The University of Sunderland's vision is to be bold and inspirational in providing education, research, and creative practice, offering transformative experiences to students, staff, communities, and business partners in the UK and globally.
The University of Sunderland's primary objective is to provide transformative educational and research experiences, offering students, staff, communities, and business partners a global impact.
The cost of living in the north-east of England is much lower than in other parts of the UK, making Sunderland ideal for students on a budget. Ranked the 7th cheapest city for student accommodation (Student Crowd) and 4th cheapest for renters in 2025 (Rightmove), living costs here are about £124 a month below the national average (Save the Student, 2024). Visit our Cost of Living Hub to see how affordable it is to live and study in Sunderland.
If you join us at Sunderland, you’ll be part of a global community rich in diversity, and we welcome home and international students from a wide range of nationalities and cultures. In fact, over 40% of our students come from outside the UK, from over 100 countries worldwide. We're proud to be 10th in Europe and 2nd in the UK for International Student Diversity (QS World University Rankings Europe, 2025).
Our facilities have seen multi-million-pound investment, with plans announced in 2023 to spend £250 million over the next decade. This includes redeveloping the Sir Tom Cowie Campus with a new library and student centre, expanding computer science and engineering, and enhancing education and research spaces. We’ll also upgrade health facilities at City Campus, refurbish buildings, and improve student accommodation.
We offer excellent employment prospects through our career-focused courses and dedicated support. The Centre for Graduate Prospects connects students with local employers, volunteering, and job opportunities, while our annual Jobs and Volunteering Fair boosts experience. Student Career and Skills Coaches provide CV and interview guidance, and our Employability and Enterprise Hub lists current student and graduate roles.
Entry requirements vary by course. Please check the course page for requirements.
Entry requirements vary by course. Please check the course page for requirements.
Email: [email protected]
Phone : +44(0)191 515 3000, +44(0)191 515 3154
Sir David was born in Glasgow in March 1959. Educated at a comprehensive school, he took degrees at the University of Glasgow and obtained his PGCE from Jordanhill College of Education.
In a career spanning over 40 years, Sir David has held a number of major posts across ... read more
Sir David began his career as a primary school teacher and later became a head teacher. He was Director of Education and Libraries with Newcastle City Council and Chief Executive of Bedfordshire County Council. He was a Harkness Fellow based in Atlanta, Georgia for a year.
Professor Driscoll is the Executive Lead for the University’s Student Success Plan, the Teaching Excellence framework, and degree apprenticeships and skills. She chairs Academic Board and the Education Committee.
Before her appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Driscoll held senior leadership roles at the University of Sunderland as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) and as Academic Director for Educational Partnerships. She is also a Professor of Global Education.
As Statutory Clerk to the Board of Governors, she provides Board members with the advice, support and information necessary for them to fulfil their responsibilities. She ensures the University and its subsidiary companies operate within the higher education sector’s increasingly complex regulatory and statutory framework.
Andrea has over 25 years of senior leadership experience within higher education and has a professional background in human resource management, strategic leadership and organisational development in both the private and public sectors, where she has delivered large-scale cultural and operational change.
Andrea holds postgraduate qualifications in Human Resource Management and Employment Law from the universities of Northumbria and Surrey and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Ben is responsible for the University’s financial strategy, performance and controls, and provides strategic leadership for the University’s finance functions. He is responsible for the management of the University’s financial and capital resources and for ensuring that its financial planning and operations are aligned to delivering educational sustainability, alongside financial sustainability.
Ben is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a product of the well-regarded Northern Electric accountancy graduate training scheme. He is an experienced finance leader and university manager, having spent 15 years in various finance and faculty-based leadership and management roles at Northumbria University before joining the University of Sunderland.
Prior to joining the University, Professor Radosavljevic held numerous leadership positions at the University of the West of Scotland (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, Associate Vice-Principal Research, Assistant Dean Research and Enterprise), University of Reading (School Director of Teaching and Learning and School Director of Enterprise), University of Dundee (Demonstration Projects Coordinator) and in the private sector (Production Director – off-site construction).
Her subsequent research focuses on applications of AI within music, as well as novel approaches to data analysis through sonification.
She teaches across all courses in a variety of modules, including Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Advanced Programming.
The river bank surrounding the ancient church of St Peter's is now the setting for the University of Sunderland's award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's.
Here we take a look back at some of the key developments of the 20th and 21st century which have helped create the modern University of Sunderland and the University of Sunderland in London near London's financial district Canary Wharf.
The University's mo... read more