US and Canada - Pharmacy | The University of Sunderland

The pressures faced by American students as they explore college and university options are enormous. From choosing which institutes to apply to and what courses to pursue, to understanding costs and associated concerns, the whole process is a tricky one that often feels overwhelming. However, there is another option that many students don’t consider. It’s an opportunity that not only provides a fantastic education and amazing life experiences, but one that does so at a much more affordable price.

Many American students in higher education will have heard of studying abroad for a semester or two; in fact, around 80% of College Freshmen indicate they want to study abroad, according to NAFSA. And those that do decide to study outside of the USA tend to reap great rewards:

HIGHER GRADUATION RATES: Four-year graduation rates are 18% HIGHER for students who study abroad.
HIGHER GPA: Studying abroad has been shown to INCREASE a student’s GPA.
MORE EMPLOYABLE: 75% of companies said a GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE was important for their staff.

Yet, despite the clear benefits, few American students consider looking abroad when debating options for their full degree program. Those that do, however, will find a lot of positives to consider.

And, of course, there are the life experiences of studying in the UK. Despite the obvious time and financial savings, spending three years studying abroad at a great institute stands you apart from the crowd. The dramatic coastlines of the Northeast and its rich history are a wonderful location to spend several years at a fantastic University that was recently shortlisted as University of the Year, the leading category in this year’s THE – Times Higher Education – annual awards.

So, if you’re interested in an affordable 3-year undergraduate degree or a 1-year Masters then have a look at the courses offered by the University of Sunderland.

A group of Pharmacy students working in the simulated pharmacy

Shorter course duration

The length of studies is a major difference between the UK and USA. Courses in the UK tend to be shorter than those in America across all levels of higher education. A bachelor’s degree in the UK is usually 3 years in length, compared to 4 years in the USA. A master’s degree in the UK tends to last 1 year whereas in the USA it typically takes 2 years of study. PHD’s in the UK last 3-4 years whilst in the USA they often take 5-7 years to obtain.

When you factor the additional time into the cost of study in the USA, those extra years really do make a difference – especially if students are already considering studying out of state. American students could gain both an undergraduate and a Masters degree in the same time as a US-based student would gain their undergraduate degree… and for less cost.

Pharmacy student searching for medicine in simulated pharmacy

Lower tuition and living costs

The Education Data Initiative, collate publicly accessible information regarding college tuition costs in the USA. EDI use a metric they label the “cost of attendance (COA)”. This label describes “the total cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, as well as room and board for those students living on campus. COA does not include transportation costs, daily living expenses, student loan interest, etc.” Using this metric EDI have noted that:

The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at a public 4-year in-state institution is $25,487 per year or $101,948 over 4 years.
Out-of-state students pay $43,161 per year or $172,644 over 4 years; traditional private university students pay $53,217 per year or $212,868 over 4 years.
While 4 years is the traditional period to earn a bachelor’s degree, just 39% of students graduate within 4 years.
60% of bachelor’s degree earners graduate within 6 years, totaling an average of $152,922 for the cost of attendance.

In the UK, however, those numbers are significantly smaller. At the University of Sunderland, a full 3-year undergraduate programme would cost an American student around $70-75k – this figure includes tuition fees, accommodation costs, and living costs.

When it comes to studying a master’s degree, the University of Sunderland would cost an American student approximately $30,000 for their tuition fees and living costs. That being said, it’s worth keeping in mind that the University of Sunderland does offer a 20% discount to all UoS BA Graduates progressing to Postgraduate study.

American students could also look to finance their studies at the University of Sunderland with Federal Direct and PLUS Loans, and it is certainly worth checking out the University of Sunderland’s international scholarships offerings, too.

Something American students might know is that students in the UK effectively choose their major ahead of arrival onto campus. If you know the subject area you are interested in studying, then that’s what you study, there are rarely any additional courses that need to be taken, unlike in the USA.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

CANADA
Qualification	Minimum grade
Secondary School Diploma	75% overall including 75% in Chemistry and one other science

USA
Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or higher with Grade 12 Chemistry and one other science (or Maths) at grade C or above

For those without a first degree studied in English, Academic IELTS is required (a minimum Academic IELTS band score of 6.5, with 6.5 in writing and no less than 6 in Reading and Speaking and Listening).

Find out more information about the iQTS entry requirements here.

Register your interest below to receive more information, further application guidance (when available) and invitiations to online information sessions.