Postgraduate study | The University of Sunderland

Should I study a postgraduate degree?

If you've already completed an undergraduate degree, you may be wondering 'is university worth it' to study a postgraduate degree.

A postgraduate degree allows you to specialise in your chosen field, enhancing your career prospects, as many professionals have built expertise and achieved success through this route. Find out more about an employer's experience of hiring postgraduate students. You can also read our guide on the differences between MA and MSc courses to find out which would be best for you. If you're eager to begin, many of our postgraduate courses offer early starts between January and April.

Alternatively, if you're looking to pivot your career, postgraduate conversion courses can fast track you to a new industry and build upon your existing knowledge.

For those considering costs and logistics, living at home can make the transition to postgraduate study smoother and more affordable, allowing you to focus fully on your studies. Find out more about why you should consider living at home for university.

Here are some reasons to consider studying a postgraduate degree.

Why Sunderland?

If you’re looking to further your skills and knowledge in your field, progress more quickly in your chosen career, earn a higher salary or choose a new career path, postgraduate study at Sunderland could be for you.

You may need a postgraduate qualification to work in a particular role, or to embark on a whole new career. Or maybe you're coming to the end of your undergraduate studies and want to enhance your knowledge.

You can be assured of high-quality teaching across our postgraduate courses, as well as access to excellent facilities, including state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces in the likes of the Northern Centre of Photography, Murray Health, the Living Lab, and Wearside View. We are ranked as a Top 40 university in the Guardian University Guide 2025. Over 70% of our published research has been rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework. (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Whether you choose to study a taught course or focus on one of our research degrees, you'll improve your critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as deepen your understanding of your chosen subject.

Current students

If you're a current undergraduate student at the University of Sunderland, we'd love you to stay with us.

As a University of Sunderland graduate (alumni), you could be awarded a generous tuition fee discount if you return to study a postgraduate course with us. For most courses, graduates who enrol onto a full or part-time postgraduate course will receive 20% off tuition fees.

To make things easier for you to apply, you can complete a shorter version of our postgraduate application form for most of our postgraduate courses – head to your chosen course page, hit 'Apply now' and select the button for current undergraduate students.

Open Days

Join us at our next Postgraduate Open Day to see our excellent facilities, meet staff and current students and discover what postgraduate study at Sunderland could mean for you.

We also offer you to chance to book one of our regular campus tours, delivered by our Student Ambassadors or a member of our friendly student recruitment team.

If you can’t make it on campus, personalise your own Virtual Experience and explore the University from the comfort of your own home.

Should I study a postgraduate degree?

Postgraduate courses

Master of Medical Education

PgCert in Medical Education

Postgraduate Diploma of Medical Education

MA Modern Music Industries

MSc Applied Project Management

MSc Applied Data Science

MSc Applied Cybersecurity

MSc Applied Computing

MBA Master of Business Administration (with PgCert)

MBA (Professional Practice)

MA Marketing (Professional Practice)

PGCE Early Years Teaching (DL)

PGCE Education (DL)

Master of Education (Health Professions)

PGCE iQTS (DL)

MA Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (DL)

PgCert Special Educational Needs and Disabilities: Leading Provision and Practice (DL)

MSc Tourism Scheme Top-Up (DL)

MA Advancing Counselling Practice

MBA Top-Up (DL)

PGCE Primary Education with QTS

PGCE Primary Education with QTS (School Based)

PGCE Secondary Education in History with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in Computer Science with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in Science with Physics with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in Science with Chemistry with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in Science with Biology with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in English with QTS

PGCE Secondary Education in Mathematics with QTS

MBA Master of Business Administration (Chinese)

MBA Master of Business Administration

MSc International Business Management

PGCE Secondary Education in Geography with QTS

PGCE Further Education and Skills (FES)

MNurse (Adult)

MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences

MSc Public Health

MSc Psychology (Conversion)

PgDip/MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences for the Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme

MSc Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Formulations

MSc Drug Discovery and Development

MSc Clinical Pharmacy

MSc Cosmetic Science

MSc Project Management

MSc Engineering Management

MSc Computing

MSc Cybersecurity

MSc Data Science

MSc Tourism and Aviation

MSc Tourism and Hospitality

MSc Tourism and Events

LLM Terrorism and Cyber Warfare

LLM Commercial Law and International Trade

LLM Criminal Law and Procedure

LLM International Human Rights

LLM Law

MA/MSc Extended Award

MSc Human Resource Management (CIPD Accredited)

MSc Finance and Management

MA Marketing

MSc Inequality and Society

Master of Education (Higher Education)

MA Education (DL)

MA Education

MA Media Production (Film and TV)

MA Radio, Audio and Podcasting

MA Public Relations

MA Journalism / MA Journalism (Sport)

MA Design

MA Visual Practice

MBA Master of Business Administration (Supply Chain Management)

MBA Master of Business Administration (Sustainability)

MBA Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management)

MBA Master of Business Administration (Finance)

MBA Master of Business Administration (Marketing)

MBA Top-Up

MBA Master of Business Administration (Sports Management)

ProfGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Pre-Service