Whether you’ve already checked us out at an Open Day and want to know more, or you’ve never even heard of Sunderland, we’re sharing our top 10 reasons why you should choose us when applying for university.
1. We're ranked within the top 40 UK universities
We’re pleased to say that the University of Sunderland has been placed within the top 40 UK universities by the Guardian University Guide, 2025. This achievement recognises our immense efforts towards providing teaching excellence, being professions facing, and employability focused.
Our drive to help our students reach their full potential and get to where they want to be after graduating is at the heart of everything we do. This commitment has also been reflected by our standing as first in the north-east for teaching quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
"University league tables are only one measure of the work done here at the University of Sunderland. However, such a dramatic rise in the Guardian University Guide is a notable moment for us. So, as always, I pay tribute to students and staff for all their hard work which we see and celebrate, day in and day out."
Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
2. Famously low cost of living
The cost of living in the north-east of England is renowned for being much lower than other parts of the country, and Sunderland is a great choice if you want to go to university and stick to a budget. We’re the 7th cheapest city for student accommodation according to Student Crowd, and the north-east’s student living costs are around £124 a month less than the national average (Save the Student, 2024). Explore our cost of living hub to learn more about how cheap it is to live and study in Sunderland.
3. A welcoming and diverse community
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).
4. First-class facilities
Our facilities have benefitted from multi-million-pound investment in recent years, and we continue to invest across both our campuses, with plans announced in 2023 to spend £250 million over the next 10 years. These plans include a major redevelopment of the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, with the creation of a new library and student centre, investment in education and research facilities, and growth in key areas such as computer science and engineering. We’ll also be developing our health facilities at City Campus, refurbishing existing buildings, and improving our student accommodation.
5. Excellent employment prospects
We pride ourselves on our career-focused courses, but there’s so much more we can offer you to help enhance your employment prospects, whether that’s finding your first job when you graduate, or working while you’re studying. Our Centre for Graduate Prospects can offer a whole range of support – working with local employers to recruit students, helping you find volunteering and extracurricular opportunities, and hosting the annual Student Jobs and Volunteering Fair.
We’ve also got our own Student Career and Skills Coaches to offer guidance on writing a CV and preparing for interviews, and our Employability and Enterprise Hub lets you search for all the student and graduate jobs currently available.
6. Investment in our city
It’s not just the University seeing considerable investment in the next few years – the city itself is undergoing major developments, with many projects already completed. Sunderland City Council confirmed in 2023 that over £400 million would be spent on transforming parts of Sunderland city centre and the seafront, and you can expect everything from new hospitality and entertainment spots, an increase in green spaces, revamped cultural venues, and more. Read more about the recent and upcoming developments in Sunderland.
7. Student support is important to us
We’re University of the Year for Student Support (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025), and as well as all the academic support you’ll receive when studying with us, we’re committed to offering a range of other support services you might need. Whether you’re looking for wellbeing advice, student financial guidance, international student support, or something else, we’re here to ensure you feel happy and included when you join us at Sunderland. Explore more about our student support services.
8. An inclusive university
Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion was celebrated when we were named 8th in the UK for social inclusion (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025). No matter your background or circumstances, we’ll help you to achieve your potential.
9. Superb transport links
Another great reason to choose Sunderland is its fantastic transport links, keeping you well-connected whether you’re travelling within the city centre or heading out of it. Getting to and from our campuses couldn’t be simpler – they’re a 20-minute walk from each other, or you can jump on one of the Sunderland Connect 700/701 buses which are free to use with valid student ID.
We have the Tyne and Wear Metro too, with several stations around Sunderland, which can take you to other areas of the north-east and Newcastle Airport. If you’re coming to study with us from elsewhere in the UK, our newly refurbished train station also means you can easily plan your weekend trips home!
10. Access to sports, clubs, and societies
We love sport at Sunderland, and we’ve got over 30 sports clubs and societies for you to choose from, giving you the opportunity to improve your fitness and make some new friends along the way. Team Sunderland is your dedicated support service for sport, and we’ve got some excellent facilities at City Campus, including our fully equipped gym and climbing wall.
Not into sports? Don’t worry – we’ve also got over 50 other societies you can join if you want to get involved with something different, whether that be picking up a new hobby or meeting people from the same culture or religion as you.
Have we convinced you that coming to the University of Sunderland is a great choice? To find out more, book an Open Day or explore our range of subject areas and courses.
Published: 10 October 2024