Undergraduate study
Join us and embark on a life-changing journey. Our selection of career-focused courses will help nurture and develop your passions and the ever-developing city of Sunderland provides the perfect location for an exciting start to your student life.
Undergraduate study at Sunderland
As an undergraduate student at Sunderland, you’ll belong to a vibrant community of 27,500 students across our North East, London, and Hong Kong campuses. You'll be taught by warm and engaging academic staff whose main aim is to help you get somewhere after you’ve completed your degree with us.
We have everything in place to set you up for your dream career; ranging from careers and placement support to entrepreneurial and freelance facilities on campus to help you set up your own business.
For your downtime, you’ll be able to explore everything that the vibrant city of Sunderland has to offer. There are plenty of independent bars and restaurants for you to sample and even a couple of sandy beaches to enjoy, whatever the weather!
Our fantastic location
The University of Sunderland is based in the North East of England, with excellent transport links to Scotland, Newcastle, Northumberland, and beyond, so it's perfect for students looking to explore the best of what the UK has to offer. Find out more about living in Sunderland.
We have two campuses here, and our City Campus sits in the heart of Sunderland so you can reach the shopping centre, restaurants, and bars within minutes. Our second location is the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's which has a wonderful riverside location perched on the banks of the River Wear.
St Peter's campus is also a short walk from both Roker and Seaburn beaches, with excellent walking routes and views of the coastline. Find out more about life on campus.
What is an undergraduate degree?
An undergraduate degree is an academic qualification at Level 6. Typically, undergraduate students possess A-level or equivalent qualifications and are taking the next step in their academic journey by going to university.
Undergraduate degrees come in different lengths and subjects. A standard undergraduate bachelor's degree has a length of three years, or four years if you choose to participate in an industrial placement or study abroad.
Depending on your chosen course, the title of your bachelor's degree may vary slightly. You'll find that some courses may be a Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons), a Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) or a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).
What qualifications will I need?
The entry requirements for undergraduate degrees vary, so it's always best to check the relevant course page for your chosen course to see what it requires.
Commonly, an undergraduate course will require an amount of UCAS points from A-levels or equivalent qualifications. The UCAS website has a handy calculator for you to work out the points you hold or may be predicted to gain.
For students who don't hold formal qualifications, there are other pathways to undergraduate degrees and this may be based on work experience. Our integrated foundation degrees are the ideal pathway for students who have missed the required grades or have valuable experience.
Complete a placement year
Want to kickstart your career? Placements are now available to all of our undergraduate students. This offers you the opportunity to put your skills and knowledge into practice by gaining professional, hands-on experience in your field of study.
Our students have completed placements with the likes of H&M, Sunderland AFC, Australian Open and many more. Most placement years are paid, so you can earn some cash and enhance your career prospects before you have graduated.
Learn more about completing a placement year.
Get funding support
Choosing to go to university and pursue a degree is a significant investment in your future and we want to support you during your studies.
With the cost of living rising, we know that affordability is more important than ever. For our undergraduate students, we offer a selection of scholarships and bursaries to make your time at university more affordable.
Learn more about our undergraduate scholarships and bursaries.