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Sunderland

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  • Apply by: 10 June 2025
  • To start: 24 June 2025

Accelerated online courses

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Flexible course design

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5 star QS teaching rating (2023)

Founded in 1901, the University of Sunderland is proud to provide truly life-changing education to students locally, nationally and globally. Here are some of the reasons why students choose to study online with us:

Why Sunderland?

  • Flexible online degree courses
  • 5 star rating for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities*
  • Top 50 UK University**
  • Option to pay per module
  • 7th in the UK for social inclusion***

*QS World University Rankings 2023
**Guardian University Guide 2024
***The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

A global University with deep-rooted expertise in distance learning

At the University of Sunderland, we have nearly 6,000 international students, 37% of our total student population, and 1,500 students studying online from locations across the world. We’re in the top 10 universities in Europe and 2nd in the UK for International Student Diversity (QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024). This reflects our leading credentials in transnational and distance learning as well as our significant expertise in how to both teach online and to ensure that our students have the best possible student experience. With a community of 25,600 students around the world, the networking opportunities that studying with this global University provides are endless.

World-leading research

The quality of the research at the University of Sunderland has been recognised in the latest Research Excellence Framework, which rated our research as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’ (REF 2021). What’s more, unlike many universities, all of our researchers also teach at the University, meaning that our research excellence is fed directly back into our teaching. The University of Sunderland was rated TEF Silver for teaching, the second-highest rating that can be awarded (TEF 2024) and a 5-star rating for teaching in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

A friendly culture with leading student support credentials

The north-east of England is known as one of the friendliest regions in the UK, and that is reflected at the University of Sunderland. From being 7th in the UK for social inclusion (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) to being a member of the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter, the University of Sunderland offers the best possible experience to students from a range of backgrounds, both in-person and online.

A clear focus on employment

Many of our courses are recognised by industry and our close relationships with leading industry partners mean that our academic content is developed with a clear focus on the real world of work. Many of our courses are recognised by industry and our close relationships with leading industry partners mean that our academic content is developed with a clear focus on the real world of work.