Two Campuses

Two Campuses by the River

The university spans two distinct locations within the city. City Campus sits at the heart of things, housing Murray Library alongside the CitySpace sports complex and faculties for arts and health sciences. Twenty minutes away on foot, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s overlooks the river near urban beaches. This riverside site hosts the David Puttnam Media Centre and Northern Centre for Photography, while a recently added 5G laboratory has positioned Sunderland among Britain’s first institutions with comprehensive next-generation infrastructure, significantly expanding possibilities for educational technology.

Sports and Student Groups

More than thirty athletic clubs bring together over seven hundred participants, spanning everything from football and basketball to cheerleading and archery. Twenty teams compete regularly in the BUCS university league, while the infrastructure offers a climbing wall and gym at CitySpace, plus a 50-meter pool, dry ski slope, athletics track, and coastal yacht club. Beyond athletics, over fifty interest-based communities range from creative projects to charitable initiatives, with the students’ union ready to help anyone establish something new when existing groups don’t match their interests.

Student Union at University of Sunderland

Recognized as the country’s best in 2020, this student-run organization serves nineteen thousand learners through academic advocacy and social programming. The Studio and The Riverside dining venues operate across both sites, where Elior prepares meals from regional ingredients with vegetarian and gluten-free options. A complimentary shuttle connects the locations and residences, including evening routes to popular gathering spots as part of campus safety measures. The institution also partners with ARCH, an organization supporting anyone facing discrimination.

Affordable Housing in the City Center

Sunderland ranks among Britain’s ten most budget-friendly student cities, with rooms starting at £88 weekly. Three university residences—Panns Bank and Scotia Quay overlooking the water, plus The Precinct near City Campus—sit within walking distance of academic buildings, connected by free transport. All accommodations feature shared kitchens and laundries, with options to choose flatmates or occupy family apartments with children, offering flexibility that suits various needs.