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Sunderland is a great city for students, with vibrant nightlife, a wide range of courses on offer and affordable cost of living. If you’re applying to the University of Sunderland, or thinking about doing so, then our list of 11 reasons to study in Sunderland is just what you need to help you make up your mind.
1. Educational opportunities
The University of Sunderland offers a wide range of undergraduate courses in subjects ranging from art and design to engineering to medicine and other healthcare-related subjects. With such a variety of courses on offer, there’s something for everyone.
Find out about the University of Sunderland.
2. Vibrant nightlife
With lots of pubs, bars, clubs and event spaces, there’s plenty to do on a night out. Whether you want to catch some live music, dance the night away or have a chilled evening over a pint with your friends, you’ll find it all here.
3. Coastal city
The best of both worlds! Living in Sunderland, you’ll not only have access to the city and all the amenities it offers, but you’re also right next to the beautiful coastline. Roker and Seaburn beaches are picturesque, and the perfect place to relax and celebrate after a deadline.
4. Low cost of living
Sunderland is one of the cities with lowest cost of living in the whole of England and, in fact, most of the UK. The lower rental costs means your student loan will stretch a lot further, so you can spend more on socialising with your new mates, which is also cheaper in Sunderland than much of the UK.
Learn more about the cost of living in Sunderland.
5. Good transport links
Living in Sunderland, you’ll have a network of buses running around the local area to help you get around the city. Tyne and Wear also has a metro serving Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. As well as the local transport, you can also easily get to other cities such as Middlesborough and London directly from Sunderland, with trains to many other options also easily accessible from Newcastle.
6. AFC Sunderland
AFC Sunderland are a Championship team, so there are lots of football games being played in the city against teams from all across England. No matter if you’re an AFC Sunderland fan or just a football fan, you’ll have plenty to get involved in.
7. Jordan Henderson
Another one for the football fans. Jordan Henderson, known for playing for England’s national team, was born and grew up in Sunderland. His career started with the Sunderland youth team and progressed to play for the professional Sunderland team before he signed with Liverpool. While your chances of spotting him here are slim, you definitely still get to brag about going to uni in the hometown of a football legend.
8. Small and friendly city
With a population of just under 350,000, the city is relatively small both in terms of population and size. This makes it a lot easier for students to get around the city, and also means you’ll find your feet quickly and won’t spend months getting lost around confusing side streets as you might in a larger city. The locals are known for being friendly and helpful, so you’ll feel right at home from day one.
9. Arts and culture
There’s plenty to do around Sunderland if you’re into arts and culture. From live music to museums and galleries, there’s something for everyone. Around the city, you’ll also be able to experience live comedy, theatre performances, festivals and more.
10. Alice in Wonderland
The author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, spent a lot of time in Sunderland and it’s thought that he may have been inspired by the city to write the novel. It’s said that he wrote some of his poems in the area, including ‘Jabberwocky’ and ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’. Maybe it’s no coincidence that Wonderland rhymes with Sunderland.
11. Haunted Sunderland Empire
One for the supernatural fans among us, it’s said that the Empire Theatre in Sunderland is haunted by the ghost of Sid James, an actor who died after having a heart attack in the theatre. There are also stories of two other ghosts haunting the theatre, those of Molly Moselle and Vesta Tilley. Comedian Les Dawson refused to return to the Empire after supposedly having a paranormal experience.
If you’re planning to study in Sunderland, then hopefully we’ve convinced you by now that you’ll have a great university experience studying here. The University of Sunderland offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and there’s plenty to see and do around the city to suit a student lifestyle.
Read our list of the top 10 student things to do in Sunderland.
