Corporate and legal

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act of 2000 lets people or groups ask for information held by public bodies like the University of Sunderland in London, although some exemptions do apply.

The Environmental Information Regulations of 2004 is similar but for issues around the environment.

We have a commitment to promoting a public understanding of the University and our activities through the regular publication of relevant information.

When the information we publish does not include that which members of the public have asked for, we make every effort we can to meet those requests were practical and permissible.

To request information held by the University that does not seem to be already available, please complete this webform, email your request to sunfoi@sunderland.ac.uk or post it to:

Continuous Improvement, Change and Compliance
University of Sunderland
4th Floor Edinburgh Building
City Campus
Sunderland
SR1 3SD

Requests to access environmental information can also be made on 0191 515 2461.

Your request should state clearly what information you're looking for. We will make all reasonable efforts to find this information. However, we might need to ask you to give more detail if your original request doesn't allow us to identify exactly what you want. If the information you're looking for is regularly published, we'll give you information on how to find it, rather than the information itself. We usually respond to requests within 20 working days.

The FOI Act includes some limits on the information you can access. With that in mind, we only consider withholding information when an exemption legitimately applies. If we can't give you the information you've asked for, we will provide a full explanation for the refusal and details of how to appeal the decision. You will also be informed if we don't have the information you've asked for. If this is the case, when possible, we'll suggest other ways you could access the data.

The supply of documents under the FOI Act does not give the person or organisation who receives them an automatic right to reuse the documents in a way that would infringe copyright. Unless otherwise stated, the University of Sunderland own the copyright for the documents we send and the materials listed in our Publication Scheme.

If you are not satisfied with how your request has been handled, you have the right to ask for an internal review.

The procedure is in line with Lord Chancellor's Code of Practice on the Discharge of Public Authorities' Functions under Part 1 of the FOI Act.

If you aren't happy with how your information request has been handled, please email sunfoi@sunderland.ac.uk or call 0191 515 2461 to discuss the matter informally.

We hope to resolve most queries quickly without the need for an internal review.

Requests for an internal review must sent within eight weeks to:

Continuous Improvement, Change and Compliance
University of Sunderland
4th Floor, Edinburgh Building
City Campus
Chester Road
Sunderland
SR1 3SD

You can also send your request by email to sunfoi@sunderland.ac.uk.

It must clearly state the original request reference number and the reason why you're asking for an internal review.

Once we've received your request your review will be investigated by, or on behalf of, the Chief Operating Officer.

We aim to respond to your request for an internal review with 20 days of us receiving it.

The ICO is the Government’s Independent Body responsible for overseeing the Data Protection Act 1998, the FOI Act 2000 and The Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

More information can be found at the ICO’s website.

If you aren't satisfied with the outcome of the internal review you can apply for an independent review directly to the ICO at the address below.

You should be aware that the ICO will only review cases that have gone through the whole of the University's internal review procedure.

Any communication you have with the ICO needs to quite the request reference number you were given by the University and the reasons for your appeal.

You can contact them at: 

The Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

1. Absolute Exemptions

If the information you ask for is subject to an absolute exemption, the University does not have to supply it to you, nor state whether this information is held.

• Section 21: Information accessible to applicant by other means
• Section 23: Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters
• Section 32: Court records
• Section 34: Parliamentary privilege
• Section 36: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs
• Section 40: Personal information
• Section 41: Information provided in confidence
• Section 44: Prohibitions on disclosure

2. Non-absolute Exemptions

These kinds of exemptions are when the University has to consider the public interest in confirming or denying that the information exists and whether we can disclose it.

• Section 22: Information intended for future publication
• Section 24: National security
• Section 26: Defence
• Section 27: International relations
• Section 28: Relations within the United Kingdom
• Section 29: The economy
• Section 30: Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities
• Section 31: Law enforcement
• Section 33: Audit functions
• Section 35: Formulation of government policy
• Section 36: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs
• Section 37: Communications with Her Majesty
• Section 38: Health and safety
• Section 39: Environmental information
• Section 40: Personal information relating to a third party
• Section 42: Legal professional privilege
• Section 43: Commercial interests

Our Access and Participation Plan explains how we improve opportunity equality for underrepresented groups to help them progress and succeed through higher education.

Our Plan for 2020/21 to 2024/25 has been approved by the Office for Students and covers the whole of your undergraduate course.

If you want to find Plans dating back to 2018/19, as well as previous years, you can find them in the ‘Find an access and participation or access agreement’ section of the Office for Students website.

You can find the University of Sunderland's latest financial reports for you to refer to and download.

For older statements, dating back to 2004, visit Docushare.

You can find all our advertised tenders through our Delta eportal platform.

It's free and simple to use, so we invite any supplier wanting to express and interest and view any upcoming tenders to register. 

For more information, contact the Procurement Team on tenders@sunderland.ac.uk

The Board of Governors of the University of Sunderland in made up of:

• Independent members (who have to make up the majority of the board)

• Staff and student representatives

• A nominee from the local council

• A representative with a specialist background in Education.

Independent governors are appointed for a three-year term and can serve for up to three terms.

Terms for staff representatives last for two years and they can serve for two terms only.

Student representatives include the President of the Students' Union and the Student Representative Officer.

Both of these roles last for one year, as does their terms on the Board of Governors.

The Instrument of Government outlines what is needed to become a member of the Board of Governors.

The University's Articles of Government explain the responsibilities of the Board and include:

• deciding the educational character and mission of the University to conduct oversight

• the effective and efficient use of resources, including the solvency of the University

• approving yearly estimates of income and spending

Read the full Statement of Primary Responsibilities for the Board of Governors.

Meetings of the Board of Governors and its Committees usually happen six terms per year and are conducted by the Legal and Governance team.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board have to be independent governors, but they are elected by the whole of the Board.

The way independent members are appointed will become available soon but in the meantime, the Nominations Committee is happy to consider any suggestions.

In particular, they welcome any names of people with connections to Sunderland and the region.

As the University is committed to promoting Equality and Diversity, they welcome nominations from members of currently under-represented groups to the Board.

Submit your suggestions in an envelope marked 'Strictly Confidential' and submit it to: 

Andrea Walters,

University Secretary and Director of Human Resources,

The University of Sunderland,

Edinburgh Building,

Chester Road, 

Sunderland,

SR1 3S

The information on this page includes: 

• The number of applications for admission on to recognised, undergraduate higher education courses that we have received from UK domiciled applicants

• The number of offers we have made in relation to those applications

• The number of those offers accepted and the number of those who have registered with us

• The number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us

It also shows these numbers by reference to:

• The gender of the individuals to which they relate

• Their ethnicity

• Their socio-economic background.

Please note: the information published here has not been put into context. This means, for example, that you won't be able to see how many people applying for a course met the entry criteria. 

Universities often get more applications than they have spaces for. Therefore, the offer rater will be lower than application rates in those circumstances.

You can find the Display Energy Certificate (DEC) for 2014/15 for reference and to download below.

You can find the Display Energy Certificate (DEC) for 2017/18 for reference and to download below. 

The University has comprehensive cover in place for:

• Material damage
• Motor vehicles*
• Business interruption
• Works in progress (All risks)
• Public liability
• Employers’ liability
• Hirers’ liability
• Libel and slander
• Professional negligence
• Business travel and personal accident
• Computers
• Directors and offices

Access a copy of the University’s Public and Employers’ Liability certificate (.pdf).

For further information on any aspects of these covers, or to make a claim, please contact insurance@sunderland.ac.uk

*University fleet only. Staff must ensure that they have business travel cover in place if they are using their own vehicles for university journeys.

The University has a Motor Cover Insurance policy with Zurich Municipal.

Policy Number: NHE-08CA04-0033

In emergencies please call 08453 002 055 quoting the policy number for 24-hour recovery service.

If you are involved in an accident, inform insurance@sunderland.ac.uk of the incident as soon as possible.

Make sure you give all documentation and evidence given by the driver. The Insurance Manager will go through the claims process and liaise with the University’s insurers.

The University holds a Worldwide Business Travel Insurance policy with RSA Insurance.

Policy Number: PA04281939

In emergencies please call +44 (0) 20 8763 3155 quoting the reference PA04281939.

To make a claim, please email a statement detailing the incident, including any supporting documentation to insurance@sunderland.ac.uk