How to apply

An undergraduate degree is the first type of degree you can study. It's also known as a Bachelor's degree (shortened to BA, BSc, or similar).

Foundation courses prepare you for postgraduate and undergraduate qualifications. Foundation courses combine practical work-based learning with academic study. Currently we offer foundations courses on FdA and FdSc. 

You'll apply for a full-time, undergraduate degree through UCAS.

You can choose up to five universities/courses when submitting your application. You'll be able to keep track of your application's progress through your UCAS ID number.

• UCAS Institution Code: S84

You can apply directly through our website by finding your course of interest and using the 'Apply Now' link.

If you don't meet the conditions of your offers or didn't receive any, you may still be able to secure a place via Clearing.

You can apply through Clearing if:

• You haven’t applied for university yet, but want to start a course in September
• You haven’t previously considered studying with us, but want to join us in September
• You’ve applied for university but not met the conditions of your firm or insurance choice (i.e. you aren’t holding any offers for a place at a university or college)
• You’ve changed your mind about the offer you’re holding at another university or college and want to study with us instead
• You’ve changed your mind about the offer you’re holding with us and want to study a different course

We recommend applying for a master's degree at least six months before your start date. Most universities will accept applications nearer to this, but some popular courses may fill up. So, applying in plenty of time will help avoid any disappointment. It will also give you more time to apply for accommodation or financial support. If you're an international applicant, you should also remember to plan in time to arrange your visa.

You can apply for most master's degrees directly through your chosen university. Some courses, for example teacher training courses, have their own processes and deadlines.

If you're planning to study at Sunderland, you can complete the online application form on your chosen course page. If you studied your undergraduate course with us, the process is even easier as we already have most of your details on our system. All you need to do is select the form for current students.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll usually hear if you’ve been successful within eight weeks. However, this will vary by university and the volume of applicants. There are four possible outcomes following your application:

1. Unconditional offer: You've met all the entry requirements for your chosen course and you've got a place.

2. Conditional offer: We'll keep a place for you and will accept you onto your chosen course once you've met all the entry requirements.

3. You're selected for an interview: This will be part of the conditions of your offer.

4. You've been unsuccessful.

If you’ve been unsuccessful, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback to see how you can improve in future applications.

• A personal statement
• Two or more academic/professional references
• Copies of your degree certificate and academic transcripts
• Your CV

We may also need you to provide extra documents. For example, if you're an international applicant, you'll need to provide proof of English language proficiency. We usually ask for an overall score of 6.0 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

You’ll usually need to provide a minimum of two references.

These can be academic, or if you’ve had a longer break from studying, professional references from your most recent employer. Make sure they’re from people who know you well, such as your personal tutor or dissertation supervisor. If they're from an employer, your line manager is a good choice.

Always contact your referees beforehand so that they’re aware and give them plenty of notice in case they aren’t available.

References must come from an official university or company email address. Or, directly to the University, signed, dated, and sealed in an envelope.

Some master’s courses may need you to attend an interview as part of the application process.

During the interview, you can expect to answer questions around things like your academic interests and knowledge, your reasons for choosing the course, your experience, and your future goals.

See the entry requirements on your chosen course page for more details.

The Graduate School manages the administration of research degrees, providing support to researchers. You can apply for a research degree via the relevant course page.

Our UK recruitment partners mainly help students who might find it harder to get to university, for example, people who are the first in their family to apply, returning to education after a break, recently moved to the UK and are unfamiliar with the education system, or who have other responsibilities such as work or caring for family.

They offer friendly, practical guidance on applying to university and can help you feel confident about taking your next step into higher education.

In recognition of the vital role they play, our contracted recruitment partners and agents receive a commission-based payment for every student they successfully support in enrolling at the University.

All our recruitment partners go through a careful approval process. We provide them with regular training and updates about our courses and admissions so they can offer accurate, up-to-date information. We also review their performance regularly to make sure students receive the best possible support.

As part of our commitment to maintaining high standards, we actively encourage all agents representing the University of Sunderland in London to adhere to the National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents.Our engagement with agents is also guided by the principles of the UK Agent Quality Framework, underlining our focus on transparency, ethical practice, and service quality.

We are committed to ensuring fair and transparent relationships between the University, our education agents, and you – our students.

If you have any concerns about the service provided by an agent who supported your application, we encourage you to submit a formal complaint. Please email your concerns to:
recruitment-london@sunderland.ac.uk

Our team will work with you to investigate and resolve any issues promptly and fairly.

Here is the current list of officially contracted recruitment partners and agents supporting the University of Sunderland in London:

This may be possible. An academic tutor would make this decision, and base it on the content of your previous study.

Please contact our admissions team with details of your request: admissions-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Where possible, please include copies of your transcript/module information.

If you’ve changed your mind and would like to defer your offer, please contact admissions-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Please include your full name and application number.

After accepting an offer to study with us, you'll have the right to cancel your acceptance within 14 days without giving any reason. The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the date on which you accepted the offer. This is the date on which your contract with the University began. 

How to cancel

To exercise your right to cancel, you must inform us by logging into myApplication and selecting 'Contact us'.

To meet the cancellation deadline, you must send your right to cancel statement before the end of the cancellation period (within 14 days of accepting your offer).

Effect of cancellation

If you cancel your contract in this way, we'll reimburse you any payments received from you under the contract. We'll make the reimbursement without undue delay and within 14 days of receipt of your notification of cancellation where possible. We'll make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used to pay us. You won't incur any fees as a result of any reimbursement.

Starting your course before the end of the cancellation period

If you ask us to let you start your course before the end of the cancellation period:

• You'll lose your cancellation right if your course completely finishes without the cancellation period and you had acknowledged that you would lose that right in these circumstances.  

and/or:

• You'll retain your cancellation right if your course does not completely finish within the cancellation period, but you'll have to pay us for what you have received until the time you informed us of your decision to cancel. The amount of the payment due to us would be calculated on the basis of the value of educational services received from us in relation to what you would have had to pay for your course as a whole if you had not cancelled.

Statutory rights

 The right to cancel is a statutory right under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Once 14 days have passed you can still choose to cancel your Firm or Insurance choice, subject to UCAS deadlines and regulations. 

Please note there are UCAS regulations that both the University and applicants need to take into account when making any changes to an application to study. Please refer to the UCAS website for further information.

Your statutory right of cancellation doesn't affect your right to withdraw from the University at other times, subject to any ongoing obligations you may have to the University as a result of your registration, should you commence studies at the University.

Please also note that this cancellation right only applies if you have accepted the offer of study in the capacity of a consumer, (that is, for purposes which are wholly or mainly outside your trade, business, craft, or profession).

At university, a disability means any health condition which has lasted, or is likely to last, twelve months or more which may have a negative impact on your studies even if it is fluctuating.

This includes, but is not limited to, long term health conditions, sensory impairments, mobility difficulties, mental health difficulties (such as anxiety and depression) and autistic spectrum condition. It also includes specific learning difficulties such as ADHD and dyslexia. If you have, or think you might have any of these, please do get in touch.

If you tell us about a disability on your application this will help us ensure we can meet your needs and will prompt us to send you more information about our services.

If you would like to discuss your individual needs or have questions about the support that might be available to you, please contact us at any stage of the application process at admissions-confidential@sunderland.ac.uk