Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Sunderland is a friendly, career-focused university in the North East, with two campuses in the city. City Campus is close to the centre, and the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's sits on the River Wear, near the coast. All three university residences are less than a mile from both campuses, and the Students' Union runs a free shuttle bus.
The big selling point is cost. University rooms start at £90 a week, en-suites are about £131–£155, and the university says the North East's student living costs are below the national average. Newcastle is a short Metro ride away for bigger nights out.
Known for
The University of Sunderland is 87th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.2, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | University of West London | 44.4 |
| 86 | Queen Mary University of London | 44.3 |
| 87 | University of Sunderland | 44.2 |
| 88 | Birmingham City University | 44 |
| 89 | University of Huddersfield | 44 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
27th of 124 · Affordability Score 64.8
49th of 124 · Sustainability Score 54.9
51st of 123 · Happiness Score 49
58th of 124 · Societies Score 51.4
59th of 124 · Social Score 50.3
63rd of 124 · Nightlife Score 48.4
63rd of 124 · Safety Score 43.5
73rd of 124 · Wellbeing Score 49.5
79th of 124 · Inclusion Score 52.1
80th of 124 · Freshers Score 51.8
94th of 124 · Balance Score 37
95th of 124 · Innovation Score 46.9
106th of 124 · Value Score 33.6
113th of 122 · Careers Score 18
118th of 124 · Employability Score 16.7
Sunderland as a student city
Ranked 29th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 54.9.
The University of Sunderland appears in 28 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | 2nd | of 32 | 109 |
| Human Resource Management | 4th | of 58 | 143 |
| Journalism | 7th | of 59 | 134 |
| Psychology | 15th | of 108 | 187 |
| Biomedical Science | 13th | of 93 | 170 |
| Computer Science | 18th | of 102 | 183 |
| Teaching | 15th | of 79 | 161 |
| Biochemistry | 12th | of 60 | 135 |
| Criminology | 19th | of 94 | 175 |
| Social Work | 14th | of 67 | 160 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 18th | of 85 | 161 |
| Law | 21st | of 97 | 165 |
| Midwifery | 12th | of 54 | 110 |
| Fashion Design | 11th | of 49 | 120 |
| Physiotherapy | 11th | of 49 | 120 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 14th | of 60 | 127 |
| Media and Communication | 19th | of 79 | 157 |
| Fine Art | 14th | of 58 | 134 |
| Performing Arts | 9th | of 37 | 100 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 21st | of 77 | 148 |
| Occupational Therapy | 11th | of 40 | 112 |
| Business and Management | 34th | of 114 | 176 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 19th | of 52 | 111 |
| Graphic Design | 25th | of 68 | 133 |
| Primary Education | 27th | of 59 | 116 |
| Electrical Engineering | 31st | of 67 | 109 |
| Sports Science | 37th | of 78 | 121 |
| Film Production | 43rd | of 87 | 141 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Sunderland Students' Union runs societies, sports clubs, events and advice, and runs a free shuttle bus between the university residences and both campuses. City Campus is close to the city centre's bars and shops. The riverside Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's is near the seafront at Roker and Seaburn. For bigger nights out and gigs, Newcastle is a short Metro ride away. It's a smaller, close-knit student scene compared with big university cities.
University halls cost £90–£155 per week (university residences, 40- or 50-week contracts, bills included; family houses cost more) (2026/27 (assumed; the residence pages don't state the year) prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Sunderland guarantees accommodation for first-year students starting for the first time in the September or October 2026 intake who are full-time, fee-paying, enrol for a full academic year, make Sunderland their firm choice and have a live application for a single room in university accommodation by 31 May 2026. The guarantee covers a single room with shared bathroom and kitchen. En-suite and family accommodation aren't guaranteed, and placement may be with a nominated partner provider.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panns Bank | Riverside, opposite Sir Tom Cowie Campus | shared bathroom and en-suite | £90/wk | On the River Wear, 0.7 miles from both campuses. Rooms range from £90 (dormer height, 3 rooms) and £104 (standard) to £120 (river view), with premium en-suites at £150–£155. A 40-week standard room is £4,160. |
| The Precinct | Chester Road, near City Campus | shared bathroom | £107/wk | 190 standard rooms in blocks of 10 with shared kitchens and bathrooms, a short walk from City Campus and the city centre. One of the most popular sites. |
| Scotia Quay | Riverside | en-suite and one-bed flats | £131/wk | 0.9 miles from City Campus. Standard en-suites £131, river-view £137 and premium en-suites or one-bed flats £150 a week. A 40-week standard en-suite is £5,240. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Close to City Campus, with plenty of terraced student houses at low rents.
By the seafront, near the St Peter's campus. Quieter and close to the beach.
Cheaper terraced streets near the centre and Metro stations.
Top tip
Make Sunderland your firm choice, then apply for a single room by the end of May to be guaranteed a place. International students need their CAS before applying. En-suites aren't guaranteed, so apply early if you want one. For private renting, look for landlords in the university's Trusted Landlord Scheme.
Sunderland is one of the cheapest places in the UK to be a student. University rooms start at £90 a week, and en-suites cost £131–£155. The university cites Save the Student figures showing North East student living costs of around £954 a month, against a national average of £1,078. With a free shuttle bus between halls and campus, transport costs can be low too.
Getting around
All three university residences are within a mile of both campuses, and the Students' Union runs a free shuttle bus from the residences to both campuses. Sunderland station (Metro and rail) is about ten minutes' walk from Panns Bank and Scotia Quay. The Tyne and Wear Metro links Sunderland with Newcastle.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Sunderland is 87th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.2. Its strongest results are for affordability (27th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Sunderland places highest for Pharmacy (2nd of 32). Across our awards, it also stands out for affordability.
Yes, for full-time first years starting in September or October 2026 who make Sunderland their firm choice and have a live application for a single room by 31 May 2026. The guarantee covers a room with shared bathroom and kitchen, not en-suites.
University residences cost from £90 a week (a small number of dormer-height rooms at Panns Bank) to £155 a week (large premium en-suites). Standard shared-bathroom rooms are £104–£107 and standard en-suites £131, with bills included.
All three residences are less than a mile from both campuses. Panns Bank is 0.7 miles from each, Scotia Quay is 0.9 miles from City Campus, and The Precinct is a short walk from City Campus. The Students' Union also runs a free shuttle bus.
Yes. The university says Sunderland is in the top 10 cheapest UK cities for student accommodation. It cites North East student living costs of around £954 a month, compared with a national average of £1,078.
Close. The Tyne and Wear Metro links Sunderland with Newcastle, so it's easy to head over for gigs, shopping and nights out.
City Campus is close to the city centre. The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's is on the banks of the River Wear, right opposite Panns Bank. The university also has campuses in London and Hong Kong.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
.jpg){kind=link}