Jump to accessibility statement Skip to content
×

Places I've been

The following links below mark the 21 most recent pages you have visited in Sunderland.ac.uk.

International

Information for International Students

In order to help students coming to the University of Sunderland from overseas, we have set up this page specifically with as much important information as possible to help you prepare financially to study in Sunderland as well as to budget for expected costs while you are here.

It can be difficult to work out a budget when studying in another country, as you may not be aware of how much you will need to pay for essential living costs. This section gives some advice on what to expect and how to manage your money whilst studying in the UK.

Don't forget that the University of Sunderland also has an International Student Support Team - which can help you with any Visa and Immigration enquiries, as well as making your arrival and stay in Sunderland as easy as possible. We also strongly advise International Student applicants to read the University's pre-arrival guidance pages for essential advice on many aspects of preparing for study in the UK.

Another fantastic resource of information and guidance for students planning to study in the UK is the UKCISA website (UK Council for International Student Affairs).

Living Costs - What to Expect

Rent: 

This is likely to be your largest outgoing. University-managed accommodation costs from around £3100 for 40 weeks, or around £3900 for 50 weeks, although you will pay more for a larger room and/or en-suite facilities. This can be a good choice financially as you will be close to your lectures, therefore should not incur additional travel costs, and accommodation fees are usually inclusive of water rates, gas/electricity and broadband internet. Further details can be found on the Accommodation website: http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/studentlife/accommodation/

Another option would be to rent privately, perhaps sharing with other students. Rents can vary, depending on the location and size of the accommodation. You can use the Studentpad website to search for local accommodation, to get an idea of how much you would need to pay: http://www.sunderlandstudentpad.co.uk/Accommodation

Again, some landlords will include water and energy bills with your rent, which can help you to plan your finances. Check the terms of the tenancy carefully for this.

The following website also gives detailed advice on choosing accommodation: 
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Preparing--planning/Planning-your-accommodation/

Travel:

Again, living in University accommodation or private accommodation close to the University can remove the requirement to pay for day-to-day travel costs. If you do choose to live further away from the campus, a monthly travel ticket can be a good idea as this may be cheaper than paying per journey. See the following website for further information: http://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/tickets

Utility bills:

These may include gas, electricity and water charges, plus TV licence and telephone/internet connection. Prices can vary depending on the provider. As stated previously, University accommodation fees usually include these charges, and some private landlords will charge rent which is inclusive of certain bills. If your rent does not include these charges, you may need to arrange to split these bills with your housemates and plan these costs into your budget. The following website can help you to search for the best deals: www.moneysavingexpert.com

Insurance:

Contents/personal possession insurance can be good idea. This is also included in the cost of University-managed accommodation. Websites such as www.moneysavingexpert.com offer an overview of insurance policies for students.

Food and other household expenses:

This can vary greatly. It may be possible to eat for as little as £20-£25 per week, but this can take a great deal of planning. It may be wise to budget at least £30-£40 per week for food costs if you are living in Sunderland. Budget for more than this if you are living in London.

Books and other course materials:

Can vary depending on your course. The library is free to all students, although you may be advised to purchase several ‘core’ textbooks each year. Certain courses may also require you to purchase specialist materials or software. The programme leader for your chosen course should be able to give more information on what you will be required to purchase - so you could ask them in advance for an idea of what your course materials costs are likely to be.   

Other:

In addition to the above, you may incur additional costs, including socialising - e.g. eating out, cinema, and sporting activities. These costs can vary, so it is essential to budget for the priority expenses such as rent, bills, and course costs first of all. You may also need to buy certain large/bulky items when you arrive, instead of bringing them with you e.g. bedding and kitchen utensils - although bedding packs can be included with your University accommodation package.

See also the University's guidance on our International Pre-Arrival Guide pages for essential advice on preparing for your studies in the UK.

Managing Your Money

The Money Matters section of our website gives you guidance on how to manage your money as a student and keep track of your finances. 

In addition, the UKCISA website is an excellent resource for International students. Among other useful information, it contains money management advice and an online calculator, to help you plan your budget: UKCISA Managing Money  

We have also devised our own student budgeting tool, called PANDA, which you can use to help you budget your funds while you are a student with us. You can find out more about PANDA here .

If you suffer any changes in circumstances which put you into financial hardship while you are a student with us in Sunderland or in London, the University has a hardship fund that might be able to help you. See the information on our Student Support Fund page. Note that this is a discretionary fund for current students facing financial hardship in the UK due to exceptional circumstances and you cannot apply for this fund to help you pay your tuition fees.

See also the University's guidance on our International Pre-Arrival Guide pages for more advice on preparing for your studies in the UK.

 

Scholarships

You may already be aware that the University of Sunderland offers a scholarship to International Students as a reduction on their tuition fees if they are studying full-time with us. For students starting courses with us in 2022/23, this will be £1400 fee reduction for undergraduate study per year, or a £900 fee reduction for postgraduate study. However, you may also wish to look for a scholarship for other costs, before coming to study in the UK. Below are a few scholarships that you may wish to investigate:

British Chevening Scholarships:
www.chevening.org

UNESCO Fellowship Bank Scheme (apply via local national commission):
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/fellowships/

Marshall Scholarships: 
www.marshallscholarship.org

In addition, you may find the following websites useful when looking for information on scholarships: 
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/ 
http://www.educationuk.org/

You could also see if your government offers grants or student loans to students studying abroad.

Avoiding fraud, phishing and scammers

Unfortunately we have been made aware of some cases of fraud, phishing and other scams in the UK, where students from the UK and abroad have been targeted in an attempt to trick them out of their money. Please take note of the advice and guidance below, familiarise yourself with the information and be as vigilant as possible when dealing with money matters:

The University has set up some webpages giving students advice on making payments to us safely -

https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/finance-scholarships/additional-support/safe-online-payments/ 

https://london.sunderland.ac.uk/admissions/fees-scholarships/how-to-pay/#keep-money-safe 

Please also see our in-depth information on scams and fraud here, which gives some very important detail on the more common methods that criminals might use to defraud students, and how to avoid them.

close tray menu