Every student embarking on their university journey brings with them a unique spark. At the University of Sunderland, we are committed to helping you nurture and grow that spark into something truly spectacular. To help you on this journey, this section introduces you to the employability, enterprise and career development support available to you during your studies.
Whether you have a specific career idea in mind, you’re looking to build your experience or you’re interested in exploring opportunities for self-employment, we are here to guide and support you in making the most of your time at university.
What’s on offer?
We work closely with your academic tutors to ensure your programme provides a wide range of activities designed to help you develop the key transferable skills needed for a successful transition into employment, self-employment or further study after graduation.
You could find yourself visiting employer sites, hearing from industry and alumni speakers, participating in focused discussion activities, preparing business pitches, and even taking part in short-term placements.
From the 2024/25 academic year, all undergraduate students completing their second year of study are able to complete a Placement Year as part of their degree. Whilst you are responsible for securing an appropriate placement year experience, there is a wide range of support available via our Employability & Enterprise Hub, including regular placement drop-in sessions and workshops.
Through our co-curricular support, you can also:
- Explore options for employment, self-employment and further study, even if you’re not sure what to do next
- Search jobs and opportunities
- Get CV & application support
- Apply for an internship to gain skills and experience in your chosen field
- Earn while you study with a part-time student job
- Volunteer with a charity, local scheme or service and make a difference to the city
- Meet employers on campus at our events and recruitment fairs. Our Student Jobs and Volunteering Fair is taking place on 10 October 2024. Our Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair is taking place on 5 November 2024.
- Get insights from the world of work and talk to University graduates and employers working in areas which interest you.
- Gain recognition for your co-curricular activities through our Sunderland Professional Award (SuPA)
Employability and Enterprise Hubs
Our Employability and Enterprise Hubs are your dedicated spaces, accessible via Canvas, SharePoint and at either campus, offering resources and support that span across various areas of career development, employability and enterprise. Whether you’re creating a standout CV, preparing for interview, or seeking advice on launching your start-up or freelance venture through our start-up support, the hubs are here to guide you at every step.
To help you on your journey, we have a team of Student Career and Skills Coaches who can provide peer-to-peer support grounded in current experiences and a deep understanding of the student journey.
Meet the coaches at our Employability & Enterprise Hubs at Gateway Building, City Campus and the Prospect Building, St. Peter’s campus, ready to assist you with a range of enquiries, including CV reviews. Their student perspective means the advice you get is not just theoretically sound but practical too, ensuring you can move forward with confidence, backed by first-hand insight and knowledge.
You can also keep up to date with the coaches on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/uos_eehub/
https://www.tiktok.com/@uos_eehub