Sunderland is a 'can do' city, which has transformed itself over the past 15 years. High Tech businesses have taken over from traditional industries: Sunderland is now, officially, one of the seven most IT intelligent communities in the world and a recent study rated it one of the UK's top five 'places to do business with'.

Shopping and cultural facilities have been greatly expanded and refurbished and the city's Victorian heart is being restored to its former glory for housing, business and leisure. And there's much more to come: well over £1billion will go to improve Sunderland's quality of life even more during the next decade. It all adds up to a great place to live and study.