The institution will welcome prospective students to its Harbour Exchange campus in east London close to Canary Wharf on July 11, 2026
Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here
Harpal Larr is a champion of education.
In his role as student recruitment and conversion manager at the University Of Sunderland In London, he’s responsible for showcasing what the institution has to offer to prospective students.
But beyond increasing the numbers enrolling at its Isle Of Dogs campus, there’s a wider mission.
“While a lot of other universities focus on selling their courses, our goal is quite different,” he said.
“We’re very conscious of the role that we play in the community.
“If we’re able to go into schools and colleges, explain the benefits of studying at university and then see people decide to continue their education, then we’ve achieved something big, whether that’s with us or somewhere else.”
Having opened its new £10million campus in 2025, the University Of Sunderland In London is, however, also preparing to showcase its facilities next month.
Based at Harbour Exchange, it offers a wide range of courses in business, management, finance, nursing, health, tourism and hospitality as well as opportunities for postgraduate research.
To help students understand more about what’s on offer, the university will host an open day on July 11, 2026, from 1pm-4.30pm.
welcoming visitors to the open day
“It will be run by our recruitment and admissions team with the support of student ambassadors,” said Harpal.
“Students coming in on the day will get a presentation about life at university, an insight into what we offer here – not just the courses, but also the support.
“There will be a video from our graduates, to give an idea of what students can go on to do too.
“Then there will be a chance for visitors to speak to our staff, get assistance with making applications and even help applying on the day, if they would like to.
“There will also be tours of the campus, to see all the different facilities to help prospective students make an informed decision.
“For us, a big part of that is the student ambassadors.
“They can give visitors real personal insight into what they can look forward to if they study with us.
“This will be our second open day since we opened this campus.
“Having these facilities gives us a lot more to showcase and to offer so that prospective students and their families can really see what’s on offer.”
catering for diversity
The university is well versed in dealing with the needs of a diverse student body that includes people coming from overseas to study in the UK as well as mature individuals seeking further education for a range of reasons including improved employment prospects.
“I studied marketing at Middlesex University and then found a natural route to working there in marketing,” said Harpal.
“My role gave me experience across that department and I really liked student engagement, so became a manager there working on that before moving into recruitment.
“I joined the University Of Sunderland In London in 2021 in a similar role as we look to increase the number of people from the UK enrolling here.
“To achieve that, one of the things we do in our department is to go into schools and colleges in the community, as well as recruitment fairs, so we can talk to prospective students directly.
“It’s also to raise awareness of who we are and what we do – that we are located on the Isle Of Dogs right next to Canary Wharf.
“That we have that proximity to the financial district and the companies that are based there is to our advantage and it’s something we can really shout about.
“Our teams work really hard to engage with the businesses here to secure both expertise and work experience opportunities for our students that will help them in their careers.
“Just walking over to us from the station really opens their eyes to what we have here and the environment they will be studying in.
“The building we have now is also fantastic with facilities such as our mock hospital ward and our fintech lab.
“One of the things we are looking for are more local education partners within a 10-mile radius that we can work with to help students find the right path.”
a strong student culture
Harpal said that, beyond the courses on offer, the culture of the university was also a key selling point.
“A lot of work goes into making students feel welcome here, whether they are international students or from the UK,” he said.
“What I enjoy here is the fact that the student body mixes very well, we have a lot of events and activities.
“We have a great student union space that hosts lots of activities and acts as a meeting space for those studying here.
“What I find most rewarding, however, is seeing students progress into jobs in the fields they’re gaining qualifications in.
“I know from my personal experience how beneficial a university degree can be.
“It feels really good when you see people you’ve engaged with choose to come to your university and then to embark on a career that is aligned with the course they’ve been on.
“The teams here do a lot of work to ensure that our courses are giving graduates the skills they need in the workplace.
“We are constantly evolving our offering and there’s a big emphasis on giving students practical experience that will be of use to them in their careers.
“I’d love anyone who’s interested to come along to our open day and see what we offer.”
key details: University Of Sunderland In London open day
The next open day at the University Of Sunderland In London is set to take place at the Harbour Exchange campus on July 11, 2026, and will run from 1pm-4.30pm.
Open days are also planned for September 12 and November 26.
The university also offers personal consultations that allow prospective students to explore the institution’s facilities and courses.
Those wishing to attend either an open day or a consultation can register online here
Read more: Whole Foods Market opens its doors in Canary Wharf
Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here
Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here
