Microsoft training at the University of Sunderland takes place in the David Goldman Informatics Centre, which is part of the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. If you do not know the area too well, the Informatics Centre is on the banks of the Wear next to the National Glass Centre and not far from the Stadium of Light. The St Peter's Metro station is around 5 minutes walk away. The campus has secure car parking for students.

The Informatics Centre provides access for students to 500 high specification workstations supporting both PC and UNIX (SUN) operation and a wide range of engineering facilities. It is one of the most modern and best-equipped computing environments in the UK. Open 24/7 it provides students with flexible access to equipment.

Microsoft training is conducted in dedicated private networked Labs utilizing suitably equipped machines within the Informatics Centre. Extensive use is made of VirtualPC labs giving students the chance to configure workstations and servers on their own host machine from a variety of prepared images. Each course comes with its own workbook guiding students through real-life excercises including troubleshooting exercises.

Don't forget there is 24 hour access to the Informatics Centre.

Travelling to the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s:

By road

From the South:

• Via the A19 - turn off at the A1231 junction (Washington/Sunderland North). Follow signs for "the National Glass Centre". The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s is adjacent to the Glass Centre, both of them using the same access road.
  
  If you are using the map available below you actually approach the St Peter’s area on the road that is shown immediately above Sunderland Football Club’s Stadium of Light. When you drive in you cannot miss the Stadium on your right.



• Via the A1 - turn off at the A690 Durham/Sunderland junction and follow the signs for Sunderland City Centre. At the junction with the A19, turn left onto the north-bound carriageway (sign-posted "Sunderland North") and follow the instructions above for directions from the A19.

From the North:

• Via the A19 - turn off at the A1231 junction, instructions are the same as those for travellers from the south shown above.



• Via the A1 - turn off at the A1231 junction and follow signs for Sunderland City Centre. After approximately two miles there is a junction where this road crosses over the A19, from this point follow the instructions those for travellers from the south via the A19 described above.

Note for travellers from the Newcastle area who may come via Gateshead to Testo’s roundabout. There is another route to the campus through West Boldon. Whilst this may be shorter, the route described above using the A1231 is more direct and usually quicker.

By rail

Sunderland station is in the City Centre. There is a taxi rank outside the station, and depending on traffic, it is a 5-10 minute journey to the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. On foot, the campus is around 15-20 minutes away. A Metro train could take you half the way. Take the north bound line and get off at the "St Peter’s" Metro station (see below).

The map available below shows that to walk all the way from the station you need to head up Fawcett Street, across the Wearmouth Bridge, and turn right onto Dame Dorothy Street.

By Metro

Get off at the St Peter’s station. Leave the station and cross the main road that runs along side (there are pedestrian crossings at the traffic lights). You want to be walking along the main road with the river on your right hand side (the road, Dame Dorothy Street, is one way, the traffic will be coming towards you). After about half a mile you will see on your right St Peter’s Church, the campus is visible on the river side of the church.

Although the Metro station is not shown on the map available below (the station is new), it is positioned at the north end of Wearmouth Bridge where the A1018 and Dane Dorothy Street meet.

By cycle

The area around the City Centre and St Peter’s is cyclist-friendly, with cycle paths on the majority of pedestrian routes described above.

By air

The nearest airport is Newcastle International. A taxi ride will take around thirty minutes to an hour depending on the time of day. A Metro ride from the airport to St Peter’s (via Newcastle) will take around 50 minutes.