NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY – UNITED KINGDOM

I had the pleasure of visiting Newcastle University in February 2023 – the northern weather was bracing but I was warmed by the friendliness of the staff and students, and had an insightful tour around their striking red brick campus.

  • Large public research university
  • A member of the Russell Group – an association of research-intensive UK universities
  • Founded in 1963
  • Highly regarded for academic excellence across many disciplines, research prowess and graduate employability
  • 20,000+ undergraduate students
  • Around 15% international

Location

  • Urban – 50 acre campus in the city centre of Newcastle, North East England
  • Mixture of historic and contemporary buildings on campus
  • City is very walkable
  • Well connected to the rest of the UK – less than 3 hours to London by train
  • Has an international airport with low-cost flight options
  • Overseas campuses in Singapore (engineering degrees) and Malaysia (undergraduate medical and biomedical degrees)
  • Aims to be a sustainable campus – awards received for environmental commitments
  • Newcastle is often highly ranked as a student city and for its friendly locals – a very wide selection of options for going out, shopping, sports facilities and cultural activities.
  • Excellent public transport – including a metro system that includes links to the coastline.

Academic

  • 185+ undergraduate degrees
  • Three faculties: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Faculty of Medical Sciences; Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering.
  • Most undergraduate degrees are 3 years, but there are 4 or 5 year options depending on the subject and whether study abroad or a work placement is undertaken as part of the degree
  • Very strong in Architecture, Linguistics, Geography, Dentistry, and Anatomy and Physiology, but also Economics, Engineering & Technology, Medicine, Sociology, Archaeology, Civil Engineering, Biology, Arts & Humanities, Pharmacy and Psychology.
  • A research leader in the field of ageing and vitality
  • Triple-accredited Newcastle University Business School – top 1% of business schools globally
  • International Pathways courses designed for international students who want to study in the UK – International Foundation Degrees (prepares students for Year 1 entry in many faculty areas) and International Year One programmes (Architecture, Business and Engineering – prepares students to enter Year 2 of the normal degree course)
  • Many opportunities for students to study abroad

Application

  • Apply through UCAS
  • ABB is the typical minimum A level entry requirement – but a range of international qualifications are accepted.
  • Some degrees have extra requirements such as work experience or a portfolio, others require you to have studied specific subjects at a certain level prior to entry.
  • Non native English speakers are required to demonstrate evidence of their written and spoken English before commencing studies
  • Applications for deferred entry are considered

Finances

  • Newcastle is considered one of the most affordable student cities in the UK
  • Tuition fees vary according to subject – some examples: Architecture = £24,600 / Mechanical Engineering £26,400 / Psychology £25,800 / Business Management £21,000 / Maths £22,800 / English Literature £21,000
  • Living costs range from £10,500 to £11,500 per year
  • Scholarships for international students include: International Scholarships, Global Scholarships and Excellence Scholarships – there are also some subject and sports scholarships available. This page has full details.

Accommodation

  • Offered to all new students
  • International students are also guaranteed a room in accommodation for the duration of their study
  • Traditional university residence halls to modern city apartments
  • Catered/self catered and en-suite/shared bathroom options
  • Contracts cover the full academic year, including Christmas and Easter vacations
  • Summer extensions are possible for those who wish to remain in the city over the longer vacation

Activities

  • 200+ clubs and societies
  • An International Welcome Week is held each year for new overseas students
  • Very active Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) – offers a wide range of student run societies and sports clubs
  • The Courier is the weekly student newspaper and has won The Guardian’s Student Publication of the Year award twice in a row
  • Newcastle Student Radio produces shows on music, news, talk and sport and aims to cater for a wide range of musical tastes.
  • NUTV is a student television channel, first established in 2007. It produces live and on-demand content with coverage of events, as well as student-made programmes and shows.

Other

  • Open Days are held in June, October and November
  • Virtual Tours are available via the university website
  • International pathway courses are offered in partnership with INTO
  • Highly ranked for graduate employment
  • Martin Luther King was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university

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