Newcastle University (reviews)

Newcastle University is a Russell Group University and has a TEF Gold Award for its high quality of teaching. It has been consistently among the top twenty of the most targeted universities by the UK’s leading employers for the last six years and is among the top ten universities in the UK for graduate prospects. The city of Newcastle, where the University is based, is one of the UK’s favorite student cities.

Academics at Newcastle University

Newcastle University offers 200 Undergraduate and 300 Postgraduate Degrees in a huge variety of subject areas, which students can choose from. Most Undergraduate Degrees are accredited by and are developed together with professional organizations, placing a lot of emphasis on practical knowledge and experience. Work and studies throughout the programmes offered at the University usually involve students’ participation in industry-based assignments, study trips to local businesses, case-study analysis and work placements. Most degrees enable students to gain academic credit for work experience, volunteering or part-time employment through the Career Development Module. Students can even gain credits for being part of the committee of a student society in certain cases. Many degrees include a study abroad period of a single semester or a full year, some of which are optional and others compulsory.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses by Newcastle University’s Centre for Professional and Executive Development are also available. These courses help organizations gain market-leading skills and could be taught both on-campus and online. Many of the CPD courses award academic credits and accreditation from professional bodies.

Campus & Student Life

Newcastle University has a huge campus, which spread across the city centre of Newcastle. Newcastle is one of the UK’s favourite student cities due to the diverse entertainment opportunities and its unique nightlife. Students will be pleased to hear that the cost of living in Newcastle is lower compared to the rest of the UK.

Newcastle University’s campus is home to a wide variety of buildings and facilities. It combines traditional and modern architecture and is continuously expanding. There is student accommodation available on campus, where first-year students are guaranteed a place. Individual and group study spaces as well as computer labs are available in nearly every single building. Newcastle University has several libraries on campus, the biggest one of which is the Philip Robinson Library. A wide range of both printed and electronic resources, which aid students’ learning along their entire University journey are available in the Philip Robinson Library. Library services include the Writing Development Centre, Print Services, Library Help, Subject Support, Research Services and others. There are a lot of food options on campus, including a bar, cafes, Domino’s, Subway and other fast-food restaurants, which allow students to grab a quick yet delicious meal in their free time or enjoy a pint with friends.

Students can download a phone app once they become members of the University community, which contains information about computer space availability, schedule, exams, printing credits and lots of other useful information. Students also get a certain amount of printing credits at the beginning of each academic year, which gives them the freedom to use the University’s printers scattered across the whole campus to print whatever they need for their studies.

Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) offers over 160 societies covering various areas of interest. Students can even create one of their own. Multiple volunteering opportunities can also be found through NUSU. The University has 65 sports clubs. Students can choose to play in one of the competitive teams representing the University or simply join one of the intramural leagues and have fun playing the sport they enjoy the most. 45 cardio and strength classes are also offered to members of Newcastle University’s community. Newcastle University boasts world-class sports facilities, which have recently been expanded and upgraded. The Sports Centre on campus is equipped with facilities for various indoor sports. The outdoor sports facilities include more than 6 pitches, where students can play sports such as football, rugby and lacrosse. Football fans have the amazing opportunity to watch games from the Premier League live at St. James’ Park, Newcastle United Football Club’s stadium, a limited number of tickets for which can be bought at NUSU at a discounted price.

Career & Alumni

Newcastle University has strong links to regional, national and international employers, which creates many opportunities for students to expand their network and secure their desired job. The University has a high graduate employability rate according to statistics, which show that 96% of UK/EU graduates engage in further study or find employment within six months of their graduation.

The University works hard to maintain students’ employment success by providing opportunities for almost all degree students to do a year-long placement, which allows them to gain valuable professional experience and stand out in the competitive graduate employment market. Newcastle University’s Careers Service offers assistance to students regardless of their career aspirations. Students could book one-to-one sessions with an advisor in order to get important advice on CV writing and Cover Letter writing or attend group sessions covering these topics and a lot more, such as how to be successful in interviews. Arranging mock interviews and assessment centres is among the options offered to students in order to get fully prepared for the big day. The START UP Team at the University supports students who wish to start their own business or work independently. They offer help in developing students’ ideas and even providing them with the opportunity to earn a grant, which could give them the initial financial push required to get them started.

Newcastle University has a global alumni network of former students who are making a positive impact on the world, which preserves the connections between graduates and the University. Alumni events and reunions are frequently organized. Alumni are entitled to exclusive benefits, such as tuition fee discounts, careers development assistance, ability to get membership at the Sports Centre, access to the library for just 20 pounds/year and a lot more.