Tracing its roots to 1834, Newcastle University is a founding member of the research-intensive Russell Group. It has more than 200 undergraduate degrees, and sites in London, Singapore and Malaysia. But it is the city-centre redbrick campus and culture of Newcastle — and the nearby Northumberland coast — that makes the university one of the popular student destinations. Applications for 2023 entry were up by 7 per cent, at just under 36,000 — the highest in six years. And with more than 180 societies, students have plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Efforts to develop sustainably have been part of all upgrades, and Newcastle is ranked in the top third of UK universities in People and Planet University League, based on environmental and ethical performance. 

What is Newcastle University’s reputation? 

Newcastle has gained seven places in our main academic ranking this year, lifting it into the top 30 UK universities. Powering its overall performance are improved rates of student satisfaction; our analysis of the National Student Survey (NSS) shows a 45-place rise for the student experience, to 71st place. Students’ evaluations of teaching quality were more positive too, resulting in a ten-place rise, to 112nd.

A silver rating overall in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) — down from gold in 2017 — is underpinned by silver for student outcomes. This reflects an excellent completion rate — 96.3 per cent of students are projected to continue their studies after their first year. 

They awarded only bronze for the student experience — in keeping with Newcastle’s faltering NSS record — but did highlight some “very high quality features”, including “the use of research in relevant disciplines, innovation, scholarship, professional practice and employer engagement to contribute to a very high quality academic experience for students”.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) Newcastle had 42 per cent of its work assessed as world-leading, led by English language and literature, to rank 26= in our research quality index. Having attained its highest position to date in the QS World University Rankings 2024 — 110th — it slipped to 129th in 2025’s list.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

Newcastle is not closing any courses in 2024 or 2025. The first students of a new degree in global legal studies began courses in September 2024.

What are Newcastle University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Standard entry requirements are from CCC up to A*AA. Newcastle’s contextual offers take students’ socioeconomic and/or personal circumstances into account, with offers two grades lower than the standard requirement across all subject areas. 

What are the graduate prospects?

With 82.4 per cent of graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months, Newcastle moves further up to the top 30 of our analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey this year (26th).  

What is Newcastle University’s campus like?

At the university’s attractive campus, a new makerspace — a “student-centred zone for interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship” — and facilities for research in digital manufacturing; biomedical engineering; and sustainable propulsion are among resources at the upgraded Stephenson Building for engineering. It follows the 2023 opening of the £4.6 million Farrell Centre, a transformation of a 19th-century department store into a new type of public institution — part research hub, part civic space, part gallery and museum. The £350 million Newcastle Helix (formerly Science Central) opened in 2020, housing two national innovation centres for ageing and data.

Off campus are the commercial farms and a biological field station, supporting a longstanding agricultural pedigree. As well as a seagoing research vessel the university has a coastal station and marine laboratory. Newcastle’s ambitious plans for a health innovation neighbourhood, built on the 29-acre former site of Newcastle General Hospital, got the planning consent go-ahead in April 2024. The project is set to be developed up until 2035.

Everything you need to know about Newcastle University’s student life and wellbeing support

Team Newcastle fields more than 60 competitive squads in British Universities and Colleges Sports (Bucs) fixtures and placed seventh in the overall points table for 2023-24. Newcastle’s £30 million investment in new and refurbished sports facilities gives students easy access to a large gym, strength and conditioning rooms, studios, squash courts and sports halls in the Sport and Fitness Centre at the heart of the campus. The outdoor grass and all-weather pitches are a little further away while the Newburn WaterSports Centre on the River Tyne houses Newcastle’s canoe and boat club.

Newcastle’s School of Arts and Cultures provides a creative seam to university life, with facilities for everything from fine art and photography to DJing and film-making.

A counselling team offers appointments from 9am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to 5pm on Fridays — face to face, online or over the phone. Students can also access a 24/7 emotional distress helpline and an online referral form to report hate incidents, discrimination, harassment or misconduct, including sexual violence. Newcastle’s Psychological Therapies Training and Research Clinic opened in 2018, where qualified and trainee students in the School of Psychology offer cognitive behavioural therapy. 

You don’t have to be a party animal to thrive at Newcastle — although those looking for a big night out are unlikely to be disappointed in the friendly, and relatively affordable, northeast. 

What do the students say?

"Newcastle is amazing, vibrant and one of the most affordable cities to live in the country. We also have a student pantry and a Wetherspoons in our students’ union, in the heart of the historic centre of campus."
Shah Yaseen Ali, students’ union president and law graduate

What about student accommodation at Newcastle University?

Halls are either within walking distance of campus or close to public transport links. Rents in self-catering accommodation start at £98 a week. Newcastle guarantees accommodation to first-years who make it their firm choice and who apply by the end of June.

How diverse and inclusive is Newcastle University?

The northeast of England has the country’s lowest take-up of higher education for 18-year-olds, and the university’s efforts to raise the proportion of students from deprived areas has shown signs of success: one in ten students fit this cohort (the 70th best proportion). However, like most Russell Group universities, Newcastle places outside the top 100 in our social inclusion index (102=). About one third of undergraduates are drawn from selective grammar or independent schools (103rd).

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Newcastle University

Bursaries of £1,000 or £2,000 per year are paid on a sliding scale to students from households with income up to £35,000, and there are one-off payments of £500 for income up to £40,000. Care leavers and student parents are also eligible for aid and there is a wide range of academic and subject-specific scholarships.

About a quarter of entrants in 2024 qualified for a bursary or scholarship (not including faculty-based awards).