Northumbria University, Newcastle

Students' Union

Northumbria’s Students’ Union is there to support Northumbria students. The SU is run by a team of six democratically elected Sabbatical Officers. The team’s primary role is to represent the voice of students; they sit on the Student Council, the university’s Sustainability Management Group, and the Board of Trustees, working hard to ensure the university enacts changes that students want to see.

Alongside the sabbatical officers, every programme has a course representative, a volunteer student who works with both students and academic staff to ensure students get the best academic experience. Any student can apply to become a course rep or stand for election to become a sabbatical officer.

The SU team also offer academic support to students, on everything from academic appeals, to leaving or changing courses, and provide helpful advice and guidance on housing, financial, and welfare issues. They also offer volunteering opportunities for students, enabling them to contribute to student life, meet new people, and gain valuable experience for their CVs.

The SU team also co-ordinate the university’s social scene, managing the university’s societies and sports clubs, and organising a wide variety of events and activities throughout the year, such as live gigs, club nights, big screen sport, and more.

The SU building is home to a number of stylish, award-winning coffee shops, bars, and live music venues, where students can grab a drink or a bite to eat or enjoy an epic night out.

Clubs and Societies

There are over 100 sports clubs and societies on offer for students to get involved with. All sports clubs and societies are open to all students, including postgraduate students, and membership fees are low. There is no pressure to attend every meeting or training session or to continue membership if it is no longer wanted.

There is a huge range of sports clubs to join, covering popular and more niche sports. Clubs are open to members of all skill level and some clubs even have their own men’s and women’s competitive teams, who compete against teams from other universities in the British University & College Sport Leagues (BUCS).

Societies cover faith and belief, culture and politics, academic subjects, and hobbies and special interests. From alternative music to cocktail-making, dog walking to snow sports, there is something for everyone. There are also a number of volunteering and charitable societies for students who want to help others, including the Let’s End Homelessness society, the Raise and Give society, and the Halo Project.

If students can’t find anything that suits them or have a great idea for a new society, they can apply to the students’ union to set up their own.

City Life

Northumbria University is located at the heart of the city of Newcastle – a vibrant and culturally diverse city. Newcastle is popular with students and has been voted the best place in the UK to study on a number of occasions – mostly due to the fact that the city is one of the most affordable places to live in the UK and the sheer variety of activities and entertainment on offer in the city.

At the heart of student life in Newcastle is the nightlife scene. The city is home to a huge number of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and world-class music venues, including the Utilita Arena, O2 City Hall, and Sage Gateshead.

While Newcastle certainly rocks at night, the city also offers plenty to do during the day. Students can while away their spare time admiring the city’s landmark bridges or checking out the city’s many historical and cultural sites. Or they can amuse themselves by playing a game of bowling or mini golf, or by exploring the city’s range of quirky markets.

For those who crave some peace and tranquillity, the city’s Jesmond Dene Park is a must-visit. As are the epic coastlines of Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay, and South Shields, which are all less than 30 minutes away on the Metro.

For students who want to explore further afield, Newcastle is well connected, with Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Edinburgh all just a few hours away by train.

Cost of a pint This is the average cost of a pint.

Source: IDP Connect 2019

£2.20 - £3.50

per pint