University Profile
Newcastle University
Newcastle University campus
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About Newcastle University
Newcastle University is a Russell Group research university in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, one of the UK's most popular student cities. Founded in 1834 and given its Royal Charter in 1963, Newcastle has strengths across medicine, engineering, architecture, computing and the arts.
Newcastle's Medical School is one of the oldest in England and consistently ranks among the best in the UK. The university also has strong links to industry through its engineering and computing departments, and its School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape is well regarded.
For North American students, Newcastle offers exceptional value — it's a top Russell Group university in a city with some of the lowest living costs of any major English city. Newcastle as a city is famous for its nightlife, friendliness and the dramatic Northumbrian landscape on its doorstep.
Key Highlights
- 1Russell Group university with a strong medical school (one of the oldest in England)
- 2Newcastle regularly voted the UK's best student city
- 3One of the most affordable major cities in England
- 4Strong architecture, computing and engineering programmes
- 5City campus in the heart of Newcastle — everything is walkable
- 6Dramatic Northumbrian coast and countryside within easy reach
Campus & Student Life
Newcastle's campus is right in the city centre, making the transition between academic and social life seamless. Newcastle is consistently rated one of the UK's best student cities — the nightlife is legendary (the Bigg Market and Quayside areas), the people are famously friendly, and the cost of living is low. The Tyneside cinema, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Sage Gateshead concert hall provide cultural depth. Sports, particularly football (Newcastle United), are a major part of city life.
For North American Students
Min. GPA (indicative)
Not specified
SAT/ACT Accepted
Not typically required
Application Route
Via UCAS
English Requirement
Check university website
Newcastle accepts AP scores (typically 4-5), IB diploma (34-36 points) and Canadian provincial qualifications. The university's combination of academic quality and low living costs makes it one of the best-value Russell Group options for North American students. Newcastle's direct rail link to Edinburgh (90 minutes) and London (3 hours) provides good connectivity.
Research Strengths
Notable Alumni
Rowan Atkinson
Actor and comedian (Mr Bean, Blackadder)
Lord Foster
Architect (studied at Manchester but taught at Newcastle)
Jonathan Ive
Former Apple Chief Design Officer
Baroness Chakrabarti
Human rights campaigner
Key Facts
- Founded
- 1963
- Total Students
- 28,000+
- International Students
- 24%
- Tuition (Int'l UG)
- £20,500 – £27,250/yr
- Campus Setting
- City centre
📍 About Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a vibrant city in north-east England with a strong cultural identity and some of the UK's lowest living costs for a major city. Budget £400-650/month for accommodation. The Northumbrian coast (including Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island) is spectacular, and the Lake District is accessible for weekends. Edinburgh is just 90 minutes by train.
Ready to Apply?
UK undergraduate applications are made through UCAS. Postgraduate applications go direct to the university.
Visit University Website →Check UCAS Points →📍 Newcastle upon Tyne City Guide
Find out what it's really like to study and live in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Read the guide →