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Meet the Politics graduate taking a stand for young people

Megan Lambert graduated from Newcastle University with a first-class degree in Politics and International Relations last summer. Since she was a teenager, she has been vocal in promoting opportunities for young people from underrepresented groups.

Meet the Accounting and Finance graduate supporting the next generation of underrepresented students

Since graduating from Newcastle University in 1988, Avnish Goyal CBE has enjoyed a successful career in the care industry as the founder of Hallmark Luxury Care Homes. Now, he is paying his success forward through scholarships for new Newcastle students facing hardship.

Successful alumnae join forces to launch scholarship to support the next generation of female STEM students

The Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship will empower female undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds. The first awardees are students in our Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering – subjects that are sadly still male-dominated.

International Women’s Day 2024: Celebrating Newcastle alumnae making a difference and inspiring inclusion

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating 10 amazing women in our alumni community who are helping to create a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Meet the recent graduates helping schoolchildren in Newcastle reach their potential

Eve Hemsley (BA Sociology, 2021) and Megan Haley (BA English Literature and History, 2021) are Education Workers at the IntoUniversity Newcastle East centre in Walker. Here, they inspire schoolchildren aged 7-18 and show that a university education is for all.

University graduation medallion dating back from 1888 discovered in Australian vegetable patch

A medallion awarded to a Newcastle Medical School alumnus upon their graduation in the late 19th century has been unearthed in the unlikeliest of places – a back garden in East Perth, Australia!

Recent graduate publishes debut dystopian thriller following completion of Creative Writing MA

English Literature and Creative Writing alumna Sally Grey has recently celebrated the publication of her first novel, Fertile Ground, a story that began life on campus while Sally was completing her Master’s.

Meet the Class of 1944 alumnus who dedicated his career to supporting deaf children

Dr Geoffrey Chaytor, who graduated in Medicine from King’s College in 1944, spent his career supporting young children and babies with hearing difficulties and lobbied the government to provide these children with a quality education. This is his story.

Valentine’s Day: Alumni love stories from the past 6 decades

We *love* love, don’t you? To celebrate Valentine’s Day 2024, we asked our alumni community to share the tale of how they met their significant other on campus. In this blog, you can read our favourites!

Two North East legends from our alumni community join NCL in Action 2024 programme

We’re excited to be welcoming two Northern powerhouses, Jimmy Nail and Kim McGuinness, to speak at the launch day of NCL in Action 2024 at St. James’ Park on Friday 1 March.

Students' Net Zero innovations celebrated by alumni-founded Reece Foundation

Engineering students have had their innovative Net Zero solutions recognised in a competition hosted by local charity The Reece Foundation, which was founded by renowned North East engineer, businessman and Newcastle University alumnus Dr Alan Reece in 2007.

Eight international graduates announced as finalists in British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards

Eight Newcastle University graduates across Africa, East and South Asia, Europe and the Middle East have made the finals of this year’s Study UK Alumni Awards, celebrating their impact and dedication in their respective fields. Congratulations all!

World Cancer Day: Meet the recent graduate who has survived cancer and is now helping other young people facing chemo

Mollie Mulheron (BA Modern Languages, 2020; PGCE, 2022) was diagnosed with stage four Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in February 2023, shortly after returning from working in the Galapagos islands. Now in remission, she has published a book sharing her experience and top tips to support other teenagers and young people living with cancer.

Former NUSU Athletic Union Officer embarking on 500-mile cycle challenge for motor neurone disease charity

Fergus Mainland (BA Politics, 2021), who was Athletic Union Officer for Newcastle University Students’ Union in 2021-22, will be cycling 500 miles from Nice to Rome in March 2024 as part of the global ‘All Roads Lead To Rome’ challenge.

Celebrating 25 years of PARTNERS

This year, we’re celebrating 25 years of the PARTNERS programme at Newcastle University, one of the most well-established supported entry routes to higher education of its kind.

Meet the Psychology graduate helping the people of Newcastle find love this Valentine’s Day

Ben Mellor (BSc Psychology, 2016; MSc Clinical Psychology, 2020) is the founder of Newcastle-based dating agency NCL Dates, which has been holding speed dating and blind dating events in the North East since 2022.

Uniting our global alumni community to raise young people’s aspirations

We’re excited to start the year by announcing the programme for NCL in Action 2024, a month-long series of events and activities to bring together the Newcastle University community to raise aspirations in education and employment.

Newcastle Medical School alumnus and retired surgeon publishes memoir

David Clarke, who studied at Newcastle Medical School from 1961 - 1966, has recently published the first volume of his memoir, detailing his time at the university and his days as a junior doctor in the city’s hospitals.

Newcastle alumni recognised in King’s New Year Honours

10 Newcastle University alumni, staff and students have been named in King Charles III’s New Year Honours list, recognising their dedication and success in their respective fields. Congratulations all!

Gilbert and Sullivan student society of 1980s still going strong

Alumni who were members of Newcastle University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society from 1981 – 1992 have been reuniting every two years in Yorkshire for over two decades, with the latest reunion featuring a performance of 'The Zoo' by Sullivan and Rowe. We caught up with the organisers, Jo and David Hartley, to find out more.

Alumni-founded business wins Institute of Engineering and Technology Start-Up of the Year Award

Huge congratulations to Newcastle graduate Dr Joe Penhaul Smith (BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography, 2015), who is celebrating his business Sustainable Sailing winning the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Start-Up of the Year Award 2023.

PhD graduate makes final of Study UK Alumni Awards in China

Huge congratulations to Dr Jinwei Zhang (PhD Biotechnology, 2011) who was shortlisted in the Science and Sustainability Award at the 2023-24 British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in his home nation of China.

Do universities of today prepare students for the workplace of tomorrow?

With degrees costing more than ever before and ever-evolving technologies changing the world of work, we recently asked our alumni community: do universities prepare students for the workplace?

Christmas in Newcastle 2023

The festive season is in full swing here in Newcastle: Greggs have plenty of festive bakes in stock, the ice-rink is open outside the Life Science Centre for those brave enough, and of course, Fenwick's Christmas window display has been revealed!

Celebrating the difference alumni volunteers make around the world

With International Volunteer Day just round the corner (5 Dec), we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate the alumni who volunteer to lead our Alumni Networks around the world. These Networks offer a welcoming community for graduates across generations to connect with, and learn from, each other, and make a difference in their local area.

23 amazing achievements from our alumni community in 2023

As another year ends, we’re looking back at all the amazing things our alumni community have achieved over the past 12 months.

‘A towering figure in higher education’: Remembering Sir Eric Thomas

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Professor Sir Eric Thomas, the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board for the philanthropic Campaign for Newcastle University.

World Kindness Day: How our alumni community are stepping up for the next generation of Newcastle graduates

This World Kindness Day, we’d like to celebrate the kindness and generosity of spirit shown by our global alumni community in supporting current students at Newcastle University to thrive.

Law alumna and Visiting Professor publishes book on resilient leadership

Professor Funke Abimbola MBE (LLB, 1994), who is now a Professor of Practice at Newcastle Law School, is looking forward to the publication of her first book – Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership – this December.

Story idea that began on campus transforms into published YA novel

Creative Writing alumna Sue Reed is celebrating the publication of her first novel, The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn, today (28 October), a story that began life while Sue was still a student at Newcastle University. We spoke to Sue to find out more about Molly, and how she found returning to university at the age of 58.

Alumni make 560-mile journey from Norway to Newcastle to celebrate 50 years since student days

On 18 October, we welcomed 11 Norwegian Newcastle University graduates back to campus to mark 50 years since they first arrived in Newcastle as Engineering and Naval Architecture students.

Modern Languages graduate walking the coast of Great Britain for homelessness charity

In August 2023, Claire Allen (BA Hons French with Spanish, 2001) set off from John O’ Groats on an epic year-long charity challenge that will see her cover the entire 5,000-mile coastline of Great Britain – on foot! - to raise awareness and funds for national homelessness charity, Shelter.

Congratulations to this year's START UP Founderships awardees!

Three ambitious start-ups by recent graduates are to receive up to £20,000 in support to drive their business forwards as winners of Newcastle University’s START UP Founderships.

193 teaching alumni receive Honorary Bachelor of Education degrees in special ceremony

Newcastle University has this week awarded almost 200 Honorary B.Ed. degrees to recognise the significant contribution made by alumni to teaching in the North East and across the world.

New Stephenson Building gets ready to welcome students

Phase 1 of the Stephenson Building redevelopment is set to open to engineering students this month. To celebrate, we caught up with the project's academic lead, and Newcastle alumnus, Professor Barrie Mecrow to find out how the redevelopment will shape the future of engineering education at Newcastle.

A history of Freshers’ Week at Newcastle University

Next week, a new wave of students will arrive on campus from all around the world ready to start their time at Newcastle University. Even before they’ve stepped foot in a lecture theatre, lifelong experiences and connections can be made during Freshers’ Week. And with this year being 60 years since the first Freshers arrived at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, we thought it apt to delve deeper into the history of this student tradition.

The results are in! What you told us in the 2023 Alumni Survey

Your views on how we can best serve our alumni community, and what you want from your university, are very much valued by us. In this blog, you can read a summary of the results from the 2023 Alumni Survey and the changes we will be implementing to improve your experience with Newcastle University.

An interview with Nick Richardson, your new Chair of Convocation

We caught up with Zoology graduate and former Union Society President Nick Richardson to find out more about his ambitions for his term as the new Chair of Convocation.

An interview with Clare Talbot-Jones, your new Deputy Chair of Convocation

We caught up with modern languages graduate and North East-based business leader Clare Talbot-Jones to find out more about her ambitions for her term as the new Deputy Chair of Convocation.

A look back over the Newcastle Helix development

In this blog, you can explore the newest addition to our city centre campus: Newcastle Helix. The 24-acre site is situated where the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery once stood.

Newcastle University Halls past and present

Uni Halls are where memories are made. Whether you had the best time and made friends for life or couldn’t wait to move out, you’re sure to have memories that you’ll never forget.

Newcastle through the decades

Our alumni community have witnessed monumental changes to the University and city of Newcastle upon Tyne over the past six decades. Read on to travel through the decades and reminisce on your time at Newcastle (or discover what’s happened since you left!)

Sector Spotlight: My experience in Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)

Zahid's studies have led to a career in Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), tracking how people use websites and making improvements to reduce the frustration we all feel when navigating the internet! We caught up with him to find out what it's like working in this sector.

Sector Spotlight: Three lessons for working in Financial Services

Katie Molyneux (BSc Economics, 2015) shares the lessons she wishes she knew at the start of her career in the Financial Services sector.

Sector Spotlight: What it's like working in Marketing

MA Creative Arts Practice graduate Lewis Brown reflects on his career as a marketer and shares his top tips for getting into the sector.

I didn’t want a “proper job” and I am proof that it’s more than okay if you don’t too

Chloe Hall (BA English Literature, 2012) knew that the graduate scheme route wasn't for her when she finished her studies. Instead, she set up her own digital marketing agency Bumble and Bloom Media, which has grown into a multi-award-winning enterprise working with some of the world's biggest brands.

Arches is your bi-monthly digital alumni newsletter