Information for Parents
Starting university can be a nerve-racking time, and we aim to provide help and advice to make the transition as straightforward as possible.
Why Should I encourage my child to choose Newcastle University?
- At Newcastle, our aim is simple: to inspire our students through our teaching, create an exciting yet supportive environment in which to study, and ensure the quality of our teaching and learning provision.
- Newcastle University has an excellent reputation and is highly thought of by prospective employers which improve the career prospects of students. All degree programmes provide students with additional skills to increase their employability and help them write an outstanding CV.
- A survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in 2010 found that 91.3% of Newcastle Graduates had found employment in graduate level jobs with a high percentage of the remainder going on to further study. Our graduates are in demand: we are one of the top 20 universities targeted by prestigious employers looking for high quality staff.
- Newcastle University is a vibrant place, with a friendly city and region, students find they settle in and make friends very quickly. Newcastle was voted 'top English City' in the 2005 Travel Awards for the 4th consecutive year.
- The University has a reputation for its friendly and supportive atmosphere - it was recently ranked in the top 10 of the UK's friendliest universities, by a Friends Reunited league table.
Settling In
At Newcastle we offer comprehensive support - even before you get here! All students receive a copy of our pre-arrival information that outlines everything you need to know about registering as a student here. Once at Newcastle - we provide our students with:
- support and advice to help you settle in
- first-class, award-winning academic facilities to support you in your studies
- a comprehensive student Welfare Network
- dedicated, specialist support for students with disabilities, mature students and students with childcare needs
- Our tutorial system - central to the support services that we offer, exists as a link on a personal basis between you and the University.
Fresher's Week
The University's Fresher's week is dedicated solely to welcoming new students to the University and giving them the opportunity to meet plenty of other students in the same position as they are in their first week! Run by the student's Union, Fresher's Week is the best introduction to student life in Newcastle. Over 300 student volunteers look after new students each year, showing them the city, the University, the Union and making sure no one gets left out.
Accommodation
During your first year of study you are guaranteed a place in university accommodation.
We have over 4,400 rooms offering a wide variety of reasonably priced accommodation, from halls of residence with meals provided, to self catered flats and houses. The university also has a number of rooms for students with special needs such as mobility or health problems.
Teaching
A typical first year student completes 120 credits a year, split 65:55 over the two semesters. Modules are typically worth 10 or 20 credits and will either last for one semester or be spread across the two. Students' learning time is expected to total 100 hours per 10 credit module. Generally students can expect at least 20 hours of this to be contact time with lecturers in lectures and tutorials. Students should allow, on average, six hours per week per module during the teaching weeks for private or group study associated with the module, including assignments, exercises and tutorials.
Careers
Our students have access to one of the largest and best resourced careers services in the UK, the winner of four prestigious National Careers Awards. We were the first university Careers Service in the UK to be awarded the Matrix Quality Standard, from the Guidance Accreditation Board, for the highest standard of information, advice and guidance on offer.
According to new Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) statistics, our graduates have one of the best track records in the country for getting good jobs.
- 91.3% went into employment/further study (higher than normal average)
- ALL of these were in graduate level jobs
- Average salaries for a recently qualified graduate were £24,583 and our graduates can expect to earn £50-£100k and upwards at senior level.
- According to Royal Bank of Scotland research, engineers are the most satisfied of all the professions in the UK with average of 80% claiming to be happy with their work/life balance, compared with an average of just 58% across all other occupations.
- EEE achieved the highest score for Graduate Prospects in the 2013 Complete University Guide.
Student Safety
Newcastle upon Tyne has a lower crime rate than many other university cities including Nottingham, Reading, Manchester and Liverpool.
Our campus has extensive CCTV systems, and operates smart card access to university buildings. The Nightbus, a minibus service, is provided by the Union Society which ensures students can get taken directly to their door.
We take the safety of our students very seriously; 24-hour porters at our halls of residence and a team of seven police officers patrol the campus and our student accommodation to ensure your peace of mind. Recent investment has resulted in 23 hi-tech pan, tilt and zoom cameras, a refurbished Security Control Centre, and a newly-installed, state-of-the-art digital security control system on campus.
Newcastle is a very student-friendly city, with safe and accessible public transport and a strong focus on maintaining a safe and vibrant city centre. There is a Student Safety Group in the city that provides a number of initiatives to make sure that Newcastle remains a safe place for students. They offer great advice on safety and security, the provision of alarms and property marking pens.
Student Wellbeing
Student Wellbeing offers a range of services which aim to support students during their time here in order to ensure successful completion of their studies. Our services are available throughout the year and are completely free and confidential.
Coming to University offers a wide and exciting range of experience. The Counseling and Wellbeing team offers all students the opportunity of support to enable maximum benefit to be derived from the University experience.
The Counseling and Wellbeing Team consists of:
- Counselors
- Student Support Officers
- Mental Health Adviser
- Student Advice Centre
The Student Advice Centre is based in the Union Society building. It offers a professional support service to all our students and their dependants. Our service is friendly, free, impartial and strictly confidential. We have professional advisors, who can provide information and advice on:
- finance and employment
- legal and consumer matters
- academic problems
- housing
The student Advice Centre will simply listen to your worries and frustrations, and discuss possible ways forward. They have:
- an extensive and informative website and a range of information leaflets
- specific information for international and mature students
- forms for financial help, assistance with health charges, immigration issues
- access to the same resources as a Citizens' Advice Bureau - we can obtain specialist opinion from within the University and from local and national agencies.
Cost of Living
We hope this information has proved useful to you and answered some of your questions. If you have any other queries please do not hesitate to contact us on:
Tel: 0191 222 7340 / +44 191 222 7340 or Email: eee.ug@ncl.ac.uk
There is more information for Parents on the University web page.
