How our community can give students on campus the full Newcastle University experience
All donations made to the Newcastle University Student Fund this summer will be match-funded, so alumni and supporters can make double the difference to students missing out on what makes belonging to Newcastle so special.
16 June 2025
Supporting the next generation of Newcastle graduates
This summer, alumni and friends of Newcastle University have the opportunity to give students arriving on campus in September the full Newcastle experience.
32% of Newcastle’s UK students come from socio-economically underprivileged backgrounds. Without a family safety net, they either can’t afford to join the many clubs and societies available through the Students' Union, or don’t have the time to because of juggling part-time work alongside their learning to pay their ever-increasing bills.
Having the financial freedom to get involved in opportunities outside the lecture hall helps our students to build the network and skills they need in the future, and ensures that everyone gets to experience what makes belonging to Newcastle so special. It is these opportunities on campus that Class of 1977 alumna Dame Teresa Graham DBE credits for her success, and we are thrilled that Teresa is joining us to champion our summer appeal this year, encouraging her fellow Newcastle graduates to support the next generation of students on campus and gifting them the full university experience. She said:
“I was the first in my family to go to university, having grown up on a council estate. It was my time on campus that helped me realise my dreams. Looking back, we were privileged as students: for most of us, tuition was funded and employment pretty much guaranteed.
“Students today are battling much more: rising costs of learning, a challenging job market and an era of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The list goes on. The same fulfilling experience I remember, including captaining a university sports team, isn’t accessible to all because of the cost attached – whether that be money, time or resource.
“With a new term starting soon, we have an opportunity as alumni to change the narrative. Every Newcastle student deserves a warm welcome (it’s what the Toon is famous for!). They deserve to dream big like l did.”
Match-funding has been secured through the Newcastle University Development Trust, meaning any donations made before 1 August 2025 will be doubled, ensuring more students than ever before can be helped when the academic year begins in September.
“I’ll always look back on my time at Newcastle University with a smile on my face”
Newcastle University has a long history of sporting achievement, whether in the national BUCS league or against local rivals Northumbria! Our sports clubs are much more than a way to bolster our trophy cabinet, however. Students competing at all levels can gain confidence, camaraderie and connections which set them up for their future.
Participation bursaries provided by the Newcastle University Student Fund cover essentials like club memberships, kit and equipment so anyone – no matter what their background – can get involved and join Team Newcastle. Just like final-year medical student Jacob.
“Being from a single parent and low-income household, the Newcastle University Student Fund has given me a vital helping hand to make the most of my time at university, from trying out new sports like powerlifting and taekwondo, to regularly playing football alongside my studies.
“Getting involved in sports is a great way to make friends and keep fit, but more importantly, as a medical student I know it helps improve my mental health and mood when studies are getting stressful.
“I’ve never felt I’ve missed out, despite my personal circumstances, because of the generosity of alumni and supporters. I graduate this summer, and I know I’ll always look back on my time at Newcastle University with a smile on my face.”
“Donations have helped me gain the opportunity of a lifetime”
This summer, Computer Science student Isla will be standing under the Arches in her gown (and no mortar board as is tradition!) graduating from Newcastle University. Her success in gaining her degree and her hopes for the future would not have been possible without supporter donations.
“I’ve dreamt of working in the gaming industry since I was 14, and today that dream is within reach because of my experience at Newcastle University.
“Donations helped me gain a work placement at an industry-leading company in Sweden – the opportunity of a lifetime and one I would not have been able to accept without financial support. This opportunity has developed my skillset and prepared me for life after graduation – I can’t wait to begin!
“It’s not just professional opportunities that I’ve been gifted from our supporter community. I also received a participation bursary which enabled me to join the Gilbert and Sullivan Theatre Society, where I have made lifelong friends and cherished memories.”
All students should experience what makes belonging to Newcastle University so special
The Newcastle University Student Fund helps students get into university and make the most of their experience. It creates opportunities for the future and offers help when times get tough.
With cost-of-living challenges, extracurricular and social activities are among the first things that many students need to give up. But as our alumni community know from their own time on campus, it is these activities that stay with you for a lifetime.
They enhance students’ confidence in social interactions, expand their social circles, and equip them with new skills and abilities. Most importantly, these activities provide a vital space for enjoyment and relaxation, offering a break from the stresses of university life.
Last year, donations to the Newcastle University Student Fund provided 131 fully-funded participation bursaries to students on campus, so those at risk of missing out on our sports clubs and societies could get involved. And now, we’re asking our generous alumni and supporter community to unite to ensure we can be there for the new cohort of students arriving on campus in September.
How you can support students like Jacob and Isla
Please consider making a donation online to ensure students arriving on campus can experience what makes belonging to Newcastle University so special. Your donation will help future generations of Newcastle graduates reach their potential and make the most of their time with us, as well as setting them up for a bright future.
Anything you give before 1 August 2025 will be matched by the Newcastle University Development Trust, so you can make double the difference this summer. Thank you.