Under the Arches

Your alumni news noticeboard

Under the Arches is the baby sibling of our bi-monthly alumni newsletter, Arches. Here, you can read bitesize news and life updates from your global alumni community, and celebrate your own achievements with your fellow Newcastle graduates and those on campus. 

Graduate returns to Newcastle for gig at The Cluny this November

Urvashi is a quartet with a shared love for traditional and modern music: they draw equally from Indian Qawwali, Arabic Tarab, modal jazz, hard rock and drum and bass. They also have strong links to the local region, with their saxophonist and flutist Anna Chai having studied on campus! Anna and her bandmates will be returning to Newcastle on 27 November for a gig at The Cluny in Ouseburn, with tickets available to buy now. 

Alumnus brings home gold medal from World Rowing Championships in Shanghai

Huge congratulations to Dan Graham (BA Ancient History, 2020) who bagged a gold medal as part of Team GB's coxless four in the recent World Rowing Championships in Shanghai. This was Dan's first senior world championship - well done!

Computer Science graduate 'Rising Star' finalist in 2025 Women in Tech Excellence Awards

Best of luck to Class of 2023 graduate Madhavi Swamy who is up for the 'Rising Star - Financial' award at this year's Women in Tech Excellence Awards. The winner will be announced on 27 November 2025.

Class of 2022 alumna shortlisted for Greek International Women Awards (GIWA)

We're proud to announce that Maria Kyriazi (BSc Biomedical Genetics, 2021; MRes Ageing and Health, 2022) has been shortlisted in the 'Young Star' category at this year's Greek International Women Awards. These awards aim to recognise, empower, and celebrate the achievements of Greek women worldwide who have excelled in various professional fields and Maria has been nominated in recognition of her contributions in the field of biomedical and medical sciences.

"The confidence I developed from being at Newcastle University really helped me push myself out of my comfort zone, resulting in a promotion less than a year after graduation."

Congratulations to Class of 2023 graduate Alice Christy who has kickstarted her career in buying and merchandising with TJX Europe and has recently been promoted to Senior Allocation Analyst. Alice hopes to be a Buyer in the next 5-7 years. Well done, Alice! 

Launching a bespoke lash business

Digital Marketing graduate Skyler has recently opened a personal manga-style lash studio in Newcastle city centre. She told us: 

"My inspiration came from noticing how the right set of lashes can instantly boost a woman’s confidence while also saving time in daily life – whether for work, study, or travel. Beyond the studio, I also offer training courses to give people practical skills they can use to earn extra income.

My goal is to share both beauty and opportunity: helping people feel more confident while also empowering others to start their own journey in this field."

You can follow Skyler's lash studio @Hehebeautybar on Instagram.