Branding FAQs

If the University has an official partnership with the organisation and there is a robust rationale for the request, an additional logo can be added to the back of the card.

We also suggest including a QR code (usually to the additional organisation’s website), with a CTA along the lines of  'scan to find out more about XXXXX'.

We don't add additional logos to the front of the cards as there is limited space. We always lead with the University logo and the name of the University unit/partnership in bold as part of the address.

The University logo can only be included on reports commissioned by the University and written as a member of University staff.

If a colleague has produced a report in an independent capacity, not as part of their Newcastle University employment, they can’t use the University’s logo.

No, but they can use the Newcastle University name to state they worked or studied at the University.

If a University colleague is including a testimonial on the website, they can use the University logo.

If the organisation has a partnership/collaboration with the University, they can use the logo.

Before they use the University logo, they must agree to use of the trademarked logo only for the purpose stated.

They must also have a designated University member of staff responsible for signing off the copy and positioning of the logo. They must also make clear that the University reserves the right to ask them to remove the logo at any time.

They cannot add the University logo just because they are a supplier. This suggests we are endorsing their product/service and this may not be the case.

If a University colleague is including a testimonial on the website, they can use the University logo.

If the organisation has a partnership/collaboration with the University, they can use the logo.

Before they use the University logo, they must agree to use of the trademarked logo only for the purpose stated. They must also have a designated University member of staff responsible for signing off the copy and positioning of the logo. They must also make clear that the University reserves the right to ask them to remove the logo at any time.

They cannot add the University logo just because they are a supplier. This suggests we are endorsing their product/service and this may not be the case.

No. The logo, or any element within it, cannot be altered or redesigned.

No. The logo, or any element within it, cannot be altered or redesigned.

Students cannot use the University logo for their societies. They have access to the internal facing Team Newcastle logo to use alongside their society logo.

The University’s primary logos are full colour and full colour reverse.

A single colour black logo is only used in exceptional circumstances when only two-colour printing on merchandise is available.

The University’s primary logos are full colour and full colour reverse.

A single colour reversed logo is only used in exceptional circumstances when the full colour reversed logo does not work well with the background.

The full colour reversed logo works against all colours in the University’s brand colour palette.

Foil stamping, embossing: single colour reversed logo artwork.

Debossing: single colour logo artwork.

A lock-up logo is the term used when the University logo is presented alongside the name of a faculty or unit, or on occasion a specific activity.

A lock-up logo should only be required when there is a clear need or reason that the logo cannot be used on its own to represent the activity.

No. For social media accounts connected to the University, the full colour crest on a white background should be used at all times.

No, University activity should be represented using the University logo.

Where Newcastle University is a partner or collaborator in a multi-institutional research centre or project, an identity or logo may be developed as part of this collaboration.

Our Brand Guidelines will give you further guidance on this.

If you are working with a design agency to produce marketing assets for University purposes, you can share the logo with them, alongside the Brand Guidelines to ensure correct usage.

If you need to supply the logo to another third-party organisation, please contact brand-support@ncl.ac.uk to obtain permission. If granted, they should use the logo in line with the supplied guidelines.

If Newcastle University is a partner or collaborator in a project, there are specific guidelines regarding how the logo should be used. These are outlined in our Brand Guidelines.

Yes, our Brand Hub is accessible outside of the University. You can send suppliers a copy of our Brand Guidelines to make sure they have access to all of the information they might need. These can be downloaded from our Asset Library.

The University logo artwork can be downloaded from our Asset library. There is a public brand collection that all colleagues can access.  

More information about the Asset library is available on SharePoint.

The most recent version of our logo is the full colour logo, and the writing should align with the top and bottom of the crest.  

If the crest extends below the ‘Newcastle University’ writing, this is the old version of the logo, and where possible should be updated.

For advice and support regarding our brand or logo, contact Brand Support at brand-support@ncl.ac.uk.

On the whole, you should only use colours within the brand palette within your designs. This ensures that you are consistent with our brand and identity.

However, there are a small number of exclusions to this rule. For example, we accept that red and green are used in Christmas creative, and orange is often used for Halloween.

Accessibility is an important consideration within our brand, and we aim to be accessible at all times. You can view information about colour combinations on our brand hub colour palette page.

You can also use online tools to check accessibility, such as the Adobe colour checker.  

The University NU branded PowerPoint template can be downloaded from our Asset library. There is a public brand collection that all colleagues can access. 

More information about the Asset library is available on SharePoint.

The Central Marketing don't have any translation service/provider set up for Braille, but the University's Wellbeing team or Disability Support team may be able help you.

Regarding translating into other languages, the International Office or the administrator in Modern Languages may be able to help you with find a translator. Previously we have used a postgraduate student from a translation course to translation a publication.