Collaborative Partnerships
We work with a range of partners to ensure our ongoing delivery of high-impact outreach.
North East Uni Connect programme
Newcastle University is the lead partner institution for the North East Uni Connect Programme. The programme is a partnership between the universities and colleges in the North East. It supports young people and their networks to explore education options. It works to remove barriers to higher education, including academic, financial, and cultural.
North East Uni Connect delivers their work through two programmes: FutureMe and Outreach North East.
The FutureMe programme is available in certain schools and colleges. It's for students in Years 11-13 and further education colleges in the North East. Students who take part in the programme can access activities and events. FutureMe helps students think about their future and consider how higher education can help them reach their goals.
Outreach North East provides signposting and professional development for educators, counsellors, and caregivers. They offer impactful and evidence-based initiatives that target gaps in higher education outreach.
Realising Opportunities
Newcastle University leads Realising Opportunities, a collaboration of research-intensive universities. The partnership supports 16–19-year-olds and promotes fair access to higher education. It also encourages social mobility for underrepresented students.
North East Raising Aspirations Partnership
Newcastle University leads the North East Raising Aspiration Partnership (NERAP). It is a collaboration of the five universities in the region. They work together to support young people to think about their futures and how higher education can help them reach their goals.
NERAP offers free workshops and activities in schools and online. These cover various topics, provided by our five university partners. Students in Key Stage 2 and 4 can participate.
NERAP provides extra support for care-experienced students. It also gives additional support to young carers. These targeted programmes provide an immersive experience to support young people throughout their educational journey.
Advancing Access
Advancing Access is a partnership between 24 leading universities. They work together with schools and colleges.
They offer free online events and CPD resources to support teachers and advisers. These resources help students progress from key stage 4 to university choices.
The website offers examples of best practices for teachers and advisers. It also provides how-to guides for peer-to-peer CPD and classroom use. Video case studies feature current students and recent graduates from Newcastle University and other Russell Group institutions.
The Elephant Group
Newcastle University collaborates with the The Elephant Group. They aim to enhance access to selective institutions for underrepresented state school students.
The Elephant Group is a charity led by headteachers. The group improves fair access to top universities. They do this in partnership with school leaders, universities, and other partners.
The Brilliant Club
Newcastle University partners with The Brilliant Club. They help less advantaged students access competitive universities and succeed once they get there. The Brilliant Club works across the UK and mobilises the PhD community to deliver their programmes.
IntoUniversity
IntoUniversity provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve.
IntoUniversity Newcastle East is the first centre to open in Newcastle. It is a partnership between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. The centre supports young people aged 7-18. It offers academic support, soft-skill development, and work experience. This helps young people achieve their chosen aspiration, like going to university.
The Sutton Trust Pathways to Medicine
Pathways to Medicine is a scheme delivered by Newcastle University, in collaboration with the Sutton Trust. It helps students interested in a career in medicine. The scheme includes a comprehensive programme of academic and medicine specific support as well as work experience and online mentoring. It's open to students in the North East who meet certain widening participation eligibility criteria.
Participating students receive a lower conditional offer, of three A Level grades or equivalent, below the typical offer. Offer is dependent on UCAT and interview score.
Education networks
Our goal is to continually improve what we offer and to provide schools and colleges with relevant activities and resources. We have developed relationships with several education networks. These networks include:
