Weather & Climate	The weather in Newcastle can be quite variable. Summers are mild with temperatures generally around 18-21 degrees Celsius, while in winter average temperatures are generally 2-8 degrees Celsius.   While Newcastle receives less rain than a lot of the UK, a waterproof coat can be very useful throughout the year. You may also wish to bring warm layers with you, or they are widely available to buy in the city centre.  Newcastle can also be a windy city! The wind can make the temperatures feel a bit colder, especially in the winter.
National Holidays	The UK observes several national or 'bank' holidays - you can see when they are on the UK Government website.  The University and many other organisations and businesses may be closed on national or 'bank' holidays, and some services or businesses might have reduced or different opening/operating hours than normal.  The University also closes for several additional days for the holidays of Christmas and New Year.
Newcastle	Newcastle upon Tyne is a big city in a small space, and it has a sizeable student population. It's easy to get around and is well connected with the Metro rail network running across the city and the region, from the airport to the North Sea coast. Newcastle is a great city to live in and is a fantastic place to visit.   There is so much to do in the city itself, including sport, music, theatre, eating and drinking, as well as miles of coastal beaches and the rolling green hills of the countryside are not far away. Find out more about Life in Newcastle.  Don’t just take our word for it, read our Student Blog on the Top places to explore in Newcastle
The Region	The North East is a varied and historic region, filled with World Heritage Sites, coastal towns and castles – and it's all within easy reach of Newcastle.  Whether it's following a path laid down by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, visiting the castle where Harry Potter was filmed or unwinding on award-winning beaches, the North East is an amazing and beautiful part of the country.
What is a Geordie?	A Geordie is someone who is from the Tyneside area of the North East – so the local people in Newcastle are Geordies and their spoken dialect is also known as Geordie.     Why are they called Geordies? No one knows for sure, it could be one of many reasons! Most people think that the name comes from one of the explanations below:  It was the name given to the workers of the railway pioneer George 'Geordie' Stephenson  It was a term for a pitman derived from the use of Stephenson’s 'Geordie’ Lamp  In the 18th century the Scottish and Northumbrian people supported James Stuart to become King rather than King George 1st. There was an uprising in support of James Stuart and all Northumbrian towns declared their allegiance to him, except for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, who closed their gates to them. It is believed that James Stuart’s supporters named the residents of Newcastle ‘Geordies’ as they supported King George.   You can find out more about the history of the people of Newcastle at the England North East website.    The Geordie accent and dialect is one of the most distinctive British accents and includes lots of words that are unique to the North East. It can be a difficult accent to understand! You can find out more about the Geordie accent and it's origins, at the England North East website. Our Geordie Phrases blog post helps you learn some of the most common phrases you'll hear spoken around the city.

Newcastle is a small, compact city, you can walk from one end of the city centre to the other in 20 mins. Newcastle University is to the north of the city centre. Most students live close enough to the city centre to walk or cycle to classes, but you may want to explore further afield (please do!). The public transport network is fab and you can easily get out and about around the region. The main modes of transport are described below:

Metro	Identified by the yellow sign and a big, black 'M'. The metro service covers the local area, you can get to the beach in 20 mins from the city centre. There are many types of tickets, if you plan to use the metro regularly it may be worth buying a season ticket, which covers travel for a set length of time. For an ad hoc journey you can purchase a ticket at a machine at the station entrance - you follow the steps on screen - select the station you'd like to go to, select adult and single or return then pay by cash, card or contactless.
Bus	There are a few bus companies that provide a service in and around Newcastle. It's as simple as getting on at the front of the bus, telling the driver where you'd like to go, they tell you the price and you pay by cash or card. Again, if you plan to use the bus regularly it may be worth buying a season ticket, which covers travel for a set length of time at a discounted price.
Train	Newcastle Central is in the city centre. It's on the east coast mainline and can connect you to lots of places around the UK. Train travel can be expensive so we'd recommend booking in advance and looking into whether you'll save money by buying a railcard.

 

Whether you have chosen to stay in University accommodation or arranged your own, we recommend that you do the following  before you arrive:

• Make sure you have signed your contract and paid any deposits
• Check with your accommodation provider how and where you collect your keys
• Check whether you need to book an arrival slot, and if you do, make sure you book it
• If you are arriving out of office hours (e.g. an evening or weekend) ask your accommodation provider how you will get your keys

Bringing family with you?

Please be aware that family accommodation in the city centre can be very expensive. You may need to extend your search beyond the city centre to find accommodation within your budget. The Student Advice Centre has helpful advice on their webpages and they are also available to offer help and support with looking for, living in & leaving your property. 

Staying in University accommodation?

Moving in day is very exciting, but before you arrive, you must complete your mandatory induction and book an arrival slot. Before your arrival, we’ll email you asking you to complete your mandatory induction. This includes important information about living with us and it is where you’ll book your arrival slot. Slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis; so please keep an eye out for our email inviting you to complete your induction. This usually happens 14 days before your contract start date.

Please see our moving in pages for further guidance on arriving and checking into your accommodation.

We know that you’re going to have lots of opportunities to make friends and meet new students once you arrive but we want to make it as easy as possible for you to connect with like-minded students at Newcastle University. We’ve partnered with Umii to allow you to do this in a fun, safe and non-awkward way. 

Umii is an app that matches you with other students based on your interests, course type and societies and makes it super easy to connect, start conversations and develop friendships together - you can do this before you arrive!

Newcastle University have a free app called iNCLude, which is the essential guide for new students. Get information and support that will help you prepare for life as a student at Newcastle University. With information and advice on transitions, preparing for University, student life at Newcastle, finances and Freshers' events – download iNCLude today! You’ll find everything you need in one place. Download through iOS or Google Play.