Northumbria University
| Motto | Template:Lang-la [1] |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "The age of learning" |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1992 - Gained University status 1969 - Newcastle Polytechnic 1894 - Rutherford College of Technology |
| Chancellor | Tanni Grey-Thompson |
| Vice-Chancellor | Andrew Wathey [2] |
| Students | 28,325 (2022/23)[3] |
| Undergraduates | 20,455 (2022/23)[3] |
| Postgraduates | 7,875 (2022/23)[3] |
Other students | 220 FE[4] |
| Location | , , England, UK 54°58′35″N 1°36′29″W / 54.9764°N 1.6080°W |
| Campus | Urban and Suburban |
| Affiliations | University Alliance, Wallace Group |
| Website | http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/ |
Northumbria University, officially the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, is a university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. A former polytechnic, it was established as one of the new universities in 1992. It is a member of the University Alliance[5] and the second university of Newcastle.
History
Northumbria University has its origins in three regional colleges: Rutherford College of Technology, which was established by John Hunter Rutherford in 1880 and opened formally by HRH The Duke of York in 1894, the College of Art & Industrial Design and the Municipal College of Commerce.
Newcastle Polytechnic
In 1969, these three institutions were amalgamated to form Newcastle Polytechnic. The Polytechnic became the major regional centre for the training of teachers with the incorporation of the City College of Education in 1974, and the Northern Counties College of Education in 1976.[6]
University status
In 1992, Newcastle Polytechnic was inaugurated as the new Northumbria University as part of the UK-wide process in which polytechnics became new universities. It was originally styled, and its official name still is, the University of Northumbria at Newcastle (see the Articles of Government[7]) but the trading name was simplified to Northumbria University in 2002. In 1995, it was awarded responsibility for the education of healthcare professionals, which was transferred from the National Health Service.
Campuses
The university has two large campuses. City Campus, located in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, is divided into City Campus East and City Campus West by the city's central motorway and linked by a £4 million bridge which in 2008 was officially opened by the former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Digby Jones.[8]
City Campus
City Campus East is home to the Schools of Law, Design and the Newcastle Business School (NBS). NBS and Law are housed in one building, and the School of Design is across a courtyard.
City Campus East, designed by Atkins, has become a Newcastle landmark since opening in September 2007, winning awards from The Journal newspaper and the Low Carbon New Build Project of the Year accolade.
City Campus West is home to the Schools of Arts & Social Sciences, Built & Natural Environment, Computing, Engineering & Information Sciences and Life Sciences. Also located on this campus is the University Library, Students' Union building and Sport Central, a £31m sports facility for students, staff and the community which opened in 2010.[6]
The Sutherland Building, formerly the Medical School of Durham University,[9] which was a naval warehouse during World War II, and the Dental School of Durham University (1945–78) is the home of Administrative Departments including Finance & Planning and Human Resources, using the space vacated when the School of Law moved to City Campus East.
The Students' Union building, at City Campus West, underwent a multimillion-pound makeover with new lobby and recreational facilities, and a refurbished bar and cafe space, in summer 2010.
Coach Lane
A second campus[10] is located 2.6 miles (4 km) outside of Newcastle, on Coach Lane, and is known as the Coach Lane Campus at Cochrane Park near the A188 (Benton Road). It is in the Dene ward near Longbenton and round the corner from Tyneview Park; a large Department for Work and Pensions office, accessible via the Four Lane Ends Interchange.
The Coach Lane Campus is home to School of Health, Community and Education Studies. Coach Lane Campus has computing and library services; its own Students' Union, and sports facilities, including indoor courts, a fitness suite, outdoor rugby and football pitches, and an all-weather floodlit pitch. A free shuttle bus runs between the two campuses.
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Pillar Man sculpture -
Accommodation Office -
Ellison Building -
School of Arts and Social Sciences -
Law and Business Building
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London Campus
Northumbria University has a campus in Central London that was opened in 2014. This campus concentrates mainly on business courses offering postgraduate Master of Science degrees in Marketing, Financial Management and International management. The campus is located close to a number of underground stations such as Aldgate and Liverpool Street. Postgraduate students studying with Northumbria University at the London Campus can also gain an internship as part of their studies.
Organisation and structure
Northumbria describes itself as a comprehensive university, offering 30 of Britain's 32 most frequently chosen academic disciplines. It specialises in law and business, arts and design, computing, environmental science, built environment, applied healthcare, sports science and psychology, and teacher education.
Northumbria also offers 'clinical' courses in law accredited by the Law Society and Bar Council. These allow graduates direct entry to the profession. The institution's Student Law Centre is a unique clinical legal education enterprise,[11] where law students participate in a legal advice and representation scheme on behalf of real clients, as part of their academic and professional development. The service is run as a full legal service, just like any other firm of solicitors. Practising lawyers closely supervise the students' work and have overall responsibility for ensuring that clients receive a professional service.
The School of Design in Newcastle upon Tyne also has a satellite campus in Islington, London.
Northumbria University employs more than 3,200 people and offers approximately 500 study programmes through four Faculties:
- Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Engineering and Environment
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Northumbria University is international in its operations and reach, with programmes delivered in Newcastle upon Tyne, London and worldwide. Northumbria University recruits in Asia, with numbers of students studying degrees at partner institutions in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Seoul and elsewhere.
Academic profile
Research
In the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 a small amount of research in nine of twelve areas submitted was described as "world leading".[12]
Notable research awards in 2009/10 included funding from the Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme for a Northumbria-led national assessment of dementia care, in collaboration with the Universities of Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glamorgan.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council awarded £1.4 million to a Northumbria University research team working alongside the Universities of Birmingham, Central Lancashire, Swansea and London (Birkbeck) on energy consumption.
RTC North and a private company, Nonlinear Dynamics - a world leader in its field – announced a research collaboration with Northumbria University which could lead to a major breakthrough in the production of bio-fuels. The three-year project will bring together traditional scientific laboratory analysis techniques and some of the world’s most advanced data analysis software.
A new company established by the University in 2010 will give manufacturers the chance to use computational chemistry to create “designer molecules” for the first time in an industrial setting. The process, Quantum Directed Genetic Algorithms (QDGA), is a unique solution for identifying new catalysts and reactants.
Reputation and rankings
| National rankings | |
|---|---|
| Complete (2025)[13] | 60 |
| Guardian (2025)[14] | 68 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2025)[15] | 66 |
| Global rankings | |
| THE (2025)[16] | 601-800 |
As a more modern university, Northumbria stands out above many other competitors in the league rankings usually featuring in the top half of all UK universities. Furthermore, Northumbria has climbed the league tables year on year with student satisfaction and graduate prospects ever increasing.
Student life
The Students' Union as a campaigning and representative organisation. It is a charity currently exempt from registration and is led by five Sabbatical Officers (President and 4 Vice-Presidents) and a 37-member Student Council.
The Students' Union offers a range of student activities such as Volunteer Northumbria, One Planet, Raise and Give (Rag), Give It A Go and Skills sessions. It represents students in academic and non-academic matters through a nationally recognised School Reps and Postgraduate Research Reps Systems, as well as newly introduced Community Reps and Caucus group chairs.
The university building contains several venues for students to socialise in a safe environment, chiefly at Habita (formerly Bar One), Domain (formerly The Venue) and Reds.
In 2011, Northumbria Student's Union received the National Union of Students award for best higher education students union.[17]
Notable alumni
- Bibiana Aído Almagro, Spanish politician, currently serving as Minister for Equality
- Vera Baird, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, former MP for Redcar
- Tunde Baiyewu, vocalist, lead singer of the Lighthouse Family
- Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA[18]
- Rodney Bickerstaffe, former General Secretary of UNISON[19]
- J. Alan Biggins TD PhD FSA - Scientist and Surveyor
- Gavin Brown, art dealer[20]
- Timothy Brown, chief executive of IDEO
- Alan Campbell, MP for Tynemouth
- Nigel Cabourn, fashion designer
- Chris Cook, GB Commonwealth and Olympic swimmer
- Martin Corry, England rugby international, and Leicester Tigers
- Steve Cram, English athlete and television presenter
- Ali Dia, Senegalese footballer
- Rick Dickinson, designer of the ZX81 computer[21]
- Robbie Elliott, footballer and coach
- John Fashanu, Nigerian footballer and TV personality
- Toby Flood, England rugby international, and Leicester Tigers[22]
- Mary Glindon, MP for North Tyneside[23]
- Scott Henshall, fashion designer[24]
- Louise Hopkins, artist[25]
- Sir Jonathan Ive, industrial designer, lead designer of the Apple Inc. iMac and iPod
- Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham
- Emma Lewell-Buck, MP for South Shields[26]
- Duncan Lloyd, lead guitarist of Maxïmo Park
- Neil Marshall, film director[27]
- Alexei Mordashov, Russian business oligarch[28]
- Bob Murray, former chairman of Sunderland AFC
- Jamie Noon, England rugby international, and Newcastle Falcons player
- Victoria Pendleton, Olympic cyclist
- Gerry Steinberg, former MP for City of Durham
- Sting, musician[29]
- Zak Waters, photographer[30]
- Kevin Whately, actor[29]
- Jonny Wilkinson, England rugby international, and Newcastle Falcons player
- Paul Winsper, fitness expert
- Bharti Kher, contemporary artist[31]
- Jason Holland, designer
See also
- Kingston Park (stadium)
- Bullocksteads Sports Ground
- Northumbria University Press
- JISC infoNet
- Sport Central
- Northeast England
References
- ^ http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/static/insightarchive/305587
- ^ "Vice-Chancellor's Office". Northumbria University. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
- ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07" (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
- ^ "University Alliance - Britain's universities for cities and regions". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ a b "History of Northumbria". Northumbria University. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/static/5007/2008pdf/iag.pdf Northumbria University Instrument and Articles of Government
- ^ "Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman helps to open key footbridge". Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ Good Stuff. "Sutherland Building - Newcastle upon Tyne - Newcastle upon Tyne - England - British Listed Buildings". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ Weston Beggard. "University of Northumbria Campus... (C) Weston Beggard :: Geograph Britain and Ireland". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ http://www.www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/law/slonew/?view=Standard
- ^ RAE 2008 quality profile for University of Northumbria at Newcastle, RAE2008
- ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
- ^ "THE World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education. 9 October 2024.
- ^ http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/awards/2011/#festudentsunionoftheyear
- ^ "Officers of the Academy". BAFTA. 28 June 12. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "In the news". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ Eccles, Tom. "Gavin Brown". ArtReview. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ "Rick Dickinson". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "BBC - Tyne - Sport - The Toby Flood interview". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
{{cite web}}: horizontal tab character in|title=at position 20 (help) - ^ Sonia Sharma (15 February 2015). "Election 2015: North Tyneside constituency and candidates - all you need to know". nechronicle. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Scott Henshall". Northumbria University. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Louise Hopkins". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Emma Lewell-Buck to fight South Shields seat for Labour". BBC News. 11 April 2013.
- ^ https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/alumni-profiles/notable-alumni/
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5019588.stm
- ^ a b "Notable Alumni". Northumbria University. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "LPA - photographer profiles Zak Waters". Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ http://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/17/bharti-kher/biography/
Further reading
- Allen, Joan; Buswell, Richard (2005). Rutherford's Ladder: The Making of Northumbria University, 1871-1996. Newcastle upon Tyne: Northumbria University Press. ISBN 1-904794-09-2.
External links
Media related to Northumbria University at Wikimedia Commons
