Northumbria University
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox university
The University of Northumbria at Newcastle, which operates as Northumbria University,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East of England. It has been a university since 1992, but has its origins in the Rutherford College, founded in 1877.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>
Northumbria University is primarily based within City Campus located in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre and at Coach Lane campus on the outskirts of the city centre, London and Amsterdam. It is organised into four faculties—Arts, Design and Social Sciences; Business and Law; Engineering and Environment, and Health and Life Sciences. Northumbria University has approximately 38,300 students.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref>
According to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, Northumbria University was rated 23rd in the UK for research power (the grade point average score of a university, multiplied by the full-time equivalent number of researchers submitted).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This determines how much funding is awarded to universities to spend on research activity and represented the largest percentage-point rise in market share since the previous exercise.<ref name=QR2223>Template:Cite news</ref> The annual income of the institution for 2022–23 was £338.3 million of which £16.4 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £340.2 million.<ref name="annacc"/>
Northumbria is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Universities UK and the Wallace Group.
History
Northumbria University has its origins in three Newcastle colleges: Rutherford College of Technology, which was established by John Hunter Rutherford in 1877 and opened formally in 1894 by the Duke of York (later King George V), the College of Art & Industrial Design and the Municipal College of Commerce. In 1969, the three colleges 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.<ref name="northumbria.ac.uk">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1992, Newcastle Polytechnic was reconstituted as the new University of Northumbria,<ref name="independent1">Template:Cite web</ref> as part of a nationwide 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<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref>) 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.Template:Fact
In 2017, the university was fined £400,000 after a sports science experiment gave volunteers a hundred times the safe dose of caffeine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A court hearing heard that the university had not trained staff in safety and had not carried out a proper risk assessment, and that the dose was above the level known to cause risk of death.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Northumbria was named the UK University of the Year 2022 by Times Higher Education. The award was given in recognition of Northumbria's transformation over more than a decade into a research-intensive modern institution. The judging panel stated "The scale of [Northumbria's] ambition, the rigour and effectiveness with which it has been pursued and its role in transforming lives and supporting its region all make it a deserving winner."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Campuses
United Kingdom
.jpg){kind=link}
The university has two large campuses situated in Newcastle and one in London. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
City Campus
.jpg){kind=link}
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.Template:Fact
City Campus East, designed by Atkins, opened in September 2007, winning awards from The Journal newspaper and the Low Carbon New Build Project of the Year accolade.
.jpg){kind=link}
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.<ref name="northumbria.ac.uk" />
The Sutherland Building, formerly the Medical School of Durham University,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was a naval warehouse during World War II, and the Dental School of Newcastle UniversityTemplate:Citation needed (1945–78) is the home of the University Executive team and new studios for Architecture students, designed by Page\Park architects, which opened in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Administrative Departments including Finance & Planning and Human Resources, are based in Pandon Building.
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.Template:Fact
In September 2016 the Sandyford Building was acquired from Newcastle College.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2018 a £7m building for Computer and Information sciences was opened in City Campus West<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in place of the demolished Rutherford Hall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Coach Lane
A second campus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is located 2.6 miles (4 km) outside Newcastle, on Coach Lane, and is known as the Coach Lane Campus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.Template:Fact
The Coach Lane Campus is home to a number of areas of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, in particular the Departments of Nursing, Midwifery and Health and Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, as well as the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships programmes. Coach Lane Campus has computing and library services; and sports facilities, including indoor courts, a fitness suite, outdoor rugby and football pitches, and an all-weather floodlit pitch.Template:Fact
London Campus
The London Campus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> offers full-time or part-time programmes, from a range of Business, Computing, Cyber, Project Management and Technology focused programmes to approximately 2,500 students. The campus is delivered in partnership with QA Higher Education, part of QA, the UK's largest corporate training provider. The campus is near Liverpool Street station, close to the heart of London's financial district.Template:Fact
International
Northumbria University has an international campus based in Amsterdam,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Netherlands through a partnership with Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences where it offers accredited postgraduate qualifications and the opportunity for undergraduates to experience overseas studies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Organisation and structure
Northumbria offers programmes in the disciplines of law and business, arts and design, engineering, mathematics, physics computing, geography and environmental sciences, architecture and built environment, applied sciences and healthcare, sports science, humanities and social sciences, psychology, nursing, social work and teacher education.Template:Fact
Northumbria University employs more than 3,100 people and offers undergraduate, postgraduate, CPD and degree apprenticeship 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
Newcastle Business School
Template:Main In September 2007, Northumbria University opened its new Newcastle Business School building on the site of the former Warner Brothers cinema as part of a £136m city campus east development.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Newcastle Business School is the only university in the UK to hold double AACSB accreditation for business and accounting which makes them form part of an elite group of 190 institutions worldwide to hold this.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2020, The university also holds accreditation for EPAS in 21 different undergraduate programmes, more than any other university in the UK. Newcastle Business School has also developed relations with a wide range of other professional bodies.<ref name=":0" /> As a result, the university can offer a wide range of professional exemptions in its programmes such as the Accountancy degree which holds exemptions from many of the top accountancy boards including ICAEW, ACCA, and CIMA.Template:Fact
In 2015, Newcastle Business School was the winner of ‘UK Business School of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Northumbria Law School
Northumbria Law School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is located within City Campus East where it shares its building with Newcastle Business School.
Northumbria Law School is one of the nine authorised education and training organisations that provide the vocational component of training for the Bar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 Office is a clinical legal education enterprise, where law students participate in a legal advice and representation scheme on behalf of real clients, under the supervision of practising lawyers. The student law office has managed over 8,300 enquiries, represented over 3,000 clients and secured over £1.6m in compensation since 2005.Template:Cn
Medicine
Although the university roots are linked with medicine through the Sutherland Building being formerly the Medical School of Durham University, it has not offered medicine as a programme until recentlyTemplate:When. Northumbria has a joint medical programme through a partnership with St George's University of Grenada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As part of the programme the teaching hours are split between time spent within the Grenada and the United Kingdom.
Academic profile
Reputation and rankings
Template:Infobox UK university rankings
Northumbria was named UK University of the Year by Times Higher Education in November 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was ranked joint 23rd for research power in the UK, according to the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, as analysed by Times Higher Education.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also ranked 10th in the UK for sustainability in the People and Planet University League 2024/25.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Northumbria was ranked joint 96th globally among universities under 50 years old in the Times Higher Education's Young Universities Rankings 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Research
Northumbria was one of the best performing universities in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, rising the highest number of places in a ranking of 'research power' by THE. The university climbed to 23rd place from 50th in 2014 and 80th in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the UK Research Assessment Exercise 2008 some research in nine of twelve areas submitted was described as "world-leading".<ref name=RAENorthumbria>Template:Citation</ref> In the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise, Northumbria was one of the UK top 50 for research power and the university which had risen fastest up the rankings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Student life
Northumbria Students' Union<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a campaigning and representative organisation. It is a charity currently exempt from registration and is led by six Sabbatical Officers (President and five vice-presidents) and a 26-member Student Council.
The Students' Union offers a range of student activities such as NSU/Community, NSU/Media (Which encompasses NSU/TV, NSU/Life and NSU/Snaps), NSU/Rag (Raise and Give),NSU/Societies, NSU/Employability, Duke of Edinburgh awards and Fast Friends. It represents students in academic and non-academic matters through a nationally recognised School Reps and Postgraduate Research Reps Systems.Template:Fact 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 Students' Union received the National Union of Students award for best higher education students' union.Template:Fact
In 2016, Northumbria Students' Union received the National Union of Students award for Student Opportunities and runner up for the Education Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sport
Template:See also Northumbria is considered one of the leading universities for Rugby League in the UK,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Independent source needed after being crowned BUCS National Champions in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.Template:Fact In 2022 Northumbria entered 69 teams into BUCS, the highest number to date for the university.Template:Fact
Sport Awards:
- In 2014 Northumbria won the BUCS Most Improved University for Sport award<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> following a rise in the national ranking from 20th in 2010 to 8th in 2014 where they remained until 2017.
- In 2017 Sport's Student Leadership and Workforce programme was recognised as the best in the country when awarded the BUCS Workforce Development programme of the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sporting Alumni:
Northumbria has several world class sporting alumni<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including Steve Cram, Stephen Miller, and Victoria Pendleton CBE.Template:Fact Northumbria support talented athletes through its partnership with the TASS Scheme and their own Student Athlete Scholarship Scheme. Current student Taka Suzuki won seven medals, including five golds and two silvers in swimming at Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics Games.Template:Fact
Notable alumni
{{#invoke:Gallery|gallery}}Notable former students of Northumbria University, Newcastle Polytechnic, and Northern Counties College of Education include: Template:Div col
- Sam Ainsley, artist.<ref name="BuckmanVol1">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Bibiana Aído Almagro, Spanish politician, previously served as Minister for Equality<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England
- Vera Baird, Victims's Commissioner for England and Wales, former Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, former MP for Redcar
- Tunde Baiyewu, vocalist, lead singer of the Lighthouse Family<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rodney Bickerstaffe, former General Secretary of UNISON<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gavin Brown, art dealer<ref name=ArtReview>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lord Brownlow, Conservative peer and former Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Alan Campbell, MP for Tynemouth and Chief Whip of the House of Commons
- Nigel Cabourn, fashion designer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mac Collins, artist and designer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Chris Cook, GB Commonwealth and Olympic swimmer
- Martin Corry, England rugby international, and Leicester Tigers<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Steve Cram, English athlete and television presenter<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
- Lol Crawley, Oscar and BAFTA winning Cinematographer<ref name="ReferenceB">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ali Dia, Senegalese footballer
- Rick Dickinson, designer of the ZX81 computer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Anke Domscheit-Berg, member of the German Bundestag
- Robbie Elliott, former footballer and coach of the United States U20 men's football team
- John Fashanu, footballer and TV personalityTemplate:Citation needed
- Toby Flood, former England rugby international player and coach of the Newcastle Falcons<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bridget Galloway, Nottingham Forest Women F.C. player and England youth international
- Mary Glindon, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend and former MP of North Tyneside<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lady Edwina Louise Grosvenor, prison reformer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Scott Henshall, fashion designer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jason Holland, designer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Louise Hopkins, artist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ben Houchen, the first Mayor of Tees Valley
- Sir Jonathan Ive, industrial designer, Chief Design Officer (CDO) of Apple Inc. and Chancellor of the Royal College of Art in London
- Kevan Jones, former MP for North Durham<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a Baron in the House of Lords
- Riley Jones, actor
- Bharti Kher, contemporary artist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Zeb Kyffin, professional cyclist for Unibet Tietema Rockets
- Max Lamb, furniture designer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Emma Lewell-Buck, MP for South Shields<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Duncan Lloyd, lead guitarist of Maxïmo Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Guy Mankowski, author<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Neil Marshall, film director<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
- Mary Mellor, Emeritus Professor of Sociology
- Alexei Mordashov, Russian business oligarch<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bob Murray, former chairman of Sunderland AFC
- Jamie Noon, retired England rugby international and Newcastle Falcons player
- Victoria Pendleton, retired Olympic gold medalist and cyclist<ref name="independent1"/>
- Laura Pidcock, former MP for North West Durham and former Shadow Secretary of State
- Pradeep Singh, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and shipping magnate<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gerry Steinberg, former MP for City of Durham
- Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Summer), musician and former member of The Police<ref name="northumbria.ac.uk1">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Alan Tomes, retired Scotland national rugby team and British & Irish Lions player
- Kevin Whately, actor<ref name="northumbria.ac.uk1"/>
- Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport
- Michael Volland - Bishop of Birmingham
Arms
The university states 'Northumbria's shield contains two triple-towered castles, representing the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, and an open book which represents learning. The arched line of battlements dividing the shield refers to the Roman Wall, a historic feature of Northumberland. Whilst the curve of the arch reflects the King George the Fifth Bridge over the River Tyne, more generally the bridge alludes to the university's role in the transmission of knowledge to, and strong links, with the society in which its located.'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The crest is a lion grasping a flaming torch which is an emblem of learning, also a trident as the emblem of the old god of the River Tyne. The supporters are seahorses referencing the arms of Newcastle upon Tyne but with the addition of crowns around their necks, alluding to the Roman Wall and holding tridents of the River Tyne.Template:Fact
See also
- Armorial of British universities
- Bullocksteads Sports Ground
- JISC infoNet
- Kingston Park (stadium)
- List of universities in the United Kingdom
- Post-1992 universities
- Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom
- Sport Central
- Universities in the United Kingdom
References
Further reading
External links
Template:Universities and colleges in North East England Template:Universities in the United Kingdom