Northumbria University

What's it like as a place to live? Newcastle is a vibrant city, with a great range of cultural diversity. It is world renowned for its nightlife, and many would say the city comes alive at night. There is a very large student population owing to its two large universities, and the local population is very friendly. Newcastle is small in size, but there's lots going on all the time.

How's the student accommodation?  Northumbria has been investing in accommodation recently. Most first year students will find places in a range of different halls of residence, both privately-owned and university-owned. Most of the newer halls are ensuite and have all the modern facilities you would expect. Some of the older halls lack modern features, but make up for this with locality in the city centre and a great sense of community that exists within them. Most prices are reasonable and usually competitive.

What's the student population like?  Northumbria has a large number of students from the North East. Many students stay at home and travel in each day. There is also a large contingent of International Students, coming from all over the world, particularly from Asia. Northumbria students are generally a friendly bunch, and the sense of community amongst the student body grows stronger each year.

How do students and locals get on? There is some unrest with the local population with regard to students. This is probably because of the large number of students living and studying in the Newcastle area. Having said that, most areas of the city and surrounding suburban areas are friendly and very accommodating. Strong links between local community groups and the University exist to try and resolve any issues that arise.

What's it like as a place to study? Northumbria is undergoing constant improvements. The brand new £125 million City Campus East opened 2 years ago and is state-of-the-art. The rest of the campus is also being developed, with a new £25 million sports complex recently completed (2010). Teaching facilities are generally superb, and Northumbria has climbed dramatically up the league table for student satisfaction over the last year. There is a great range of courses offering a mixture of traditional and current courses across the 9 schools.

What are the teaching staff like?  Teaching staff at Northumbria are dedicated to furthering the student experience. Methods of programme-delivery are constantly being improved, and feedback from students is taken on board at the highest levels and used to improve teaching across the university. Most students would agree that their lecturers are genuinely interested in them as students, with many going out of the way to further the academic progress of their students.

What are student societies like? The Students' Union coordinates societies at Northumbria. We have over 70 different active societies ranging from Snowsports to Hollyoaks appreciation. There is something for everyone, and the Union will help anyone set up a society according to their interests with financial support and guidance. There are also many volunteering opportunities through our Student Community Action programme, as well as year long RAG events.

What's a typical night out? There's something for everyone any night of the week. Whether it's Rock, Indie, Ska, Punk, R&B, Dance, Electro or just good old fashioned cheese, somewhere in Newcastle has a night for you. The city centre has both the Students' Union, and a mixture of bars and clubs all with different styles and atmospheres.

And how much does it cost?  During the week, expect to pay anywhere between £3 to £8 to get into a club. On Friday and Saturday, town can be as expensive as £15 to get in, but there are a few places, especially the Students' Union, that cater for the student populations with prices from £1 to get in.

How can you get home safely? There's an abundance of taxis at any time of day or night, and they're always outside the clubs. Alternatively, there's loads of companies you can call and they can usually get a car to you within 10 minutes. Alternatively, there is a night bus service that operates every hour throughout the night along the most common number 1 route, and the Students' Union offers a night-bus service after the Saturday club night that will take you to your door for only £3. Bargain.

Is it an expensive place to live?  Generally speaking, no it's fairly cheap. However, if you're careless with your cash, then it is possible to spend your entire loan in a few weeks and struggle. There is however plenty of part-time work available for students, so money usually isn't a problem.

Average price of a pint?  On average £2.

And the price of a takeaway? £4−£6.

What's the part-time work situation? The university runs the JobShop, which is used as a point of contact for local businesses wishing to employ workers. It's coordinated by the careers service within the Student Services department. Staff are great at helping students to find work, and will support them through the whole process. Part-time work isn't too hard to find, depending on what you're after and how many hours you want to work. However, with loads of students looking for work, and with the current financial climate, many employers don't offer much more than the minimum wage.

What's the best feature about the place? Vibrant, friendly, you will never be bored.

And the worst? It's cold!

And to sum it all up?Great place to live and study. Friendly and fun atmosphere. There's always something to do, and a general buzz and excitement around the city. Newcastle is one of those places you will love for life, whether you're only here for a month, or stay forever! Truly one of the best cities in the world!

Steve Cram (athlete); Paul Shriek, Karen Boyd, Jeff Banks (fashion designers); Sting (musician); Robson Green (actor); Rodney Bickerstaff (Unison). 

Contact NSU President su.president@northumbria.ac.uk, or check the website www.mynsu.co.uk.