Newcastle upon Tyne Travel Forum

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to start my MBA in England in September. I haven’t decided in which University yet but Newcastle Upon Tyne University is on my list of choices. I will be grateful if I can get some info from residents about the city life in general. I'll be staying for a year so I want to make must of it, study and otherwise ;) So it will be more helpful if the comments come from people who went to Newcastle University.

Cheers,
Causal_A

Hiya

I sometimes teach at Newcastle College but I wasn t at Newcastle University so I waited before I attempted an answer, maybe some genuine alumni will be in the forum soon with more precise information, in the meantime I will have a go at some background.

Newcastle is a well respected University with an outstanding teaching record in medicine and related subjects, it is also a friendly sort of place to study, I don t know where else you are considering but Newcastle is a good choice

According to the league table compiled by Yell.com (link below) as a student at Newcastle University you are likely to have an excellent social life, the city is famous for its nightlife, so much so that even saying it is something of a cliché.

On the down side this is the North East and you will find it quite cold and if this is your first time in England there may be something of a culture shock, Newcastle is a happening city but the North East generally is not the most affluent area in the UK so don t expect Oxford or Cambridge.

I like Newcastle, it’s a good lively city with real spirit and culture, the vast majority of the people are welcoming and friendly but like anywhere a small percentage can be rather dangerous (welcome to the UK). There is also something of a contrast between the more affluent areas of the city such as Gosforth and Jesmond and the less affluent, such as Benwell, which is somewhere you might not want to be.

Don t let any of this put you off, I have never felt threatened in Newcastle, you might not want to live in Benwell but like students everywhere you are likely to inhabit your own space along with your peers somewhat oblivious to the world outside. You will find accomodation here comparatively cheap and good transport links mean you can live anywhere across a fairly wide area, there are also some fabulous apartments in the city.

Once again, Newcastle is a good choice and should have a wonderful time here.


http://www.yellgroup.com/english/media-pressreleases-2005-nightsoutnotlightsoutnew

http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/friendsreunited.asp?wci=frstatic&type=unileague

I hope this helps a little, I have no doubt that there will be some proper Geordies in soon with better info.

regards

Mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the detailed information. Sure will take all of them seriously when making my decision. I am not so much worried about the culture shock because I've lived for sometime in North America and I was fine with it.

Really appreciate your comments.

Regards,
Adnan

Hi, I came to University in Newcastle and I'm still here, so I can recommend it. The University is very close to the city centre and the heart of things, and as was mentioned is regarded fairly highly in the UK. The people here are very friendly, nobody I know has been made to feel as though they're unwelcome.
Perhaps the only downside would be the underworked, overprivileged types from the South of England who seem to come here with the sole intention of getting drunk and patronising the locals. They're harmless enough, if irritating.
Depending on what you like, the nightlife can be an attraction. As with every city in the UK these days, the centre suffers from the binge drinking culture that blights this country at weekends. Usually more of an unpleasant embarrassment that actually dangerous. But there are also some wonderfully inviting pubs and bars that are a joy to be in. Just avoid the Bigg Market.
The city is also ideally located for exploring the UK, with the twin attractions of York and Edinburgh less than two hours away by train. The glorious countryside and picturesque villages of Northumberland and the Lake District are nearby too, and there are excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and Europe. All in all, it's definitely worth considering!

Hi from a Geordie expat in Chicago! I agree with what has already been said about Newcastle (obviously). Tons of my friends went to the Uni and the Poly (as it was then) and had a great time. You can either live on campus, in the halls of residence, or rent something yourself in the city. Tons of options.

Not sure where you're from but it is a little cold with that north wind, but the winters are relatively mild compared to what I put up with in Chicago.
If you do decide on Newcastle, there might not be too much of a culture shock, but you will definitely be doing yourself a favour if you read up a little about the Geordie accent and dialect. The dialect in particular includes frequently used words that bear little relation to the "proper" English word, such as "bairn" for baby or child, "yem" for home, and "nowt" for nothing. Having moved from one English-speaking country to another, I also think that there are definite language confusions, which start out funny but then can become frustrating when you're trying to get on with life. I have written extensively about this and the whole subject continues to fascinate me.

Hi. I'm another respondent who didn't actually study in Newcastle but hope I can add some useful info. I'm not a Geordie (as Newcastle residents are known) so can comment from the perspective of a partial outsider who nevertheless knows the city well. I think you'd find it a great choice - it has the buzz of a large city but is small enough to be manageable; the cost of living is lower than many other cities in the UK (which doesn't unfortunately mean it's cheap however); transport, shopping and entertainment are all excellent; and it's generally regarded as a good place to live and study. Two young German friends of ours recently spent six months studying at Northumbria as part of an exchange arrangement and loved it (incidentally one of them lived in Benwell and survived!) And if you really want to integrate, adopt Newcastle United as "your" team and you'll get a real welcome from the football fans in the city (which is just about everyone!) Good luck with your decision, Sarah