News

Meet the Maths graduate who left investment banking to launch his own social polling app

Tom Cullen, who studied at Newcastle University between 2013 – 2017, has recently launched Zoplo, an app which gives users the power to settle any debate, make any decision, and share any opinion. We caught up with Tom to find out more.

Happy National Volunteers' Week!

This National Volunteering Week we’re celebrating a record year for alumni volunteering, with over 1,000 hours given back to the university by graduates from 40 countries across the world! In this blog, we showcase the impact of your volunteering and highlight some upcoming opportunities for you to get involved in.

Class of 1992 graduate returns to campus to perform at 2023 Newcastle Poetry Festival

Acclaimed musician and songwriter Jack Arthurs (BA English Language & Literature 1992) will return to Newcastle University on 12 May to perform at this year's Newcastle Poetry Festival at Northern Stage.

A new centre for architecture and cities is officially opened

Newcastle University’s newest hub, the Farrell Centre, officially opened to the public on Saturday 22 April 2023. The centre is the vision of alumnus Sir Terry Farrell and aims to increase public engagement in the future of architecture and planning.

Alumni, colleagues and students from across the globe come together to celebrate the benefits of a multigenerational society

During NCL in Action 2023, our community have united in volunteering opportunities, activities and events to create positive change and challenge preconceptions about ageing, helping to ensure a future where we can all age better together.

Physiology graduate launches stem cell donation drive to save lives

Newcastle alumnus Peter McCleave (BSc Physiology, 1999) has established the Gob for Good campaign to encourage more people from ethnic minorities to become stem cell donors, providing a lifeline for blood cancer sufferers like himself.

Four new alumni networks launched in Middle East and Asia

We’re excited to announce the creation of four new alumni networks in Iraq, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan - providing Newcastle graduates in the area an opportunity to reconnect with each other and their university!

Meet the alumni who have made an impact in student media over the past 7 decades

To celebrate 75 years of The Courier student newspaper, we’re looking back at just some of the alumni who have made a name for themselves in the world of broadcasting and student media.

75 years of student media at Newcastle University

This year marks 75 years since the first ever King’s Courier student newspaper was circulated on campus. In this blog, we look back at the history of student media on campus, from its beginnings as an off-shoot of Durham University’s Palatinate to an award-winning publication that incorporates print, radio and TV!

Meet the Newcastle graduate uncovering the Black figures erased from art history

Peter Brathwaite (BA Hons Fine Art and Philosophy, 2006) is publishing a photography book which reworks historical depiction of Black subjects in art that have been marginalised in mainstream culture, inspired by a project that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two Newcastle University graduates win at national British Council Study UK Alumni Awards

Huge congratulations to Newcastle alumni Hun-Suk Chung (MSc Drug Chemistry with English, 2003) and Xuan Man Nguyen (BA Architectural Studies, 2013) who have been awarded a Study UK Alumni Award in their home nation.

Meet the students making a difference for future generations of Newcastle alumni

Newcastle University Advancement has recently employed a team of students to support alumni events and fundraising. We caught up with three of them to find out about their student experience at Newcastle and what they’re looking forward to most in their new role.

How Newcastle University helps graduate businesses flourish

Meet some of the alumni businesses that started life at Newcastle, and discover what opportunities are available to recent graduates interested in being their own boss.

English Literature graduate illustrates book for young autistic people to help them lead adventurous lives

Ella Willis (BA Hons English Literature, 2021) has joined forces with author Allie Mason to illustrate The Autistic Guide to Adventure and the pair will be heading to Waterstones in Newcastle city centre on 8 April for a book signing and Q&A event.

International Women’s Day: Meet the Newcastle grad amplifying the diverse voices of women and girls around the world

Cassie Lawrence (BA Hons English Literature, 2014) is part of a team of creatives who are harnessing the power of art for storytelling to celebrate women and raise awareness about girls’ education and women’s rights. To mark International Women’s Day, we spoke with Cassie to find out more about the Qissa project.

World Book Day: Meet the amazing authors in your alumni community

To celebrate World Book Day 2023, we’re showcasing the novelists, playwrights and screenwriters who have graduated from Newcastle University. Maybe you could add some of them to your TBR?

The astonishing ageing and health research breakthroughs made by the Newcastle University community

Newcastle University is a global leader in ageing and health research. To celebrate the launch of NCL in Action 2023 this month, which celebrates the might of our multigenerational community and challenges preconceptions about ageing, we’re looking back at some of our biggest research projects over the decades that have aimed to support our ageing society.

PhD student researching LQBTQ+ inclusion in country music

During LGBT+ History Month, we caught up with PhD student James Barker as he approaches the end of his PhD researching LGBTQ+ inclusion in country music, with a focus on Dolly Parton.

Three international graduates announced as finalists in British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards

Newcastle University graduates in Pakistan, South Korea and Vietnam have made the finals of this year’s Study UK Alumni Awards, celebrating their impact and dedication in their respective fields.

Getting to the heart of the matter: Alumnus publishes book to explain how the human heart works

Did you know that the human heart pumps about 2 billion times in the average lifetime? Or that the human heart first appears on day 18 in the womb? Learn fascinating facts like this and so much more in Newcastle graduate Professor Desmond Sheridan’s latest publication.

Newcastle graduate nominated for ‘outstanding debut’ in 2023 BAFTAs

English Literature graduate Georgia Oakley has been nominated in the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards for her first feature film Blue Jean, which was filmed in the North East.

Valentine’s Special: A relationship spanning 7 decades - that began in the Arts Common Room on campus!

We *love* love, don’t you? To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we met up with an alumni couple who first met on campus on a snowy night in January 1966 and are celebrating 55 years of marriage later this year!

Valentine’s Special: The perfect proposal – it’s not up for debate!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we met up with Newcastle graduates Nathan and Kimberly who recently got engaged on campus - in the very room they met at Debating Society!

Newcastle University receives £5 million legacy donation

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the late Dr Oliver Ord for his generous legacy donation to Newcastle University.

Student nightlife in Newcastle: The ‘places to be’ throughout the decades

Take a trip down memory lane as we share some of the past ‘places to be’ and update you on what your much-loved clubs have become today.

Newcastle alumna named as top achiever in awards to celebrate 75 years of Indian independence

We are proud to announce that Newcastle University graduate Dr Beena Koshi (MD Clinical Research, 2015) has been honoured as an India UK Achiever as part of India’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Music graduates band together to launch female-led events company

Contemporary and Popular Music graduates Maria Winter and Sam Harris have launched a music events business in the North East, with regular events scheduled at As You Like It in Jesmond.

Newcastle alumni recognised in King’s New Year’s Honours

15 Newcastle University alumni, staff and students have been named in the King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours list, recognising their dedication and success in their respective fields. Congratulations all!

Top 10 feelgood stories from our alumni community in 2022

We love hearing about the amazing things our alumni go on to achieve after graduating from Newcastle University. In this recap blog, we look back at our top feelgood stories of 2022 – guaranteed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy despite the weather!

Festive traditions in Newcastle

We take a look back at some of the festive traditions you may remember in the build up to the Christmas break in Newcastle.

2,900 new graduates join our alumni community this winter

This winter, we have welcomed another 2,859 graduates to our global alumni community, with congregations taking place in Newcastle and Singapore. Congratulations all!

A look back over the Newcastle Helix development

In this blog, you can explore the newest addition to our city centre campus: Newcastle Helix. The 24-acre site is situated where the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery once stood.

Newcastle University Halls past and present

Uni Halls are where memories are made. Whether you had the best time and made friends for life or couldn’t wait to move out, you’re sure to have memories that you’ll never forget.

Newcastle through the decades

Our alumni community have witnessed monumental changes to the University and city of Newcastle upon Tyne over the past six decades. Read on to travel through the decades and reminisce on your time at Newcastle (or discover what’s happened since you left!)

Sector Spotlight: What it’s like working in PR

Abby Parkinson (BA Politics, 2019) shares her experience of working in a PR agency and provides advice for beginning a career in the industry.

Sector Spotlight: My experience in Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)

Zahid's studies have led to a career in Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), tracking how people use websites and making improvements to reduce the frustration we all feel when navigating the internet! We caught up with him to find out what it's like working in this sector.

Sector Spotlight: Three lessons for working in Financial Services

Katie Molyneux (BSc Economics, 2015) shares the lessons she wishes she knew at the start of her career in the Financial Services sector.

Sector Spotlight: What it's like working in Marketing

MA Creative Arts Practice graduate Lewis Brown reflects on his career as a marketer and shares his top tips for getting into the sector.

I didn’t want a “proper job” and I am proof that it’s more than okay if you don’t too

Chloe Hall (BA English Literature, 2012) knew that the graduate scheme route wasn't for her when she finished her studies. Instead, she set up her own digital marketing agency Bumble and Bloom Media, which has grown into a multi-award-winning enterprise working with some of the world's biggest brands.

Celebrating 40 years of life-saving cancer research at Newcastle University this World Cancer Day

Researchers, clinicians, technicians and leaders at Newcastle University have worked quietly and tirelessly over the past 40 years, contributing to the national effort of doubling cancer survival rates and giving people living with cancer hope and options.