Newcastle University

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For the Australian university, see University of Newcastle, Australia.

Newcastle University


Established	1963 (became independent from the University of Durham)
Type	Public
Chancellor	Lord Patten of Barnes
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. Christopher Edwards Prof. Chris Brink from 2007
Students	19,150 ^[1]
Undergraduates	13,735 ^[1]
Postgraduates	5,410 ^[1]
Location	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Russell Group, EUA
Website	http://www.ncl.ac.uk/

Newcastle University is a British university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England. It was founded as the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (which remains its official name) by an Act of Parliament in August 1963.

1 History
2 Today
3 Student Organisations
4 Schools and Faculties
5 Research Institutes
6 Notable alumni
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

The University has its origins in the College of Medicine which was established in the city in 1834, and formally became a college of Durham University in 1851. In 1871 the College of Physical Science was founded, which subsequently became Armstrong College (named after William George Armstrong).

Armstrong College and the College of Medicine were merged in 1937 to form King's College, Durham (the Durham Division remained predominantly dedicated to the teaching of theology and liberal arts).

Growth of the Newcastle Division of the federal Durham University led to tensions within the structure and in 1963 an Act of Parliament separated the two divisions, leaving Durham as an 'Oxbridge'-style collegiate university and creating the University of Newcastle upon Tyne as a civic university similar to Hull, Leicester, Nottingham and Southampton. Though Newcastle was the subject of the Channel 4 'Redbrick' documentary in 1986 it is not usually considered to be a redbrick university even though its oldest buildings date from the 'red brick' era.

[edit] Today

The University has a core population of 17,784 students (2005-2006), including more than 2,000 overseas students from over 100 countries.

King's Walk, giving access to the Union Building (left) and the arches of the Fine Art building, leading into the Quadrangle

The current Chancellor of the university is Chris Patten, former Chairman of the Conservative Party and European Commissioner for External Affairs (1999-2004). He is also Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

The university won the Sunday Times University of the Year award in 2000 and the majority of undergraduate subjects were ranked in the top 10 or top 20 in the Times Good University Guide 2007. Other accolades include being named the second friendliest university by the Friends Reunited website in 2006! The University Library is the only one in the UK to have been awarded the government's Charter Mark for excellent customer services four times in a row.

Newcastle was the only UK university to formally back the Jubilee Debt Campaign for the cancellation of debt in poor countries, and it has a strong ongoing commitment to the Make Poverty History campaign. At a recent high-profile honorary degree ceremony in January 2007, the University awarded honorary degrees to Bob Geldof, Gordon Brown MP, and Benjamin Mkapa (former president of Tanzania) among others, at an event which promoted debate on current debt-relief issues.

In 2006, the University was granted Fair Trade status, and from January 2007, it became a smoke-free campus.

The Newcastle University Medical School consistently ranks as one of the top in the UK due to its high level of teaching and research. It was also the first institution in Europe, 2nd in the world, to be given permission to pursue stem-cell research in human embryos.

The university enjoys a friendly sporting rivalry with local universities: the Stan Calvert Cup is contested by major sports teams from Newcastle and Northumbria University, and the Northumbrian Water University Boat Race takes place each year between the rowing clubs of Newcastle and Durham University.

[edit] Student Organisations

The Union Society - Newcastle University students' union. ^[2]

[edit] Schools and Faculties

Teaching schools within the University are based within three faculties. Each faculty is lead by a Provost/Pro-vice chancellor and a team of Deans with specific responsibilities.

[edit] Research Institutes

[edit] Notable alumni

Rowan Atkinson - comedian/actor
Kate Adie - journalist
Roy Ascott - new media artist
Bruce Babbitt - U.S. politician
Constance Briscoe – One of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Author of the best-selling autobiography ‘Ugly’.
Robert Carter - novelist
Ed Coode - G.B. Olympic gold medallist
Alexander Downer - current Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Tim Farron - Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale
Bryan Ferry - singer with Roxy Music
Adrian Henri - 'Mersey Scene' Poet and painter
Ken Hodcroft - Chairman of Hartlepool United and founder of Increased Oil Recovery
Wilko Johnson - guitarist, particularly with 1970s British rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood
Paul Kennedy - Historian of international relations and grand strategy
Lord Rupert Mitford - Liberal Democrat spokesman in the House of Lords for International Development
Alan Plater - Playwright and screenwriter
Stuart Prebble - former chief executive of ITV.
John Rushby - Computer scientist
James Shapiro - Canadian surgeon and scientist
Jack Shepherd - actor and playwright
Paul Tucker - member of Lighthouse Family
Philip Williamson - Chief Executive of Nationwide Building Society
Debbie King - Presenter of QuizMania!