Northumbria University institutional logo

Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom • Founded 1969 • QS 2027 #528 =

Updated Sep 2026

Overview

English Name: Northumbria University
Acronyms: UNN
Founded: 1969
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #528 = Times Higher Education 2026 #401-500 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #801-900 CWTS Leiden 2025 #168 SCImago 2026 #519
Motto: Aetas Discendi
Northumbria University institutional logo

Northumbria University is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with a further campus in London.

Its roots trace back to a school founded in 1877, which evolved over more than a century before becoming Northumbria University in 1992. The university is organised into three faculties, covering society and culture, science and environment, and health and wellbeing, each bringing together several schools spanning subjects from law, business and design to computer science, engineering, health and psychology.

It has been named UK University of the Year and Modern University of the Year by national league tables, and ranks among the UK's top 25 for graduate employment and research power. Northumbria works with employers including Nike, IBM and the NHS, draws students from 137 countries, and counts more than 253,000 graduates across 178 countries among its alumni.

Location & Contact

Find Northumbria University on the map and reach the right office through the contact channels listed below. Use these for general enquiries; specific departments often run their own contact pages.

Address: Sutherland Building
Postal Code: NE1 8ST
Other Sites: Also campus in London
Phone: +44 (191) 232 6002
Fax: +44 (191) 261 1264
Social Media:

Academic Details

Northumbria University at the institutional level: enrolment, staffing, and accreditation summary. Accreditation has expiry and renewal cycles worth checking on the awarding body site for currency.

Academic Year: September to June (September-February; February-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: General School Certificate (GCE) with passes in 2 subjects at Advanced ('A') level with passes at Grade C or above in 3 other subjects at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level, or passes in 3 subjects at GCE 'A' level with pass at Grade C or above in 1 other subject at GCSE level
Total Students: 29,685
Female Students: 15,225
Academic Staff Range: 1,000-1,499
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Universities UK University Alliance

Academic Structures

Browse the academic-unit structure of Northumbria University. Multi-faculty programmes exist but are usually administered by a lead faculty that handles admissions and credentialing.

Unit 9 items
  • Graduate School
  • Newcastle Business School
  • School of Arts and Social Sciences
  • School of Built and Natural Environment
  • School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences
  • School of Design and School of Design, London
  • School of Health, Community and Education Studies
  • School of Law
  • School of Life Sciences

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Arts, Design and Social Sciences (Faculty) 25 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • American Studies
  • Art History
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Dance
  • Economics
  • English
  • Fashion Design
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • French Studies
  • Furniture Design
  • Germanic Studies
  • Heritage Preservation
  • Interior Design
  • Linguistics
  • Modern Languages
  • Photography
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre
  • Visual Arts
  • Writing

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • Social Worker

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Business and Law (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing

Common Career Paths

  • Business Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Strategy Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Engineering and Environment (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architectural and Environmental Design
  • Architecture
  • Building Technologies
  • Computer Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Real Estate
  • Surveying and Mapping

Common Career Paths

  • Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Health and Life Sciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Food Science
  • Health Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Social Work

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Programs Offered

Search and filter Northumbria University's available programmes by degree level. The list reflects the institution's current catalogue and may not include programmes that are paused or pending approval.

306 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 176 programmes

Showing 10 of 176.

Master of Business Administration 1 programme

Master's Degree 124 programmes

Showing 10 of 124.

Postgraduate Certificate 5 programmes

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Below: financial-aid options for studying in the United Kingdom, applicable across institutions including Northumbria University. Always verify award amounts and deadlines directly with the source before applying.

Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
HORIBA Undergraduate Scholarship
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition · Covers Living
A yearly cash award for self-funded UK/home undergraduates on nine STEM courses (engineering, physics, biochemistry, biology, biomedical science, chemistry), aimed at students from a low higher-education progression area, who are Black, Asian or of another minority ethnicity, or who have declared a disability or health condition.
Northumbria Alumni Discount
University funded · International students · Partial Tuition
A 20% tuition fee reduction for Northumbria (or Newcastle Polytechnic) graduates who return to study a self-funded Master's or postgraduate research course.
Northumbria Postgraduate Scholarship
University funded · 2,700 GBP per total · Partial Tuition · Covers Living
A cash award for UK/home students moving straight into a self-funded, one-year full-time Master's degree at the Newcastle City or Coach Lane campus, with the amount scaled to the course fee.
Northumbria Sport Individual Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable
A non-cash athlete support package (strength & conditioning coaching, physiotherapy, sport psychology, nutrition, and academic flexibility) for national/international-standard athletes, with any additional financial support decided case-by-case by a panel.
NU Belong Care Leavers Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
An annual bursary for care-experienced undergraduates under 25, delivered through the NU Belong support service alongside 52-week accommodation and dedicated advice.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
The NU VIP Scholarship
University funded · Renewable · 4,500 GBP per total · Partial Tuition · Covers Living
A bursary for UK/home students who registered as a Clearing VIP and accepted a Clearing offer for undergraduate study at the Newcastle campus.
The Raman Sehgal Scholarships
University funded · Renewable · 4,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition · Covers Living
A widening-participation bursary for two undergraduates on nursing, health and social care, or science courses such as biochemistry and biomedical science.
The St. Nicholas Scholarship
University funded · Renewable · 2,500 GBP per year · Partial Tuition · Covers Living
A household-income bursary for two undergraduates from Newcastle upon Tyne who have lived locally for at least five years and whose household income is under GBP 25,000 a year.
Undergraduate Sanctuary Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 9,000 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
A full tuition fee waiver plus an annual living-cost contribution for undergraduates who are seeking asylum in the UK, renewable for up to three years while eligibility and progress continue.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.

How to apply to Northumbria University

Practical steps to apply to Northumbria University, suitable as a starting checklist before contacting the admissions team directly.

  1. 1
    Browse the programme catalogue

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Northumbria University offers 306 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check eligibility for your chosen programme

    Each programme at Northumbria University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Get your documents ready

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Apply through UCAS or direct entry

    Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS (ucas.com) rather than directly to Northumbria University. Postgraduate applicants apply directly through Northumbria University's own admissions portal at www.northumbria.ac.uk.

  5. 5
    Reach out and track your application

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (191) 232 6002. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Northumbria University

Below are the key facts most prospective students ask about Northumbria University, drawn directly from institutional records.

How old is Northumbria University?

The institution opened in 1969 (approximately 57 years ago).

In which city is Northumbria University?

Northumbria University is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

What is Northumbria University's control type?

Northumbria University is a public institution.

How many students study at Northumbria University?

Northumbria University has approximately 29,685 students.

How is Northumbria University ranked?

Northumbria University is ranked QS 2027 #528 =.

What programmes are available at Northumbria University?

Northumbria University delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.

What is Northumbria University's academic structure?

Northumbria University is organised into 9 academic units across its disciplines.

Is Northumbria University officially recognised?

Yes, Northumbria University is recognised by Privy Council.

How do I find Northumbria University online?

You can find Northumbria University online at www.northumbria.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

Below: the United Kingdom's top-ranked universities, providing benchmarks for Northumbria University's academic standing. National rankings reflect a mix of research output, teaching quality, and graduate outcomes.

Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

These universities are also members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in Newcastle upon Tyne: universities located close to Northumbria University.

Where Else to Study Business & Management

Other institutions in the United Kingdom teaching Business & Management are listed below for comparison with Northumbria University.

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