Studying in a new country can feel overwhelming, but we’ll be here from day one to help your child settle in and offer support.
From our Language Resource Centre to counselling, we have a range of free student support services. Knowing who to talk to, where to go and how we provide support that meets your child’s needs is key. Here we’ve summarised our services and we explain more about where you can find more information.
Contents:
- Finding somewhere to live
- Arriving in Newcastle
- Where to go for support
- Staying safe as a student
- Their wellbeing
- Financial support
- IT support
- English language support
- Your child’s future
- Our Students’ Union
Finding somewhere to live
We have a range of residences on campus and in the city, only a short walk away from lectures and everything Newcastle has to offer. Your child will be able to apply for our accommodation through our website. There, you'll find information about each of our residences and will be able to use our handy search filter to discover the accommodation options that suit your child.
Once they have moved in, the ResLife team will be on hand to help them adjust to living independently and make them feel at home. Wherever your child lives with us, we’ll help make sure they have the best possible experience.
Arriving in Newcastle
From the moment they arrive in the UK, we’re here to help your child settle in. This starts with meeting them at the airport when they land at Newcastle International Airport. They’ll see the Newcastle University student support team holding up welcome signs. They’ll help your child travel to their accommodation by coach or taxi.
Although this is free, this service needs to be booked in advance, so we know when to meet them.
"As an international student at Newcastle University, my experience has been nothing short of extraordinary. The University's commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for international students has made it feel like a second home."
Nattakorn
MSc. Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis
Where to go for support
Whether your child needs support with their mental health, academic skills or any other aspect of student life, they’ll always have someone to talk to. These are a few of our key student support services:
- Academic Skills Team
- Chaplaincy
- Disability support
- In-Sessional Programme (support for academic English)
- Language Resource Centre
- Maths-Aid (support with maths and statistics)
- Mental health and counselling
- Specific Learning Difficulties
- Students’ Union
- University Library
Staying safe as a student
Our students’ safety is a priority for Newcastle University. We offer:
SafeZone app: this is a free app that connects students directly to our security team if they need help when they’re on campus, or in undergraduate student accommodation.
University Security Team: our team is available 24/7 for emergencies on campus. This includes physical or mental health issues.
Campus police officer: we have a dedicated neighbourhood police officer who students can meet at drop-in sessions on campus to offer advice about staying safe on campus.
“Our team is a friendly, reassuring presence around the University. From helping with an emergency, to giving out directions, we're always here to support our campus community.”
Chris, University Security Team
Their wellbeing
Newcastle University student support is here to help your child look after their mental health and improve their wellbeing. If they feel like they’re struggling or there’s something on their mind, we encourage them to talk to us as soon as possible.
Each student is given a personal tutor who can offer practical guidance on a wide range of academic and non-academic issues. They can also direct students to other support services within the University.
Financial support
We know the cost of living is on many of our students’ minds and as a parent, you’ll want to make sure this investment in their education will offer the best return. That’s why we’ve put everything you need to know about finances in one place. You’ll find information on everything from saving money on utilities to emergency loans.
As well as online resources, we offer affordable meals, subsidised laundry, period products and more. Your child will also be able to get advice from our Student Finance Team through workshops and individual appointments. Visit our Cost of Living Support page to find out what we can do to support your child.
Watch our Cost of Living video to compare Newcastle costs - one of the most affordable student cities in the UK - to London for some of the key essentials.
IT support
Our IT service helps your child make the most of the University’s digital services, from getting any software they need for their studies to connecting to campus WiFi.
We’ve also created a range of guides which cover:
- web publishing and video conferencing
- lecture recording and online learning
- software and storing files
- PC availability and printing
If your child needs to speak to someone, NUIT Service Bars provide in-person support and can help with password resets and printing problems. We also provide a connection clinic to help connect devices to University WiFi and IT support services.
English language support
Part of the experience of studying abroad is the opportunity to improve your language skills. But to apply to a UK university, your child will have to show they already have a certain level of English.
When they join us at Newcastle, they can benefit from a range of support to continue improving their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Our free In-Sessional English programme offers six hours of additional classes a week including lectures, workshops and one-to-one tutorials.
INTO Newcastle University also offers a range of courses to help international students progress to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the UK.
Your child’s future
It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s future. Perhaps they already know what they want to do or maybe they need help to explore their options. Your child can access one-to-one support, workshops, and online resources to help them make informed decisions about their future through our Careers Service.
- Career planning
- Internships, placements and shadowing
- Work experience and volunteering
- Starting their own business
Our Students’ Union
The Students’ Union is run independently from the University. The Union’s Student Advice Centre provides free confidential advice on anything academic, financial, personal, or housing-related.
The team also runs the Welfare and Support Centre for any welfare-related concerns they may have.
"Student wellbeing is a top priority for us - students can pop into our advice centre any time during office hours, and there will be a friendly face to help with their questions."
Hisham Salamathullah, Wellbeing and Equality Officer 2024/25
If you still have questions, find out more by reading about the support on offer at Newcastle University.
