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How we support our international students

How we support our international students

by Judith Charlton

Starting a university degree is an exciting time, particularly when it involves studying in a different country. 

Newcastle University is home to 29,000 students from 145 countries, so we understand what it’s like for students to study abroad. We also know how sometimes they need a little extra support. 

Read on to find out how we can help you prepare for studying in the UK - whether you're starting an undergraduate or postgraduate programme. And find out about the support that is available when you join us, so you can settle in and get the most out of your university adventure with us. 

Contents:

Our specialist teams

Advice on visas and immigration

Airport Meet and Greet service

Accommodation support

International Welcome Programme

English language courses

English language support

Your health and wellbeing

Religious support

Cultural societies

Our specialist teams 

If you have any queries about Newcastle University, you can contact our International Recruitment Team 

And because we have regional specialists based in different countries across the world, it’s easy to get in touch with someone who will understand the steps you need to take to study in the UK. You can also get to know us better at fairs and exhibitions in your country

Advice on visas and immigration 

Our dedicated Visa Support team can help with every aspect of your visa and immigration status 

If you need a visa to study in the UK, they can guide you through the application process – from gathering the relevant documents, to completing the application itself.  

And they will continue to support you when you join us, with help ranging from where to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to what you need to do if you are planning to travel outside of the UK during your studies. 

Now that the UK has officially left the EU, find out how this might affect you if you are joining us from the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Airport Meet and Greet service 

After a long journey it is always good to see a friendly face waiting to greet you.  

Through our Airport Meet and Greet Service we can arrange to be at Newcastle International Airport when you land and take you to your student accommodation. 

You have to book the service, which operates at peak arrival times during the year. 

Accommodation support  

We work hard to make sure you feel at home with us. 

All our residences are affordable and range from well-equipped flats, to historic halls, modern city-centre apartments and student villages. We also have some self-contained flats and a small number of fully-furnished two- or three- bedroom properties for postgraduate students who are relocating to Newcastle with their partner or family.

Our accommodation is safe and secure, with entry-phone systems, CCTV and on-site support, while our free SafeZone app connects you directly to our security team if you need help while on campus.

To help our undergraduate students settle in, our ResLife team runs social events and life skills sessions, and they are always available if you need someone to talk to. 

And because we want you to feel at home living with us, we guarantee accommodation to all first-year undergraduate and postgraduate taught students (eligibility criteria apply)

International Welcome Programme 

To help you meet people, have fun and get settled into life with us, we organise an International Welcome Programme each September and January. 

Our Students' Union and ResLife team also host a full programme of social events and, as part of your Induction programme, you will find lots of helpful information on Canvas, our virtual learning environment, which students can access throughout the year. 

English language courses 

To study in the UK you will need a good standard of English. Ithis isn’t your first language, and you don’t meet the English language requirements to study with us, you could get extra help before you start your degree at Newcastle 

We offer International Pathway Courses – specialist programmes which are taught at INTO NewcastleYou could study an International Foundation programme, International Year One, Pre-Master's, or take an English language course.  

English language support 

To help you develop your academic English while you are studying with us, we also offer free English language support. This includes: 

  • academic reading and writing 
  • listening and speaking 
  • presentation skills 
  • grammar 

Your health and wellbeing

We want you to reach your full potential with us, so when life gets a bit challenging, our Wellbeing services can offer support including: 

  • counselling 
  • mental health support 
  • disability support
  • specialist learning support 
  • financial support
  • faith and spirituality support, including opportunities for prayer, worship and meditation 

Online platform TalkCampus also offers peer support 24/7, and our iNCLude app has been developed to help you create positive habits and great coping skills.  

There's dedicated support for our postgraduate students, too, to help you adjust to new ways of working and studying with us.

Religious support  

There are two formal faith and prayer spaces on campus: the Chaplaincy Office, available for those of all faiths or none; and a Muslim Prayer Space. 

Our Chaplaincy Team is made up of members of different faiths, who are committed to making our University a place of religious tolerance, diversity and respect 

The team can put you in touch with local faith communities, as well as providing spiritual support and opportunities for prayer and worship. 

A number of faith societies are also run by students through Newcastle University’s Students’ Union. 

Cultural societies 

Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) is at the heart or your student experience and here you will find a diverse range of cultural societies. 

As the voice of all our students, NUSU is active in cultural campaigns and celebrations and its website hosts helpful resources and information for international students. 

We hope you have found this blog useful. To find out more about what it is like to study with us, check out our blog on How you will learn at university.

Get more advice for your journey to university HERE