Newcastle University
A Russell Group city-centre university that grew from an 1834 medical school and still has medicine at its core.
- Students
- 25,777
- 20,864 undergraduates
- International
- 17%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £25,350
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1834
About Newcastle
Newcastle University traces its roots to 1834, when the Newcastle-upon-Tyne School of Medicine and Surgery was formally established; one of its earliest students was John Snow, the physician who later traced cholera to a contaminated water pump and is now seen as the father of epidemiology. The medical school and Armstrong College later formed King's College, part of Durham University, which became the independent University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1963. It is a founding member of the Russell Group.
The university had 25,777 students at its Newcastle campus in 2025-26, about 20,800 of them undergraduates, plus around 1,500 more at its branch campuses in Singapore and Malaysia (NUMed). Teaching and research sit in three faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Science, Agriculture and Engineering, with 19 schools between them, from Architecture, Planning and Landscape to Dental Sciences and Computing.
The campus sits in the city centre next to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, which suits students who want a big-city university with a strong clinical and applied-science side as well as arts and humanities. Typical offers range from ABB (for example Mechanical Engineering and English) to AAA (Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Architecture), and contextual offers can be up to three grades lower.
Why students choose Newcastle
Medicine and Surgery (MB BS) is taught alongside one of the UK's largest integrated teaching hospital complexes, with Anatomy and Clinical Skills Centres across the region.
Contextual and alternative offer routes, including the PARTNERS programme, can lower offers by up to three grades for eligible UK applicants.
Newcastle was placed in the world top 50 and UK top 5 student cities in QS Best Student Cities 2027, and among the ten most affordable UK cities.
International applicants to eligible courses are automatically considered for a Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship worth £7,000 a year for 2027 entry.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Newcastle does not publish an overall offer rate. It says admissions tutors look at the whole application and that meeting the typical grades does not guarantee an offer; ABB at A-level is typically the minimum for undergraduate entry. Course pages list 2027 typical offers but, as of 29 September 2026, still say entry requirements will be finalised in September 2026, so recheck your course page before applying.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific typical offers for 2027 entry, e.g. AAA (Medicine and Surgery, Dental Surgery, Law, Architecture), AAB (Economics, Computer Science, Psychology, History), ABB (Mechanical Engineering, English Language and Literature); contextual offers can be up to three grades lower |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Course-specific, e.g. 36 points (Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Architecture), 34 points (Economics, Computer Science, Psychology, History), 32 points (Mechanical Engineering, English) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 Most undergraduate courses need IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each skill; some course pages set higher scores. TOEFL iBT 90 (reading 18, writing 17 and minimums in other skills) for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new TOEFL scale from that date. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Dentistry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine and Surgery and Dental Surgery; UCAT must be taken.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other courses; also the cut-off for Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship consideration.
Both dates are the UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry. Newcastle's own UCAS page still shows the 2026-entry dates, so rely on the UCAS dates.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code N21) with up to five choices, a personal statement and a reference. After applying you are invited to the Apply to Newcastle portal to upload documents and track your application. Interviews are only used for some courses, such as Medicine, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Dietetics and Business Accounting and Finance.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades, including any subject-specific requirements for the course.
- A personal statement and school or college reference that support your choice of course.
- Evidence of relevant skills or aptitude, such as a portfolio for Fine Art or interview performance for Medicine and Dentistry.
- Your achievements in context: Newcastle uses contextual data and may make lower offers where you have faced educational disadvantage.
Tips for applying to Newcastle
- 1 Check your eligibility for a contextual, PARTNERS or Realising Opportunities offer, which can be up to three grades below the typical offer.
- 2 For Medicine, sit the UCAT early and read the 2027 Medicine Admissions Policy: the UCAT threshold changes each cycle depending on applicants' scores.
- 3 Register for the Apply to Newcastle portal as soon as the invitation arrives (within 48 hours of submitting on UCAS) so you do not miss document requests.
- 4 International applicants should submit by 13 January 2027 and, if given an offer by 31 March, accept Newcastle as firm or insurance by 3 May 2027 to stay eligible for the £7,000 Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
UK students from lower-income households can receive an Opportunity Scholarship cash bursary of up to £2,000 a year. International students on eligible courses are automatically considered for the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship (£7,000 a year for 2027 entry); there are also Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Scholarships, an EU scholarship worth 25% off the international fee, International Family Discounts and sports scholarships of up to £5,000.
- Up to £2,000 per year, based on household income
- Opportunity Scholarship (UK)
- £7,000 per year for the length of the course (2027 entry)
- Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship
- £543 to £924 per month (compiled August 2025)
- University rent (undergraduate, bills included)
Academics
Academic calendar: Academic year from late September, split into autumn, spring and summer terms
Medicine and Surgery (MB BS)
A five-year case-led programme from the university's founding discipline; AAA or 36 IB plus the UCAT, with interviews in December and January.
Dental Surgery (BDS)
AAA or 36 IB with an interview; international fee £49,000 for year 1 in 2027/28.
Architecture (BA)
Taught by the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape in the former Agriculture Building; AAA or 36 IB.
Law (LLB)
Taught at Newcastle Law School, with a four-year option including a placement or international exchange year; AAA or 36 IB and £26,000 international fee.
Computer Science (BSc)
Run by the School of Computing; AAB or 34 IB.
Mechanical Engineering (BEng)
One of the more accessible Russell Group engineering offers at ABB or 32 IB.
Research
- The university reports ranking 15th in the UK for research power in REF 2021.
- Faculty of Medical Sciences institutes include the Biosciences Institute, the Population Health Sciences Institute and the Translational and Clinical Research Institute.
- In September 2026 the university announced a new Institute of Devolution for research on devolution, regional growth and public policy, with economist Andy Haldane appointed to it.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering
- Newcastle University Business School
- Newcastle Law School
- School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
- School of Medicine
- School of Dental Sciences
- School of Computing
- School of Engineering
Student life
Newcastle's campus is in the city centre, with the red-brick Armstrong Building and the Arches at its heart and the Students' Union beside King's Walk. Most first-years live in university-owned or partnership halls, with rent that includes bills, and move into private housing from second year. The university puts the city in the world's top 50 student cities and among the UK's ten most affordable (QS Best Student Cities 2027), with groceries estimated at about £144 a month. The Hatton Gallery occupies the former King Edward VII School of Art building on campus.
- The Armstrong Building served as a First World War hospital that treated more than 41,000 patients and is now where students graduate.
- The Hatton Gallery is housed in the former King Edward VII School of Art on campus.
- University rent for undergraduates runs from £543 to £924 a month, bills included (August 2025 figures).
- Sports scholarships of up to £5,000 are available to athletes competing at regional, national or international level.
Housing. New first-year undergraduates are guaranteed a room in university-owned or managed partnership accommodation if they make Newcastle their firm choice, apply for a full year's accommodation by the published July deadline and hold an unconditional firm offer by mid-August (dates for 2026 entry: 24 July and 17 August).
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne is the main city of North East England, on the River Tyne. The campus is in the city centre, close to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and within reach of the Grainger Market, which the university recommends for cheaper fresh food. The university estimates the city is 22% cheaper than London excluding rent, and the North East is the UK's second most affordable region for students.
Nearest airport: Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
Notable alumni
- JS John SnowPhysician and pioneer of epidemiology; one of the earliest students of the Newcastle School of Medicine and Surgery
- RA Rowan AtkinsonActor and comedian (Mr. Bean, Blackadder); BSc from Newcastle
- BF Bryan FerrySinger and songwriter of Roxy Music; studied fine art
- KA Kate AdieBBC journalist and war correspondent
- MS Miriam StoppardPhysician, author and broadcaster
- GW Graham WylieCo-founder of the Sage Group; BSc in Computing Science and Statistics
- MM Milton MargaiFirst prime minister of Sierra Leone; medical degree from the Durham College of Medicine in Newcastle
- EC Ed CoodeOlympic gold medallist in rowing
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Newcastle University?
Typical 2027 offers range from ABB (e.g. Mechanical Engineering) to AAA (Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Architecture), or 32 to 36 IB points. Contextual offers can be up to three grades lower.
What is Newcastle's application deadline for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 via UCAS for Medicine and Dentistry, and 13 January 2027 for all other courses.
Does Newcastle University interview applicants?
Most courses do not interview. Interviews or assessments are used for courses such as Medicine, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Dietetics, Contemporary and Popular Music and Business Accounting and Finance.
How much are Newcastle's fees for international students?
For 2027/28, first-year international fees range from £25,350 (e.g. History) to £49,000 (Dental Surgery), with Computer Science at £31,500 and Medicine at £48,600. Home students pay £10,050.
Does Newcastle offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Eligible international applicants are automatically considered for a Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship worth £7,000 a year for 2027 entry, provided they apply by 13 January 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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