Newcastle University

Newcastle University

Shield from the arms of Newcastle University
Type	Public
Established	1834 – School of Medicine and Surgery 1963 – became independent from the University of Durham
Endowment	£63.4 million (as of 31 July 2016)
Chancellor	Sir Liam Donaldson
Vice-Chancellor	Chris Day
Academic staff	2,430
Administrative staff	1,049
Students	23,795 (2015/16)
Undergraduates	17,720 (2015/16)
Postgraduates	6,070 (2015/16)
Location	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK 54°58′41″N 1°36′54″W / 54.978°N 1.615°W / 54.978; -1.615Coordinates: 54°58′41″N 1°36′54″W / 54.978°N 1.615°W / 54.978; -1.615
Campus	Urban
Turnover	£465.6 million (2015–16)
Colours	Blue (University) Old gold (Humanities) Royal blue (Science) Palatinate (Medicine)
Nickname	The Geordies
Mascot	Percy the Lion
Affiliations	Russell Group EUA N8 Group ACU Universities UK
Website	www.ncl.ac.uk

Newcastle University (Officially, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England. The university can trace its origins to a School of Medicine and Surgery (later the College of Medicine), established in 1834, and to the College of Physical Science (later renamed Armstrong College), founded in 1871. These two colleges came to form one division of the federal University of Durham, with the Durham Colleges forming the other. The Newcastle colleges merged to form King's College in 1937. In 1963, following an Act of Parliament, King's College became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Newcastle University is a red brick university and is a member of the Russell Group, an association of prestigious research-intensive UK universities. The university has one of the largest EU research portfolios in the UK. Newcastle attracts over 20,000 students from more than 120 different countries.

Teaching and research are delivered in 24 academic schools and 40 research institutes and research centres, spread across three Faculties: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Faculty of Medical Sciences; and the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. The university offers around 175 full-time undergraduate degree programmes in a wide range of subject areas spanning arts, sciences, engineering and medicine, together with approximately 340 postgraduate taught and research programmes across a range of disciplines.

The university has its origins in the School of Medicine and Surgery, which was established in Newcastle upon Tyne in October 1834, when it provided basic lectures and practical demonstrations to around 26 students. In June 1851, following a dispute among the teaching staff, the School split into two rival institutions. The majority formed the Newcastle College of Medicine, and the others established themselves as the Newcastle upon Tyne College of Medicine and Practical Science. By 1852, the majority college was formally linked to the University of Durham. It awarded its first 'Licence in Medicine' (Lic.Med) in 1856, and its teaching certificates were recognised by the University of London for graduation in medicine. The two colleges amalgamated in 1857 and renamed the University of Durham College of Medicine in 1870.