Information Technology

As all university courses have information technology components, a full range of facilities is available to support your studies at both of our campuses.

Network Access
The automatic creation of network computer and email accounts for all students means that in most cases account details are ready and waiting for new students when they start their course.

Email
Email @ Northumbria is a single system based on Outlook and Exchange, an industry standard messaging service used in workplaces throughout the world. Much more than email with additional functions - contact details, electronic diary, tasks, shared information in public folders, all available via the Web so you can check it from anywhere in the world. Addresses for fellow students and staff can be found very easily and there are a variety of on-line help guides and training software to show you how to use Outlook.

IT Facilities
Our Open Access IT areas stay open on evenings and weekends and are staffed by advisers. Some stay open ‘on a self service’ basis up to 24 hours. You will have the choice of a wide range of software applications and electronic resources, including subject specific databases, exam papers, etc.

The most successful e-learning system in Europe, Northumbria’s eLearning Portal will give you your own personal home page, announcements, course and other information and access to lecturer and student communities with discussion boards and chat rooms.

Flexible IT
Sometimes you will want to use IT in a more relaxed environment – and there’s plenty of opportunity for this.  As well as the Library Learning cafés, there are cyber cafés in the Students’ Union and Lipman café

With your own wireless-enabled laptop you can log on to the wireless network anywhere on campus and access the Internet, your email, etc. There are wireless printing facilities too.  Wireless access is now available in most halls of residence.  For more details on wireless see http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/it/wireless

You can even use university IT facilities from home with our remote access service desktop ANYWHERE . For more details see http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/it/dtanywhere

Every student has a generous filespace allocation on a server to keep their academic work. Files stored there, can be accessed from any University campus PC and off campus via desktop ANYWHERE.

There are also Nomad IT Access points located in common spaces such as reception areas so that you can quickly look up your email or a website on your way to a lecture or while waiting for a friend.

Help and Support
Support in using IT facilities is available from staff in the Libraries, and from the IT Services Helpline by phone, email, texting and our online self service facility. Online documentation and training materials are also available.

PC Purchase
Many students now wish to have a personal computer of their own and ask for guidance as to which models, configuration and software are most suitable for use in their studies.

For advice on home computers see our web page at www.northumbria.ac.uk/it/

For more information on purchasing laptops take a look at the Notebook Purchase Scheme at http://www.studentstore.co.uk/northumbria