Going into my third and sadly my final year at Northumbria, I already know I will never forget my time here.

My course has been brilliant and I feel like I’ve learnt so much in such a small space of time. I recently won a bursary scheme with Design Bridge, an international graphic design company based in London, after completing a month’s placement with them over the summer. The scheme includes a scholarship for my final year fees and a guaranteed job upon graduation. I still can’t believe it but I’m over the moon.

I know I couldn’t have done it without support from my tutors – at Northumbria, you get to know your tutors well and they really want you to succeed in your chosen field. Most have lots of industry experience so make the most of this and take advantage of all the advice and guidance they can offer.

On the social side of university, student life in Newcastle has lived up to its reputation – I still haven’t been to every bar or club, and I’ve been here two years! There’s always something going on and Newcastle definitely caters to its huge student population with lively nightlife and numerous happy hours.

If I could give one piece of advice to this year’s freshers it would be to join a sports team, club or society – it will be the best thing you do. I’m a member of Northumbria Northstars, the cheerleading team, and I’ve made so many great university memories with them. Aside from that, I’d just say get involved with everything you can, work hard and play hard, explore this amazing city and enjoy your student loan while it lasts! You’ll make friends for life here and set yourself up for a great future. 

Newcastle is a fantastic city for students to live in. The nightlife is amazing, the shopping caters for everyone and you can take a short train ride to the beautiful coastline for a break from city life. It’s hard to be bored in a place as lively as this!

Despite all this, moving to university isn’t something I found easy and I suffered from homesickness in the first couple of weeks. My advice to this year’s first year students would be to talk – whether it be to your new flat mates, your parents or a member of staff at the university. Talking it through will always make you feel better and you might even find that others feel the same. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be the only fresher out there who’s desperate for a big hug from their mum!

Joining a society is a great way to keep busy and try something new, as well as give your CV that extra boost. I joined the Northumbria Student’s Union magazine and I’m so glad I did – it’s a great way to meet new people, write about things you’re interested in and it’s even helped me get a job!

Amidst all the fun, your degree may sometimes take a back seat but it’s important to always keep in mind why you are at university and how much it’s costing you! Work hard. Don’t get to the end of university and think you could have done more because you don’t get this chance again. It will be worth it when you can graduate knowing you’ve done everything you can to secure that fantastic degree.

Despite any initial fears, university is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have – it’s the time to find friends for life, make unforgettable memories and discover who you truly are. Doing all that at Northumbria just makes it even better. 

I graduated from Northumbria with a BA History earlier this year and now I’ve returned to study for my PGCE. I chose to study here again because I know that teaching standards are high and I love Newcastle as a city. Starting first year, I’d never really been away from home for more than a week or two so it was a completely new experience for me. Meeting everyone during Welcome Week was great, but you tend to go to the same bars a lot and not really branch out. For a change of pace, try Nancy’s Bordello which is slightly out of the main city centre but has great live music and quiz nights.  

One of the biggest tips I would give to new students is to budget with your student loan. I know it might be boring but you don’t want to spend half a semester eating baked beans because you’ve blown it all in the first few weeks.  Get your rent paid as soon as you can so that you know how much you have left for the rest of the semester. For a bit of extra income, there are plenty of part-time jobs in Newcastle. I worked from first year up until the end of third year, when my dissertation took precedence.

Study-wise, I always tried to start essays around two to three weeks before they were due to avoid rushing at the last minute. The reading around an assignment is what takes the most time so if you start this early then you’ll be on the right track. Also, make the most of the university’s library – it’s open 24 hours, which comes in handy if you’re working to a tight deadline. You want to graduate knowing you’ve achieved the best grade possible, so enjoy the student lifestyle in Newcastle but knuckle down when it counts. 

• Make your room your own by personalising it. For inspiration, go to the poster fair on the top floor of Northumbria’s Students’ Union, or be creative and make your own decorations from photos and memorabilia.
• Grainger Market – near Grey’s Monument in Newcastle city centre – is cheaper than the larger supermarkets for meat, fish and fresh fruit and veg. Your student loan will stretch further if you stock up here!
• Make the most of the many clubs and societies which Northumbria offer. They provide you with an opportunity to meet people outside of your course, learn new skills, keep fit, attend socials, take trips abroad and enhance your CV.
• Find out which are the biggest student nights in Newcastle. Wednesday is sports night, when all the university sports teams go out to celebrate and students completely take over the city centre. If nightclubs aren’t your scene, there are plenty of alternatives. Try ‘The Stand’ comedy club, where you can catch live stand up for just £2.
• For a bit of fun, try doing ‘Come Dine with Me’ with your friends and flatmates. Not only is this a good laugh, it gives you the opportunity to brush up on your cooking skills and a home-cooked meal can go a long way to ease homesickness.
• Take advantage of the 12-week summers, as you definitely won’t get them forever. Use the time to travel or get some valuable work experience. Explore the different opportunities available to Northumbria students – you could take part in a summer school overseas or make a difference by volunteering or teaching English abroad. Northumbria has lots of travel grants available so there’s no limit to what you can do.
• Most importantly, you’re embarking on the best three years of your life so go in with an open mind and grab every opportunity that comes your way with both hands