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University of Newcastle upon Tyne

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Newcastle University is a British university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north of England. It was founded as the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne by an Act of Parliament in August 1963.

History

The University has its origins in the College of Medicine which was established in the city in 1834, and formally became a college of Durham University in 1851. In 1871 the College of Physical Science was founded, which subsequently became Armstrong College (named after William George Armstrong).

Armstrong College and the College of Medicine were merged in 1937 to form King's College, Durham (the Durham Division remained predominantly dedicated to the teaching of theology and liberal arts).

Growth of the Newcastle Division of the federal Durham University led to tensions within the structure and in 1963 an Act of Parliament separated the two divisions, leaving Durham as an 'Oxbridge'-style collegiate university and creating the University of Newcastle upon Tyne as a civic university similar to Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester.

Today

The University has a core population of 17,784 students (2005-2006), including more than 2,000 overseas students from over 100 countries.
King's Walk, giving access to the Union Building (left) and the arches of the Fine Art building, leading into the Quadrangle
Enlarge
King's Walk, giving access to the Union Building (left) and the arches of the Fine Art building, leading into the Quadrangle

Its medical school consistently ranks as one of the top in the UK due to its high level of teaching and research. It was also the first institution in Europe, 2nd in the world, to be given permission to pursue stem-cell research in human embryos.

The current Chancellor of the university is Chris Patten, former Chairman of the Conservative Party and European Commissioner for External Affairs (1999-2004). He is also Chancellor of Oxford University.

The university won the Sunday Times University of the Year award in 2000. In December 2004 it sparked controversy when it announced the closure of its physics course because of declining interest and financial pressures. However, a month later the university noted that there had been a rise in applications to its chemistry course.

Student Organisations

The Union Society aims to represent the interests of students at the University.[link]

Notable alumni

Research Institutes

Schools and Faculties

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See also

Russell Group
(of British research universities)
Birmingham | Bristol | Cambridge | Cardiff | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Imperial College London | King's College London | Leeds | Liverpool | London School of Economics | Manchester | Newcastle | Nottingham | Oxford | Sheffield | Southampton | University College London | Warwick

 


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