Northumbria University is introducing new aerospace engineering degrees and expanding its use of artificial intelligence to support students. The university will launch a BEng/MEng in aerospace and satellite engineering and an MSc in aerospace satellite engineering in September, coinciding with the opening of the £50 million North East Space Skills and Technology Centre. This facility, developed in partnership with the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin, aims to foster collaboration between industry and academia and provide specialized education for the growing UK space sector.
In an effort to aid students in the competitive job market, Northumbria is offering Claude for Education to all students. This AI tool is intended to guide learning and encourage critical thinking, rather than providing direct answers. The university was one of the first to offer such an AI tool to its staff and students.
Financial and Academic Support Initiatives
Northumbria University provides the Northumbria Undergraduate Award, valued at £4,000 over three years, for students who meet specific criteria. These include coming from postcodes with lower higher education participation rates, identifying as Black, Asian, or from a minority ethnic background, or having a declared long-term health condition or learning difference. Applicants must also submit a 500-word essay on how the award would support their aspirations.
Additionally, students from six local colleges are eligible for a £1,500 annual support bursary. The university also maintains four Success Funds to assist students facing severe financial hardship with costs such as accommodation, living expenses, travel, course materials, and childcare. In the 2024-25 academic year, £469,000 was distributed through hardship support.
Admissions and Widening Participation
The university has broadened its eligibility for contextual admissions offers, which are typically 16 UCAS points below standard entry requirements. This expansion led to a rise in the number of students qualifying for these offers in September 2025. The offers are available to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, those who have been eligible for free school meals, first-generation university students, individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds, care leavers, those with disabilities or long-term illnesses, estranged students, members of the armed forces, and mature students over 21.
Northumbria University offers specialized support for students from widening participation backgrounds through programs like NU Belong, which assists carers, care leavers, and estranged students, and NU Opportunities, an internship scheme for students lacking personal networks. The university also runs a neurodiverse transition event and provides mental health and wellbeing services, including cognitive behavioural therapy, counseling, outdoor therapy, and online resources such as the SilverCloud app.
The university is also trialing "Degree in Three" courses in international business management, business and analytics, and health and social care. These programs schedule all campus teaching over three fixed days per week, aiming to accommodate students with work, family, or other commitments.
Northumbria University has also been recognized for its entrepreneurial support, ranking fifth in the UK for graduate start-ups based on estimated turnover for the 2024-25 period, marking its 17th consecutive year in the top ten.