All students must be enrolled in order to study at the University.
Full enrolment provides access to your research programme site as well as University IT systems and buildings. You are advised to complete enrolment as soon as possible and arrive by your course start date so that you can attend programme induction activities. You can complete the full enrolment process online by logging on to your Student Portal, selecting 'Enrol' from the main menu and following the instructions.
You will need your username and password, which you should have already received by email. When you have completed this process successfully you will receive a confirmation email to your University email account. See Understanding the enrolment process in your Student Portal for full guidance.
Your research tuition fee banding will have been determined at interview.
Please expand the relevant section below for payment detail:
If you are a self-funding student, please ensure you have paid the first instalment of your fees on or before you complete the enrolment task. You can do this via online payment platform.
The tuition fee payment policy can be found in section 13 of the Handbook of Student Regulations (Research Programmes) 2024-25.
When completing your enrolment task, please indicate in the Fees section that you are in receipt of a studentship.
If you have a studentship but still receive an invoice, please contact the Graduate School via your Student Portal.
If you cannot access your Student Portal at this time, please submit an enquiry to us via this contact form.
If you are a sponsored student, you are required to submit a sponsorship letter at the start of each academic year. Please see the Payment of fees by a sponsor article on your Student Portal for full information.
If you cannot access your Student Portal at this time, please submit an enquiry to us via this contact form.
If you are unable to pay the first instalment of your fees at enrolment or if you have concerns about your ability to pay future instalment(s) please contact the Finance department via your Student Portal, where you can arrange to visit a drop-in session and discuss your financial position.
If you cannot access your Student Portal at this time, please submit an enquiry to us via this contact form.
Our aim is to ensure students are supported to reach their full potential and have the best possible experience here at Northumbria. If you have an accessibility need - including Specific Learning Differences and neurodiversity - we offer support throughout your journey with us, even before you arrive.
Specialist advice and support is available for Postgraduate Research students around the viva voce examination and formal progression points.
Visit Preparing to Join Us for more information and to register with the Student Accessibility Team, who can ensure any relevant support is in place before you get here.
We are also committed to ensuring our campuses are accessible, and have partnered with AccessAble to create detailed guides to the physical access features of all our buildings and services. This include information on colour contrast and lighting, signage, background noise, and much more. See AccessAble - Campus Access Guides for more information.
Your programme start date can be found in your offer and enrolment letter, and it vital to arrive to arrive on campus in time to take part in your induction week activities.
If you are arriving to Newcastle from outside of the UK, plan your travel arrangements carefully and remember, it can take up to five days to have your visa information verified once you have uploaded it, so it's a good idea arrive ahead of your start date.
To help you find your way to campus when you first arrive, we offer a Meet and Greet airport transfer service for international students arriving into Newcastle Airport - read more and book your place now.
Wherever you are travelling from, your Welcome Pack below contains lots of useful information about travelling to campus, what to bring with you and how to ensure a smooth arrival.
Don't forget to confirm your accommodation and arrival date, whether that's University accommodation or a private rental.
Using your Student Portal to Navigate Northumbria from Northumbria University on Vimeo.
We know that there is a lot of information to take in during your time at university – so to help you navigate your Northumbria journey, your Student Portal brings all of the knowledge, advice and support you need together in one place.
Ask4Help Online contains many helpful articles to support you throughout your research journey, including a specific category for PGR students. Browse and or search by keyword to find answers to any questions you have during your time at Northumbria. For further advice and support, submit an enquiry via the text box at the end of each article and an expert member of our team will get back to you.
Having trouble accessing your Student Portal?
Once you have arrived in the UK, you should complete your enrolment by uploading your visa documentation to your Student Portal. This includes collecting and uploading your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and/or your e-visa share code.
Only when these documents have been verified will you be full enrolled. See the Enrolment article on your Student Portal for full information and guidance.
Your Faculty Induction is part of your mandatory training and will involve talks from your PGR Faculty director, the Graduate School, University Library, Northumbria Students’ Union and Ask4Help.
Faculty Induction dates for PGR students starting in October 2024 are listed below:
Look out for email communication from your Faculty for any additional department/faculty events.
Although there is no formal timetable, as a PGR student you are expected to complete the following hours per week on your research programme:
Attendance is formally monitored via monthly supervision meetings and you must complete a Supervision Meeting Record after each meeting. See the Attendance monitoring via Postgraduate Research supervision meetings article on your Student Portal.
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Your Student Smartcard is an essential part of getting started at Northumbria. You should arrange to collect your Smartcard during your Induction Week and keep it with you at all times. Your Smartcard is your student identification, and you will also use for essential everyday tasks like accessing University buildings, registering your attendance, using the University Library and much more.
Look out for collection dates for October 2024 coming soon!
Your safety is our priority. We have a dedicated 24-hour security team and recommend that all students download the free SafeZone App which connects you directly to Security should you need it. You can find out more about our Security services and staying safe in the video below and in your Welcome Pack.
Taking care of your health and wellbeing is crucial while at University. One of the first steps to take after arriving in Newcastle is to register with a local doctor's surgery, also known as a General Practitioner or GP. This ensures you can access medical care when needed. Please register as soon as possible - do not wait until you are unwell.
International students, including incoming exchange students: Once you have arrived in the UK you should register with a doctor as soon as possible. If you didn’t pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and obtain an IHS number as part of your visa application, you may wish to consider taking out private health insurance as visitors to the UK are required to pay for NHS medical treatment.
For more information and advice on how to do this, see the Registering with a doctor/GP article in your Student Portal.
It is also important to take care of your money and finances while at University. We recommend that all students open a student bank account - if you are joining us from overseas it's particularly important to think about a UK account.
Incoming exchange students: Depending on the length of time you plan to stay in the UK, you may consider opening a UK bank account to make it easier for you to make and receive payments. However, specific eligibility criteria may apply depending on the type of visa you hold and the individual bank’s policies - check with the bank for details.
See the Opening a bank account article on your Student Portal for more information.
Hopefully by now you have met your supervisor and had an initial meeting and attended your induction to gain a good understanding of the skills you will need to succeed.
You can access a wide range of information, guidance and support from your University Library throughout the year, including online content, workshops and one-to-one sessions. See Developing your learning skills for more information on topics including:
These skills sessions are open to all PGR students.
Northumbria Students' Union (NSU) serves undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students and is here to make your student experience the best it can be! NSU offers advice, support, representation, a huge range of societies, events and lots more.
NSU is also home to over 100 societies for you to explore and join - from sports and outdoor activities, conservation, arts and culture, faith and spirituality and everything in between. They can also support you to find volunteering opportunities, represent your course and get involved in the local community.
With exclusive discounts and offers for new students, Northumbria Sport has something for everyone.
PGR students are eligible to represent Northumbria University in sporting competitions, join clubs and are entitled to reduced student gym membership.
Find out more at the following;
By joining Northumbria as a Postgraduate Research student, you are now part of a vibrant community in a vibrant city! Explore Newcastle and all that it - and Northumbria - has to offer. Get involved, make new friends and Be Part Of It!
Be Part Of It: Our programme of heavily-discounted events and activities exclusive to Northumbria students - from chocolate-making workshops to paddle boarding, and everything in between. We are currently planning events for September so check back soon!
International Students' Welcome: We give a warm welcome to all students joining us from overseas. Get to know your fellow students and University staff at our International Welcome and Tea Party (date to be confirmed).
Life in Newcastle: Explore our online guide to the city and see what fellow students are saying in The Student Hub - including lots of advice and tips for new students.
We know it can be daunting starting out at University but we are here to help and support you every step of the way.
Ask4Help is the name of our frontline service and it is available 24/7 during term-time on campus, online and via telephone. Ask4Help can answer any questions you have or signpost you to more specialist support should you need it. Ask4Help Online in your Student Portal contains a range of useful articles, including a Postgraduate Research section, providing self-help information on topics including:
You can submit any queries you have or access specialist support from staff via the enquiry box at the end of each article.
Remember, if you have any programme-related questions, you can talk to your supervisor and supervision team, as well as your Department PGR Lead, Faculty PGR Director, and Graduate School Coordinator.
To help you navigate Northumbria, we have brought together a range of information about our campus, services and support available to you in a handy Welcome Guide (pdf version).
We welcome all new students joining us from overseas! This guide is full of useful information and advice - from before you arrive to getting here and settling in. You can access a pdf version of the guide here.
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