AlternativeProspectu.. - Computing Science - Newcastle University

03 Hello Hello!04 The Students’ Union06 Freshers’ Week08 Accommodation12 Sport15 Breaking the Student Myth…16 Societies18 Student Media19 Student Activities20 Student Services22 City by Day24 City by Night26 Outside of the City27 Grub28 Your Degree29 Facilities30 Careers/ncl+, Uni & Beyond31 Bye Bye…ONTENTSSO......by now you’ve probably pickedup loads of official prospectuses,flicked through their glossy pagesand arrived at one conclusion.They all basicallysay the same thing.Lucky for you, you’ve managed toget your mitts on this slightly lessglossy but equally excitingbrochure, which is here to give youthe lowdown about Uni life from thepeople who are actually living it.If you just read the official stuff youmight end up believing anything.You might even think that thereare better places to study thanthe mighty Toon! But let us tellyou right now, that’s just silly.Very silly indeed.We’re here to give you an honest,informative view of the city and theUniversity. We’ve rackedour brains for allthe relevant infowe can give you and made thepages look all pretty just for yourviewing pleasure.Putting together these super duperpages we’ve asked all our friends,and more importantly, the peoplewe know are in the know, to putyou there too. So we got a lot ofhelp from a lot of people, but then,that’s the whole point. This iswritten by thestudents for thestudents.Basically we’re doing away withall the mountainous info aboutcourses – lecturers and Uniadministration staff can deal with allthat. What they can’t tell you, thatwe can, is what it’s really like tostudy in Geordie land, where theplaces to be are and what you canget out of your experience whenyou manage to take a break fromthe library.So check out the officialprospectus for all your degree infoand check us out for the craic onthe city and the students’ Union.This isn’t a substitute for the officialprospectus, but a complement toit. Get your beeffrom the Uni andyour sauce from us.AlternativelyyoursJennie Gundill& Adam McInteeEditors2 Alternative Prospectus 2008 Alternative Prospectus 07/08 3

The students’ Unionis the hub of studentlife in Newcastle.It’s the place to chill with yourmates, grab a bite to eat, gluga quick beverage,get involved with a society or getadvice on anything from housingto finance; think of it like a giantcommon room. The Union buildingand everything in it is actuallyowned by everyone who can callthemselves a Newcastle student,so a small part of it will be all yours!But the Union is more than justa pretty impressive building(check out the photos) and afab place to relax. It’s also yourvoice to the University, and as astudent you havethe opportunity todecide how it’s run.A group of elected students,who are directly accountable tothe student body, oversee everydecision that is taken in the Union– right down to the shop prices.That means the Union is alwaysworking to improve the studentexperience. If you’re not happy withhow the Union is run, then tough!!Only kidding, if you don’t agree withhow the Union is working then youcan make a difference by gettinginvolved in one of the Union’s manycommittees, or run to become aUnion Officer.Each year students get a chanceto choose who should berepresenting them through a hugeelection in March. The GeneralElection wishes it was this good.There are 19 officers to elect, andavailable spots on all the Union’scommittees, such as Welfare andCampaigns, Diversity Committeeand Elections Committee.Six of the Officer positions are paid,full-time posts, and the people thatfill them oversee the fabulous Unionstaff team (like our own Civil Service!)in the day-to-day management ofyour students’ Union.The 13 part-time officers each havean individual responsibility, such asStudents with Disabilities (SWD).Others are responsible for issueslike the environment orracial equality.The officers are available to chatmost of the time and studentsare encouraged to get involvedand use their vote and their voice.The Students’ Unionrepresents YOU tothe University,the press and even Government,and regularly campaigns on bigissues such as the fight againsttop-up fees.Being an officer is not the onlyway to get your views heard. Youcan become a representative foryour school, (e.g. rep for Schoolof Literature, Language andLinguistics) on Union Council. You’llbe involved in deciding Universitypolicy and represent the views ofthe students in your school. Eachschool has at least one rep andthey’re elected each year throughthe Union.Your School will also run a Staff-Student Committee; this is wherestudent representatives andacademic staff get together andit’s your chance to have your sayabout how your course is run.These reps are also elected eachyear through your School.Each term, the Union organisesFaculty Forums; a chance forrepresentatives from Staff-StudentCommittees and Union Council toget together and discuss issuesin each faculty. Students are alsowelcome to come to these forumsand talk about any problems theyare having with their course.more thanjust a prettyimpressivebuildingSix full-timesabbatical positions:n Presidentn Editor of The Couriern Athletic Union Presidentn Activitiesn Educationn Student Support15 part-timeofficer positions:n Racial Equalityn Gender Equalityn Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT)n Post-Graduate Mature Students (PGMS)n International Studentsn Students with Disabilitiesn Ethics and Environmentn Campaignsn Executiven Freshers’ Week Organisersn Convenor of Disciplinaryn Convenor of Debatesn Chair of Union Counciln RAGn Newcastle Student Radio (NSR)4 Alternative Prospectus 07/08Alternative Prospectus 07/08 5

The Guardian saysit’s the “best in thecountry.” And this time, youCAN believe everything you readin the papers. It’s run by electedstudents for students, so you knowevery single minute will be designedespecially for you.You arrive at Uni feeling morethan a bit anxious, and askyourself, ‘I wonder what the nextthree years or so will be like?’ Fivedays later, a lot poorer, very tiredand probably hungover, you’ll havea much better idea.The students’ Union organiseFreshers’ Week with four electedofficers, who spend ten monthsdedicating their lives so thatYOU and 5,000 other first yearstudents can learn the joys ofNewcastle. Freshers’week helps you tomeet new friends,find your bearingsaround campusand familiariseyourself withthe city.But then that’s what everybody’sFreshers’ Week does. What havewe got that nobody else has?Why are we the best? Becauseour enormous Freshers’ teamdedicate their lives and theirwallets to making sure you getthe opportunity to take part inendless daytime activities includingpaintballing, pub crawls, and iceskating. Get up, see some qualityDJs, scoff a barbeque, visit thebrewery, meet randoms,play some sport, meet morerandoms, see a chart-topping act,cop off, and then, before yourlectures, maybe get somesleep. We’ll even drive youto the shops to stock up on somefood and drinks for the flat, or Ikeafor the house-proud (that won’tlast). We cater for all tastes, andwe make all the effort to ensureeveryone feels comfortable andhas something they want to do.And a year later, you could doit all again as a member of theFreshers’ Crew, welcoming thenext generation of the NewcastleMassive to the streets of the Toon.The crew of 2006.Freshers’ Week is frequentlydescribed as the best week of yourUniversity life. It’s a mind-numbing,spirit-lifting, bubbly, bouncy, writhinghotbed of fun, frolics and non-stopentertainment all week, which youwon’t want to end. But don’t justtake our word for it, get yourselfdown to the biggest Freshers’ Weekin the country and lap it all up!During the evening there’s awhole host of night-time eventsexclusively for freshers. Across theUnion’s six bars, you’re sure to findsomething to float your boat. Withlocal and internationally renownedbands, big-name DJs, comediansand live performance acts, theUnion keeps the party going untilthe early hours of the morning.Then, when you think it can’t getany better, Freshers’ Week ends instyle with a MASSIVE pubcrawl through thecity. Nervous? There’s noneed to be. Our crew of over 300volunteers are here to help youevery step of the way.At the beginning of 2007, over1,000 students applied tobe part of the biggestfreshers’ crew inthe country. After fivedays of intense ‘X Factor’ styleinterviews, an elite crew of 300were chosen to make sure that thereputation of the best Freshers’Week in the country is not lost. Thecrew are there to run trips, help youmove in and basically cater to yourevery need during their 16 hourworking days (all voluntary). Andif it does all get too much and thecrew can’t help, fear not, we havethe Student Support Officer’s bandof welfare-related people manningtheir tent, where you can go if youhave any problems, no matter howbig or small. There’s also alternativeevents organised for those who likea bit of a slower pace, ranging fromfood events such as a grub crawl,funfairs, ice hockey matches andacoustic evenings. Whatever you’reinto, Freshers’ Week has all youneed. All it needs now is YOU!!!FRESHERS’ WEEKDOESN’T GET ANYBETTER THANNEWCASTLE6 Alternative Prospectus 07/08 Alternative Prospectus 07/08 7

The world ofpaper-thin walls,no privacy andcopious amountsof partying –depending onwhere you stay, ofcourse. All in all,they’re pretty good.Get used to regular airings of thelovely fire alarm – 4am seems tobe the optimum time – the delightsof hall food, and the randomnessyou’re sure to come across duringyour time there. Halls are one ofthe best academies of life youcould wish for. They’re kind of ahalfway house between home andthe big wide world. You can go innervous and naïve and come outready to rent a flat of your own.Here is a guide to the halls. We’venot covered them all, so for moreinformation, including prices,check out the AccommodationBrochure which you canorder through the University’swebsite www.ncl.ac.uk/accommodationHenderson HallThe choice of the discerningstudent. Located three mileseast along the main CoastRoad, Henderson is a quiet sitewith lots of greenery and openspaces, and houses about 450students. Henderson also hasthe listed Old Hall building, whichcontains what is probably theUni’s flashiestaccommodation,including ensuite rooms. Thedownside is it’s pretty expensive.Some of the areas, particularlySmith Wing, are cheaper, but onthe whole, be prepared to splashthe cash. Henderson is catered,and there’s a massive Sainsbury’sjust around the corner, plus a greatlocal, The Lochside, within twominutes walk. And even though it’sout of the way, getting into Uni iseasy with regular buses along theCoast Road.Henderson Hall.Castle LeazesCastle Leazes is close to the Uni,(a five-minute walk, across a cowfield, with real live cows in it!), youdon’t need cooking and moneymanagement as your strong pointsand the social life is great. There’sa real sense of camaraderie andthere’s always something goingon. On the downside the roomsare pretty small, and paradingyourself at breakfast every morningcan be a traumatic experience.Leazes does have some greatfacilities though – three bars, pooltables, Sky TV, a shop, computercluster, handy laundrette, andmore. You also getthe honour oftraipsing past aherd of cows everymorning on yourway to Uni.St. Mary’sBelieve it or not, self-cateringcan be fun. You don’t have tolisten to the permanent complaintsabout Hall food, and can eatwhat you want, when you want.If you can’t cook, now’s a goodchance to learn (let’s face it, youhave to, otherwise you’ll starve).St. Mary’s is an ex-teacher trainingcollege located in the nice part ofFenham. It was a convent beforethat… sometimes the nuns turnup to look around! The four-to-sixbedroom (all with washbasins) flatstend to be quite roomy, varying infacilities with price. Some peoplecomplain about the distance to theUni, but it’s only a 30 minute walk –much nearer than Henderson Hall.Buses are fast and frequent, andthe taxi fare from town won’t breakthe bank completely.There is a slight drawback though,there are no pubs in Fenham, andSt. Mary’s lacks a common room.But it’s a close-knit community,and once someone in your flathas met someone in another,you’ve met six more people!What’s more, partiestend to happenfrequently. On theflipside, it can be pretty quietsometimes, though this is ideal onthe odd occasion you actually wantto do some work.Richardson RoadThe first thing you tend to noticeabout Richardson (affectionatelyknown as ‘Ricky’) Road is itsunique design. All angles andtriangular windows, it’s difficult tothink where the architect got hisinspiration from, but you have thesuspicion it was inhaled. Or maybetaken from the plans for a prison.Either way, getpast the crazylayout and you’vegot an absolutegem of a studentvillage. Preserve yoursanity by plastering the bare brickwalls with posters, get used tothe constant parties, and rejoiceat the cheap rent. The place hasthe atmosphere you’d expect froma large student community (i.e.great but loud – some flats tendnot to differentiate between dayand night), and it’s just five minutesfrom the Uni and right next tothe Medical and Dental Schools.What’s more, it’s close to CastleLeazes and Leazes Parade, andright next door to Marris House, soyou can pop over to visit friends inyour pjs. For all you sporty types,you can quite literally fall out ofyour door and into the shiny newUniversity gym.Windsor TerraceWindsor Terrace is the proudpossessor of possibly the bestlocation of all theUni accommodation.It’s 30 seconds walk from the mainlibrary, directly over the road fromthe Law and Politics Schools, andyou can literally fall out of bed andget to your lectures in minutes ifyou have to.It’s generally well thought of, andis called home by around 250students who live in its threehouses (Fife, Gurney and Hodgkin).If you’ve got a bit of sparecash, Fife House has en-suitebathrooms. So there!Believe it or not,self-cateringcan be fun.St Mary’s.Windsor Terrace.8 Alternative Prospectus 07/08

After a year inHalls you’ll beburning to get out.Those weirdoesyou never shookoff after Freshers’Week will vanishas you chooseyour flatmates andaccommodation foryour second andthird year.We can’t promise that yourchosen flatmates will ever do thewashing up or that they won’tdevelop a liking for loud drum nbass at 3am – you’re on your ownwith that one – but we can giveyou a quick guide toprivate housing inNewcastle.Once you’ve chosen who you wantto live with (warning – there aren’tthat many ten-bedroom houses inthe Toon), it’s time to pick an area.Rents vary from roughly £50-£75per week in Jesmond to £35-£50per week in Fenham – with Heaton,Sandyford and Gosforth anywherein between. Be warned,cosy two-bedroomflats often workout more expensivethan sharing withthree or fourpeople.FENHAMThis is one of the cheapest placesyou can live. Rent should be £35-£50, but you’ve got to compromiseon the prettiness factor. There’sa fair bit of litter, dirt and brokenwindows knocking about but thereis some green to counteract thegrime, in the shape of Fenham’sparks. There are a few pubshidden away, but we recommendyou don’t charge in, mobile gluedto your ear, talking loudly aboutyour gap year in India unless youfeel the need to be given a goodkicking.HEATONIf you can’t afford the luxury ofJesmond, and Fenham doesn’thold much appeal, then Heatonmight be just the trick for you.It’s only about 20 minutes walkfrom campus or a frequent busride away, and the takeaways arealways handy for that midnighttummy grumble. Heaton’snot luxurious, but worth everypenny you pay in rent. Can’tsay fairer thanthat, can you? No,thought not.GOSFORTHThe choice of the intelligentstudent, Gosforth, althoughfurther out, is extremely pleasantwith large houses, reasonableprices and a friendly community.Could you get muchbetter? Well, no, but thereare a lot of families living in thearea, so if you’re not the mostconsiderate of students, thenmaybe you need to sort yourselfout before going to live there. Likewith an ASBO.JESMONDClean, safe streets, close to theUniversity, good shops, plenty ofpubs to choose from, masses ofstudents living in the area...soundsperfect? Ooh, it’s tresbien. So where’s the catch? Ina word, moolah. Sadly, rents aregenerally between £50-£75 andthey seem to go up yearly, so don’tsign up for a Jesmond palace if itmeans the bank manager will beknocking on your door.SANDYFORDIt’s basically Jesmond. But calledSandyford and for this reasonalone it is cheaper. It’s arguablya bit closer to Uni, but it slightlyfurther away from Jesmond’s“Osbourne Road” set of bars.(No Freshers’ Week is completewithout an Osbourne Road PubCrawl. Or a Whitley Bay Pub Crawl.Or a Central Station Pub...butenough of that.) It doesn’t quitehave the facilities of Jesmondbut it is a cheaperalternative.Can’t say fairerthan that, can you?No, thought not.10 Alternative Prospectus 07/08 Alternative Prospectus 07/08 11

If you’re into sport,you’ll be pleasedto hear (or readeven) that our dearUni is amongst thiscountry’s best!The University’s Athletic Union(AU) is made up of a massive61 sports clubs that cater foreveryone from total beginner toelite athlete. Newcastleis renowned forits strong sportingperformances –the Uni even gives everyoneWednesday afternoons off for sport!The AU is run by the AU President,one of the Union SabbaticalOfficers who is elected every year.He or she works closely with theUniversity Centre for PhysicalRecreation and Sport, which isbased in the spangly new gymwhich opened in 2005.You can use thebrand spankingnew, fullyequippedcardiovascularsuite andresistance weightsroom, sports hall,other indoor multi-purpose sportsareas, and much more, for a veryreasonable fee.If your particular forte isn’t cateredfor (although it most probably willbe), then you can also start yourown club. University is an ideal timeto take up a new sport or carryon with the sport you played atschool, whether you want to playcompetitively, build fitness, or justhave a laugh, there’ssomething foreveryone.As you can probably guess, thefun doesn’t have to stop when thewhistle blows either. Many sportsclubs have a rollicking good socialaspect under their fitness belts,with regular pub crawls,dinners, balls etc. Plus there’s themassive AU Ball, which you’d bean absolute nutterto miss...Intra MuralThe Uni also runs Intra Muralleagues in a range of sports,allowing groups of people fromacross campus to come together,have a laugh, and play some sport,without the commitment of thebig leagues. Sound good?Here’s a look atthe murky worldof Intra Muralfooty...If the thought of freezing yourballs off in a December gale sostrong that the keeper’s goalkicksare going backwards is anappealing one, then Newcastle’sIntra Mural football leagues are foryou. Intra Mural leagues are alsorun for rugby, netball, and mixedhockey. So whatever floats yourboat you’ve got the chance to getinvolved – whatever your ability.Intra Mural football leagues havebeen running since the ‘60s, andexist to give hundreds of studentsa game of footy twice a weekon Wednesdays and Saturdays.Stereotypical amateur footballers(we won’t pass comment on theprofessionals), are fat, pissed,Jimmy Five-Bellies types. Youdon’t tend to see them playing inthe IM leagues though – they’reusually the refs. And whilst youmight laugh, the leagues are luckyto have refs organised – most IntraMural leagues at other Unis don’tbother. And another stereotype.Amateur-league pitches aretypically mud-laden, wind-whippedswamps. Not in the Uni leagues;they are without a doubt some ofthe best looked-after pitches you’llplay on in the North East. Shamewe can’t do anything about thewind though.All in all, playing in the Intra Muralleagues is really good craic.And because students are soft,you’re more likelyto get injured inthe Bigg Market ona Saturday than you areon an Intra Mural pitch. Trials forthe various teams, which are oftenbased in Halls or schools, takeplace at the beginning of the year.Every December sees the annualintervarsity face off, The StanCalvert Trophy, where the Unicompete against the other localUni over the road, NorthumbriaUniversity (affectionately knownas ‘the Poly’). A crazedbattle, it’s likeWest Side Story, butwith rugby balls and hockey sticksinstead of guns. Takingplace across over40 disciplines, battlerages throughout one day, with thecentrepiece being the rugby final.Held at Gateshead Stadium, thisgives both sets of supportersan ideal opportunity to singsemi-abusive songsat each other for one hugelygratifying evening. It’s the simplepleasures in life, you know. Thewinners get a great big trophyand bragging rights for the year.At the moment Northumbria havemanaged to get their sneaky littlehands on the hallowed trophyhandles, but don’t worry, we’llbe back with a vengeance!12 Alternative Prospectus 07/08Alternative Prospectus 07/08 13

AikidoAmerican FootballArcheryAthletics & Cross CountryBadmintonBasketball (Men’s)Basketball (Women’s)Boat ClubBoxingCanoeCanoe PoloCavingClay Pigeon ShootingCricket (Men’s)Cricket (Women’s)DodgeballFencingFootball (Men’s)Football (Women’s)GolfHapkidoHockey (Men’s)Hockey (Women’s)Ice HockeyJu JitsuJudoKarate (Shotokan)KartingLacrosse (Men’s)Lacrosse (Women’s)LifesavingMountain BikeMountaineeringNetballOrienteeringParachutingPool and SnookerRidingRifleRugby (Men’s)Rugby (Women’s)Rugby LeagueSailingSki & SnowboardSquash (Men’s)Squash (Women’s)Sub AquaSurfSwimmingTable TennisTae Kwon DoTennis (Men’s)Tennis (Women’s)Tenpin BowlingThai BoxingTrampolineUltimate FrisbeeVolleyball (Men’s)Volleyball (Women’s)WindsurfingWater PoloYou’re a student if…You haven’t done your laundry for so long you wear your pyjamas to lectures.You wear the same socks thirteen days in a row without washing them.You are personally keeping the local pizza place from bankruptcy.Your breakfast consists of cold pizza on the way to lectures.Your idea of feeding the poor is buying yourself a pot noodle.You can sleep through your roommate’s blaring stereo.Your bin is overflowing and your bank account isn’t.Your social life consists of a date with the library.You get more sleep in lectures than in your room.You typically have less than a quid with you.It takes a shovel to find the floor of your room.You only ring home when the money runs out.Your house is so cold your toilet freezes over.You wake up 10 minutes before lectures.You average 3 hours of sleep a night.You celebrate when you find 10p.Whilst at University, some of these statements may apply to you, it doesn’t have to be this way.There is no such thing as a typical student. When you get to University you can be whoever you want to be, sojust be true to yourself and you will have the best time ever!14 Alternative Prospectus 07/08

If the societyyou want to joindoesn’t exist it’sreally easy to setup your ownThe Union currentlyhas over 100 studentsocieties rangingfrom Accountancyand AmnestyInternational toSurgical and SwingDance. With sucha diverse rangeof wildlife (readpeople) at theUni, it’s hardlysurprising thatthere are so manydifferent groups.Societies areformed for loadsof weird yettotally viablereasons. Some are forcourses such as the GeographySociety or the Politics Society.Others offer support, such as theLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and TransSociety, and the Postgraduate andMature Student Society, whilstothers offer the chance to do funfilledactivities such as fellwalking,acting (Newcastle UniversityTheatre Society) or watching thebig screen (Film Society). Sweet.Joining a society is a great way tomeet people who like the samethings as you, whether it’s goodfood or films, politics or religion,wine or real ale. It’s easyto find the one youneed, the notice boards on thefirst floor of the Union building havefull details, including when andwhere they meet, and how often.If there aren’t any meetingsarranged there will be contactdetails so you can find out exactlywhat’s going on.You can also check out theUnion Society website for a listof all societies and links to theire-mail addresses and websites.You can also join up on thewebsite. If the societyyou want to joindoesn’t exist it’sreally easy to setup your own, all youneed are 15 people who feel aspassionately as you do aboutyour chosen topic (whatever itis, from cheese to communism)and you’re almost done. TheClubs and Societies Clerk in theUnion can explain the rest. In anutshell, societiesare pretty damncool – fun andskills in a neatlittle package.societiesAccountancyAgent (Anglo German)AgriculturalAIESCAmnesty InternationalArchaeologyArchitecturalBio SciBiologyBreakfast Club (Breakdancing)CaledonianCatholicChangeringersCEG (Civil Eng & Geomatics)Chemical EngineeringChessChinese StudentsChinese Students & ScholarsCircus SkillsClassic SocietyCombined StudiesCommunicationsComputing & Information SystemsConservationConservative FutureDanceDance MusicDebatingDriversEconomicsEgyptianEldon (Law)Eng Soc (English)Fancy Dress & CocktailFellwalkingFilm MakingFriends of PalestineFringeGeographyGilbert & SullivanGuinness & Real AleHeritage, Arts & MuseumsHistoryHitchHong KongICCHS Gallery & Culture ClubIndieIndonesianInternationalIranianIrish DanceIslamicLatin and BallroomLGBT SocietyLiberal DemocraticsLink Society (St. John Ambulance)MalaysianManagementMardi GrasMasters ResearchMathsMauritianMechanical EngineeringMedsinMedics ReviewModern LanguagesMotor SportMusicNeighboursNewphys (Physics)NorwegianNUTSOmaniParasitologyPeople & PlanetPharmaologyPhotographicPlanningPokerPoliticsPolish to UKPostgrad & MatureProjections (Film)PsychologyRailway SocietyRockRon Burgundy AppreciationSaudiScout and GuideShocksocSingaporeSociologySouth AsianStar (Student Action for Refugees)Stop AidsStudent OrchestraSwing DanceSurgicalSyrianThaiTwenty Minute ClubUnicefWet Soc (Marine Tech)Wilderness MedicsWindbandWineYogaZoologyAlternative Prospectus 07/08 17

going to uni isall about havingthe time of yourlife right?The StudentAdvice CentreGoing to Uni is all about havingthe time of your life, right? Well,not always. Althoughyou’re free to dowhatever youwant, hanging out withloads of new people, beingmore independent and tryinghundreds of new things everyday can sometimes be a little bitoverwhelming. As Oasis sang, ‘I’mfree to be whatever I, whatever Ichoose, but I’ll sing the blues if Iwant.’ That’s where the StudentAdvice Centre (SAC) comes in.They can give advice on yourcourse, your financial situation,housing and accommodationissues or anything else thatmight be worrying you. So if youdecide you’d rather be studyingShakespeare than molecularstructure, want to find out whathappens if you fail an exam, howyou’re going to manage on thatrapidly depletingoverdraft or what youcan do about your gruesomelandlord, check out the SAC on thefirst floor of the Union.Night BusWhy not donate a mere 50p forhaving the luxury of being pickedup from campus and dropped atyour doorstep? Much cheaperthan a taxi and far more convenientthan the bus or the Metro. We feelthat whether you’ve been out, anddrank away your taxi fare, or beenbeavering away in the library ‘tillate, we should get you home atthe end of the night, just to makeyour life that little bit easier.NightlineRun completely by students,Nightline is an invaluableconfidential listening andinformation service for students.Running from 8pm-8am every nightin term-time, trained students arethere to help you out when you’rein a tizz and need someone to talkto. In addition to this they can giveyou a wealth of information fromtaxi numbers to exam timetables tocinema times.Job ShopThe student Job Shop in the Unionis a great place to look for parttimework. Specialising in jobs of16 hours a week or less, the JobShop will be able to find yousomething to fit around your study.With everything from bar, shop andcall-centre work to carer, translatorand tutoring positions, there’sSTUDENTbound to be something that ticklesyour fancy. For the opportunity tomake your wallet jangle that littlebit more, check out the Job Shopon the first floor of the Unionbuilding, or get yourself towww.unionsociety.co.ukFinanceThe cost of living in Newcastle isrelatively low compared to otherUK cities, which is great news forstudents! However, for many ofyou, coming to University will bethe first time that you’ve had tomanage your own finances, andyou may want a little guidance.But don’t worry, you canstill afford tohave fun, as long asyou’re a bit sensible and budget.This means balancing eating thisweek or buying those really niceshoes from Office. I know whichI’d choose, and it wouldn’t be thesensible option. (What, a girl can’tlove her shoes?!)we should get youhome at the end ofthe night, just tomake your life thatlittle bit easier.The Student Advice Centre canhelp you to plan a budget and giveuseful tips on how to survive on ashoestring, which doesn’t mean,contrary to popular belief, thatyou’ll have to eatbaked beans everynight. Costs depend on yourlifestyle and interests – don’t gotoo mad and you’ll be fine. For astudent who finds themselves infinancial difficulty there is help athand. A generous hardship grantscheme is available to supportstudents that meet the criteria –helping them get out of the red. Forfull details on the financial supportavailable, including student loans,bursaries and additional grants,take a look at the University’swebsite: www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/financeLGBTNewcastle has a fantasticcommunity for welcomingevery sexualityand genderidentity. Aside fromproviding an elected Lesbian, Gay,Bi and Trans Officer, the Unionruns an active LGBT Societywhich provides a safe space forself-identifying LGBT students, orthose that are curious and wouldlike to be involved. The societymeets weekly and organises lots ofsocial events such as their annualpilgrimage to Manchester or therecent BFG night (Big, Friendly, andGay are they).UniversityServicesThe University complementsthe Union by providinga wide range ofsupport services.They’ve got specific services formature students, postgraduatestudents, student parents andstudents with disabilities. Inaddition, they have a counsellingservice which offers one-to-oneand e-counselling, enabling youto talk through any concerns youmay have. There’s also an activeChaplaincy, where people of allfaiths or none are welcome toattend, seek advice and take partin activities, as well as a mosquein the centre of campus. Togetherwith the local Council and thePolice, the University and the Unionwork hard on student safety andcrime prevention, and Newcastleis one of the safest universitycampuses in the UK.20 Alternative Prospectus 07/08

Quite a lot of your first questions involvenightlife…What’s it like? Where’s best togo? But just so you know, life’s not alwaysabout nocturnal partying, there’s stuff todo in the day too!The Angel ofthe NorthThis 54m tall rusty, rather scarysculpture by artist AnthonyGormley, is the first thing that yousee if you enter Newcastle by car.Do as friends of ours did and takea midnight road trip, it’s theschnizzle.The BALTICThe BALTIC Centre forContemporary Art is pretty muchthe first thing you should see afterthe Angel. Giving the Tate Moderna run for its money, it’s the biggestart space in Europe and is worthvisiting for the view from the topalone. Having recently housed suchnationally recognised exhibitionsas the acclaimed graffiti exhibitionSpank the Monkey, (of whichBanksy was a part),this is the perfect place for all theart gallaristas amongst you. The giftshop is also pretty cool.The SageAttack of the giant slug, arrgghh!Wait, it’s just The Sage Gatesheadmusic centre. This living structureis home to the University’s folkmusic course. Recent gigs includeJoanna Newsom, ReginaSpektor, RyanAdams and James Taylor toname but a few. If you can’t makeit to one of the night time soirees,you can take a peek for free duringthe day.Museums &GalleriesIf your loan is rapidly depleting butyou’re really bored and the sightof your room is killing you, there’splenty of free stuff about to cheeryou up. First off, you only needwander around campus to get yourfill of museums. The Museum ofAntiquities is the main museum fornearby Hadrian’s Wall, and boastsa University shop. The adjoiningShefton Museum houses animpressive range of Greek artefacts.The Hatton Gallery is alsoUniversity-based, it showcasesmodern art work as well as poetryreadings and art classes for schoolchildren, and is home tothe University’seclectic mix of artstudents. The HancockNatural History museum, next tothe University’s Robinson Library,is currently undergoing majorrenovation, but should be back upand running by 2009. The DiscoveryMuseum is off campus headingtowards Blandford Square. Hereyou’ll find documentation on localfashion, and social and maritimehistory. At the Laing Art Gallery atthe bottom of town it’s a bit moreclassic, permanently housing 18thand 19th century paintings, as wellas varying exhibitions throughoutthe year. If you’re up for walking abit further, the Biscuit Factory in theOuseburn Valley is a funky space,home to modern art work, all ofwhich is for sale.The Centrefor LifeSituated next to nightclub Digital,this centre for learning is twominutes from Central Station.It is kind of likeEureka (in Halifax) only notquite as fun, but it’s still worth themeander down.TheatreIt’s a thespian’s delight inNewcastle, with the Theatre Royaland the newly opened NorthernStage. Theatre Royal is home to anannual Royal ShakespeareCompany season, amongst arange of other plays, whilstNorthern Stage hosts new writingalongside Chekhov’s classics, andis conveniently located on theUnion’s doorstep. It’s also worthchecking out NUTS’ (NewcastleUniversity Theatre Society) efforts,from Macbeth to Tipping theVelvet, to their much anticipatedannual panto.ShoppingNewcastle is awesome forshopping – the only thing we’relacking is a Harvey Nic’s. Whetheryou go down to NorthumberlandStreet or venture across to theMetroCentre, you’ll be able tospend a small country’s budget onclothes. Check out the boutiqueson High Bridge street and thebig department stores like JohnLewis and Fenwicks for all yourretail needs.Exhibition Park/Leazes Park /Jesmond DeneMany students are enticed toNewcastle because swappingwellies for heels is so damn easy;you can enjoy city life whilst stillsurrounded by lots of greenery!There are several parks scatteredacross the Toon; Leazes Park isclose to Uni accommodation andincludes a playground, lake, tenniscourts and basketball courts. Italso hosts the free hippy-esqueGreen Festival in June. ExhibitionPark is near the med school andboasts a skate park, and thenthere’s the Dene, home ofPet’s Corner andamazing scenery.Eating OutWe’ve covered the grub availablearound the Union and Universitycampus (see a few pages time…)but there’s also the rest of theToon to consider! There’s loads ofgreat places to grab sandwiches,as well as top notch eateries fora cheap dinner, like Prima Pastanear the Quayside, or Curry Capitalon the Bigg Market (note to self:If you’re on first name terms withthe owners of such establishmentsyou might be eating out a bit toomuch). It’s also worth checkingout some of the swankier joints ifthe parents want to take you out.McCoys at the top of the Balticis stunning, as are Fisherman’sLodge and Jesmond DeneHouse. The Cluny, The Forth,and Tilley’s all do great Sundaylunches for when you’refeeling homesick.SportFinally, you can’t talk aboutthe Toon without mentioningNewcastle United. Theboys in black andwhite are heroworshipped inthese parts, but there’sa lot more to Newcastle’s sportinglandscape than footie. TheNewcastle Falcons, complete withJonny Wilkinson at the time ofwriting, compete in rugby union’stop flight. Ice hockey is representedby the Newcastle Vipers, whilst theNewcastle Eagles basketballteam topped their league in the2005/6 season.22 Alternative Prospectus 07/08Alternative Prospectus 07/08 23

UNIONThe students’ Union has many atreat to offer the thirsty student;with six bars spread overfour floors, you’re sure to findsomewhere to have a lovely time.The Mens Bar is usually the busiestbar in the Union during the week,with special offers throughout theday and into the evenings. Thename comes from the Union’smotto: Mens Agitat Molem (or‘mind over matter’), so it’s notactually a haven for sexist pigs ora gay bar – but of course, all arewelcome. The Mens Bar is theperfect place for a quick afternoonpint after lectures or a fewcheap DRINKS on anevening before heading into town.When night falls the Bass:ment isthe main gig venue. Over the yearsmany top bands have graced thestage, from Lily Allen to BedouinSoundclash to Badly Drawn Boy.It’s also home to the NewcastleUniversity Theatre Society’ (NUTS)Christmas panto. Head upstairs toThe Global Cafe where on a Fridaynight you can get krunked up withyour hoes and homiesto the sounds of Missy Elliott, MarkMorrison and Snoop Dogg asSolution transforms the top floorinto the R&B room.Solution is the Union’s big Fridaynight; with all six bars open andthree main music venues, there’ssomething for everyone, especiallyif you like cheap pints, Skittles andVK Cherry! Solution has weeklythemes including School Discos,Pyjama Parties, Emergency Services,Oscars Night and many more,although if you’re too cool for school,dressing as a fool is not obligatory.Whatever your taste in music, withindie and rock in B:eats, cheddarycheese in the Bass:ment and R&Bin the Global, you’ll find somewhereto dance the night away. And ifdancing’s not your thing, the MensBar, Cochrane Lounge and GreenRoom provide a calm oasis and abar ‘til 2am.Also check out our ever popularmonthly indie and soul night,Brighton Beach, on Saturdays, andthe highlight of the social calendar,Arcane. This charity extravaganza,held once a term, attracts 1,800 tosample the very best in top tunes,sweaty dancing, ice pops andsweeties until 5am.ON THE TOONIf you’re up for a good night out, it’svery hard to beat Newcastle. Rated– by a US company – as one ofthe top ten cities in theworld for partying, there’s a lot outthere for every taste.Bars: Geordie attitude turnson the old saying, ‘work hard, playhard’. It’s all about the playing. Beit the legendary Bigg Market, thebuzzing Gate complex, the swankywatering holes of the Quayside orGrey Street, the cosmopolitan barsof Jesmond’s Osborne Road orthe area around Central Station,there is opportunity for everyone toplay as hard as they like as oftenas they like, usually at a price moststudents can afford.Clubs: Newcastle is famousfor its dancing venues, and with somany to choose from it’s not hardto see why. The most notoriousstudent nights are held throughoutthe week at Blu Bambu, TigerTiger, Liquid, Baja Beach Club,and Attic. We used to havethe legendary Tuxedo Princess(affectionately known as ‘TheBoat’), a permanent floating fixtureon the Quayside with a somewhatperilous revolving dance floor.Nasty people have closed it down,but no doubt it’ll be back…For the more serious clubber, theNewcastle scene has rocketedto success in recent years withthe launch of numerous highlyacclaimed club events. Shindig,now in its thirteenth year, still hasthe edge as it continues to attracta huge variety of big name DJswith Erick Morillo, Roger Sanchez,Sister Bliss, Steve Lawler andDanny Rampling among those tohave graced their decks. Othernotable nights include any Friday orSaturday at World Headquarters,(who’ve also hosted Zane Loweand Mark Ronson), Wax:On,and of course the termlydancetacular Arcaneat the Union.Gigs: Along with the great pubsand clubs offered by Newcastlecomes a great music scene. Thecity has no shortage of venues, frompubs showing local bands to placesthat regularly host acts known bothnationally and worldwide.Everything else:The gay scene is well served in thecity’s ‘Pink Triangle’ (behind theCentre for Life), with Powerhousethe most popular nightclub, havingopened its doors to the likes ofHolly Valance and Lisa Scott-Lee.On top of this, Newcastle hostsa comedy festival, loads of plays,huge concerts at the worldfamousMetroRadio Arena and,if you fancy a quieter night, thereare two cinemas in town aswell, including the kitschTyneside Cinema;tres arthouse.24 Alternative Prospectus 07/08

Beaches!I know the words sun, seaand surf may not be the first toenter your head when you’rethinking of Newcastle, butyou’d be surprisedhow beautifulthe North Eastcoastline is. Althoughnot quite the Spanish Riviera, it’sa haven for surfers, sun-seekers,drinkers looking for a change ofscenery on a Bank Holiday, andthose with nothing better to doafter exams. Nearby beacheslike Tynemouth’s Longsands,and Whitley Bay are a populardestination for students andlocals. Check out the antiques fleamarket, appearing every weekendon the platforms of TynemouthStation – worth a look to playspot the bargain – and in winter,enjoy the novelty of seaside fishand chips whilst wrapped in yourwoollies.Blue ReefAquariumRock on to Tynemouth and marvelat the huge(!) ugly crabs and crazyseahorses which look like theybelong in The Life Aquatic, and ifyou’re feeling especially childish,have your face painted.Wet & WildNot only does the North East haveEurope’s largest indoor shoppingcentre, it also has Europe’smost excitingindoor water park.Hop on the Metro (or persuadesomeone with a car it’s a goodidea) and judge for yourself; thereare 10 water rides varying from‘giggling like a baby’ to ‘oh my godI’m going to die.’The MetroCentreThis indoor shopping centre claimsto be the largest inEurope. The new sectionincludes a Mango and a Gap,which we don’t have in the towncentre. There’s also a mini themepark to play in, if you’re feeling alittle silly.DurhamJust a ten-minute train ride away.Be wary of all the Oxford andCambridge rejects that engulf thecity with pashminas and chinos,but otherwise enjoy the beautifulcathedral, markets and quieternightlife our neighbour has to offer.Nice place to take the parents ona road trip.SunderlandThe Mackems hate Newcastleand vice versa, (something todo with football) but if you canstand the ridicule, ride the Metroto Sunderland. Check out theNational Glass Centre whichboasts a glass blowing tour,on which you can learn aboutblowing, rimming, and the gloryhole. Seriously. Sunderland WinterGardens and the Stadiumof Light are alsoworth a gander.AlnwickMake like a wizard,hop on yourbroomstick andland at beautifulAlnwick Castle, whereHarry Potter is filmed. If you’ve notpassed your flying test yet, the busis also an option. Be sure to checkout Barter Books as well, a secondhand bookstore set in a quaint oldrailway station.organicmealoptions tofuel yourlecturenote takingBetween lectures it’simportant to keepyour energy levelsup. Of course thereis nowhere betterto do this than yourlovely Union andaround our spiffingUniversity campus.It’s all changein the Union thisyear. To reflect the growingtrend towards healthier options,your Union will be investing in atop-floor eatery with veggie,Fairtrade, organic meal options tofuel your lecture note taking.You’ll also be able to sample foodsfrom around the world with a dailyglobal special – choose from Indian,Chinese, Italian and much more.On the ground floor there’ll bea Grab & Go cold foodsection with smoothies and juicesto quench your thirst for learning,and last but not least, check outCampus Coffee close by,which serves Fairtradecoffee and Paninis.If you fancy stodge and healthyis not your bag (maybeyou’re hungover),there’s plenty of vending machinesand the Union’s lovelyshop which can provide youwith your fill of crisps and choccy.Lastly, if you fancy a walk throughthe Quad, the University’sCourtyard is also worth a gander,although a tad more expensive.26 Alternative Prospectus 2008 Alternative Prospectus07/08 27

the libraryat Newcastleis such a darnfine placeAs we said before,you can get all youracademic info fromthe UndergraduateProspectus. But, weshould mention thatthing, err, what isit? The main reasonyou cometo Uni? Oh yes,your degree.The Uni is split intothree faculties,HASS (Humanities and SocialSciences), Medical Sciences andSAGE (Science, Agriculture andEngineering). Which faculty youbelong to will determine how youwork and how much work you do.Or at least, what style you do it in.For instance, students in HASStend to have significantly fewerlectures than those in the other twofaculties, making them the envy ofthe University. Obviouslyall of this extra time allows formuch studying inClub Robbo (aka TheRobinson Library). Us BA studentsoften get the mick taken out us fornot working as hard, but we do.Don’t let them tell you different. Itis the view of many BSc studentsthat if you achieve a BSc, theyshould offer you a BA as well outof politeness. Because you clearlycould have got one if you wanted...(Don’t listen to Jen – I was slavingon 30 hours contact time aweek whilst she was watchingNeighbours – Adam).If you’re part of the Med School,sorry kids but you’ll prettymuch have to be DollyParton every dayof the week (nine tofive). But to make up for this slog,you also tend to be the ones whoparty the hardest. As for yourfacilities, the school is based aboutfive minutes walk from the maincampus, which means you getyour own library and cafe. Youlucky sods.Contact time for students from theFaculty of Science, Agriculture andEngineering varies, but you’re likelyto have a fairly hefty week. Thisfaculty that has recently formed apartnership with Newcastle CityCouncil and One NorthEast, theregional development agency,to create ‘Science Central’, anambitious science, business andeducation complex in Newcastlecity centre. The best advice we cangive when it comes to your degreeis to make sure you’re as sure asyou can be that you’ve picked theright course. If you’re not interestedin the topic you won’t do the work,simple as.Don’t panic too much though, youdo have some opportunity to chopand change if you get here andfind your not doing quite the rightcourse for you. If this happens,come to the Student AdviceCentre in the Union, we’llsort you out, don’tworry.Also, getting a job isn’t all abouta degree these days, it’sabout what elseyou’ve done. If you wantto be the best in a job interview,you’re going to have to havebeen somewhere other thanthe lecture room and the library.That’s where the Union stepsin giving you loads of voluntarywork experience opportunitieslike being a Freshers’ or RAGCrew member, running a sportsteam or society, or becoming aUnion Officer. It’s this sort of stuffthat will get your head above therest and it’s somethingNewcastle doesreally well. So don’tjust look at a league table andassume that that’s the best placeto go if you want a good job, itdoesn’t work like that anymore!That’s right, you dohave to do somework sometimes.Luckily Newcastlehas some damnfine facilities, so youcan get your workdone quicker inorder to have moretime off!As a first year, you’ll think of theRobinson Library as somewherewhere sad third years without asocial life go because they’ve gotdissertations towrite until 4amevery morning. You’llsmile smugly to yourself, thinkthat you might be like that oneday, then go down the pub for thetwentieth night in a row.Fast-forward two years and youARE that third year student withwork coming out ofYOUR ears. Good job foryou that the library at Newcastle issuch a darn fine place then!Proud possessor of a CharterMark of Excellence, the library hasfour floors, shed loads of desks towork at, photocopiers, access todatabases, and of course the oddbook or two (million). It also housesthe largest computer cluster in theUniversity so you can type up thatessay as you go along. The librarycatalogue is fully computerised,and the most popular textbooksare placed in a special areawhere loans are limited to fouror 24 hour periods, so thesame lucky buggerdoesn’t hog all thebooks. There’s also a greatcafé where you can get some gruband a caffeine hit, whinge to yourmates about who’s got the mostwork, and try to remember what itwas like to be a care-free fresherback in the day.As computery things go, theUni does quite well. In fact,computers areeverywherearound campus inmost subject areas,the library, and various otherplaces. There’s even 24 houraccess to selected computerclusters for those who prefer the‘high-on-Pro-Plus-all-night-essaybinge’approach. The PCs are allnetworked, so you can accessyour work from any Uni computer(and now even from home if youdownload the right software), andthe bigger clusters have helpdesks,which can be useful if you’retearing your hair out ‘cos you’vegot an essay deadline at 4pm andit won’t print.28 Alternative Prospectus 07/08

OK, we’re nearly atthe end now. We’resure you’ve guessedby now that there’sshedloads to dohere at Newcastle.Here’s the lowdownon someextra services theUniversity offer tohelp you get themost out of yourtime here...ncl+University is much more than justa degree. With more and morepeople choosing to go to University,you’re going to need more thanjust academic qualifications tosecure your dream job. That’swhy it’s important to start thinkingabout your future after Universitynow. Students at Newcastle get areally good head start because ofthe wide range of non-academicservices, which are tied togetherin the ’ncl+’ network. This makesit easier for you to see the widerange of opportunities that we have,whether it’s continuing a passion orstarting something new. It coversall aspects of student developmentfrom sports to volunteering to mediaexperience to charity work. In fact,almost everything covered in thisprospectus!The idea behind ncl+ is thateverything you get involved in atUniversity gives you valuableexperience and skills,which will make you moreemployable when yougraduate. No universitycan promise that you’llget a job at the end of yourdegree. At least at Newcastlewe can guarantee that we’llgive you the best startpossible.CareersIt sounds boring we know andit’s not something you even wantto think about until you’ve got toUniversity, but the Careers Servicecan provide you with loads of helpthroughout your time at Uni, fromgiving advice on what moduleswould suit your future profession,to helping you to create agleaming CV. Newcastle’sCareer Service is top-notch andregularly wins national awards(Winner of the Institute of CareerGuidance National Awards 2001,2002, 2004).The Business Start-Up Support Teamare here to helpyou turn your ideainto your business.Here to help you turn YOURidea into YOUR business. Thisexciting service supports students’entrepreneurial skills and freshthinking, whilst at the sametime providing a greatexperience whichis really good fun,and makes you look great toprospective employers. Regularnetworking events help students tomake valuable contacts with local,national and even internationalbusiness leaders.Students atNewcastleget a reallygood headstartSo, this is us signing off, waving ourhankies, goodbye, farewell, au revoir, untilwe meet again… which we will, becauseyou MUST come to Newcastle!Choose well lovely people, you’re gonnabe spending the next few years of your lifein your university town.Much love, Jen & Adam xxxTHanksJen & Adam would like to sendlots of gratitude, hugs and kissesto the following: Our fellow officersAnthony Keane, Julia Moore,Sophie Nicolaysen, and AliceWainwright, The Freshers’ WeekOrganisers Cat, Chris, Laura & Tim,SRO at the University, particularlythe lovely Helen Meehan, TheCourier team for photos and muchpatience, The Union geeks whochecked our info, Mens Bar andthe General Office, who rock.30 Alternative Prospectus 07/08Alternative Prospectus 07/08 31

For more information go towww.unionsociety.co.uk or www.ncl.ac.ukTo chat to current and prospective students,go to: www.unionsociety.co.uk/messageboard32 Alternative Prospectus 2008