Why study in Newcastle?

Newcastle is a vibrant, multicultural city known for its stunning beaches, lively creative community, and entertainment all year round. With nature, art, fun and history, Newcastle is a city to suit everyone’s tastes! The second largest city in the state of New South Wales, Greater Newcastle is home to over 611,000 residents making it larger than cities such as Canberra, Wollongong, Hobart and Darwin.

Which campus will I study at?

NUspace, Newcastle city campus

All bridging courses are held in NUspace campus in the heart of Newcastle City. This includes Foundation Studies courses, Express Preparation courses, Academic English courses, and credit-bearing business and commerce courses.

Take a NUspace campus tour or check out at an interactive 3D tour of NUspace to see where you could be studying!

Callaghan campus

Degree Transfer and Pre-Master’s students studying in fields other than business and commerce will complete their credit-bearing courses at our main campus, Callaghan.

Take a Callaghan campus tour or navigate your way around the second largest campus in Australia via this interactive 2D map.

Post study work opportunities

International students may be able to continue to live and work full time in Australia temporarily, after graduating from the University of Newcastle. Graduates are not guaranteed a post-study work visa and must meet strict criteria. There is also a fee involved.

You can apply for a post-study work visa if:

  • you are under 50 years of age
  • you hold an eligible visa
  • you have recently completed an eligible qualification, and
  • you meet the study requirements outlined by the Australian government.

For more information on the options available to international students in Australia, see the Temporary Graduate visa information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Additional benefits for Newcastle students

Newcastle has been classified as a regional area for migration purposes. This means that graduates who are granted a Post Study Work Visa are eligible for an extra year on top of the standard 2 years of residency and work rights (3 years total). Those graduating from the Ourimbah campus on the NSW Central Coast are eligible for an additional 2 years (4 years in total), which is the maximum possible in Australia.

Newcastle is the main city of the Hunter Region which is the most populated area in New South Wales after Greater Sydney. The Hunter Region is the biggest regional economy in Australia – worth more to the Australian economy than Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

Eligible students who choose to study and then continue to live in Newcastle or the Central Coast will benefit from:

  • priority processing and access to one of 25,000 dedicated regional visa places
  • access to a wide list of occupations that qualify for a visa
  • the ability to apply for a second Temporary Graduate visa with an additional 1-2 years of post-study work rights.

Explore Newcastle

Outdoor

If you love the outdoors, you will love Newcastle’s beautiful coastline and it’s many sandy beaches – think Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach, Merewether Beach...and these are only the ones within a 3km radius of the College and NUspace campus! If you’re not a beach bum, not to worry – we have outdoor adventures for you too! Around Newcastle you can find plenty of walking tracks, parks and playgrounds where to enjoy a hike, walk, picnic or BBQ with the whole family.

Shopping

If you want to spend a day of shopping or simply need groceries, Newcastle can offer three main shopping centres: Marketown Shopping Centre, walking distance from the NUspace campus, Westfield Kotara and Charlestown Square.Here you will find everything from entertainment to international cuisine, boutique shops and big retailer chains. And just a few minutes from the College, Darby Street offers an eclectic choice of small local shops, restaurants and bars – perfect for relaxing after a day of heavy studying, or simply for a quick lunch break.

Entertainment

Each of Newcastle’s precincts offers various entertainment options – from museums and art galleries, to theatres, sport and a vibrant international nightlife. Enjoy a meal on the foreshore at the new Honeysuckle precinct, live music in one of Newcastle’s many pubs and music venues, or watch a performance at Civic Theatre – you can do all this and more within walking distance of the College!

Need more friendly advice on what to do in Newcastle? The Newcastle Visitor Information Centre is located just a few minutes from the College.

The Hunter Region

Perfectly located to access some of New South Wales’ most beautiful areas, Newcastle can boast to be less than an hour’s drive away from places like the picturesque wineries of the Hunter Valley, the shores of Australia’s largest salt water lake at Lake Macquarie, the beautiful natural sights of Port Stephens...and many more!

Getting around

Getting around Newcastle is easy – all you need is an Opal card from Transport NSW. Opal cards are valid to travel on train, trams and buses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra and you can purchase them at most convenience stores and newsagencies.