Employability boosts record application numbers

More students have applied to study at Northumbria University than in any other year since it opened.

Applications are up by 2,000, nearly 7%, outperforming the sector where the average increase has been just 2.8%.

Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “We are very encouraged by these numbers. We believe it shows that students are looking to the future and want to attend a university that will help them secure high quality employment or further advanced study on graduation.”

Applications have increased in a wide range of subjects including law, business, education, arts, humanities and nursing.

Professor Wathey said: “We work hard to attract talented young people. We are prepared to invest to help students overcome financial challenges.”

Northumbria University’s bursaries and scholarship package, already one of the most generous in the country, has been increased to £16 million.

“Employability is central. We work with many employers to ensure that we understand what they are looking for from graduates. Our teaching programmes have a real-world focus,” said Professor Wathey.

Northumbria University has more employer partnerships than almost any other university in the country and has the highest graduate employability record in the North East of England.

Northumbria University has invested £200 million in its impressive city campus in the centre of Newcastle, voted the best student city for three consecutive years. It has also recently published an ambitious vision to enable it to secure its future.

Professor Wathey said: “We are now working on a better and more ambitious vision for the future. We are continuing to combine academic quality and a real-world focus with leading-edge teaching and research.

“We are confident that today’s and tomorrow’s students will find that Northumbria University will ensure they are fit to take their place and be successful in an increasingly competitive global economy.”