Meet and Greet is a friendly and welcoming free service offered to new Northumbria University students arriving into Newcastle prior to the start of their course.
Arriving into a new country from the other side of the world is an exciting opportunity, but it can also be a challenging experience. Experiencing a new language and a new culture and finding your way around can seem quite daunting.
By booking with the Northumbria ‘Meet and Greet Service’ we can put your mind at rest that current Northumbria students will assist you with the journey to your accommodation after you arrive in Newcastle.
We expect to be able to offer the normal Meet and Greet service at the moment, in which we will meet you at Newcastle International Airport and arrange transport to your accommodation. However, we will be closely monitoring social distancing advice and if this is not possible then our Meet and Greet officers will liaise with you by email and/or phone prior to and after your arrival to arrange transport to your accommodation.
You must book the Meet and Greet service at least 7 days before arriving into Newcastle so that we can arrange safe transportation to your accommodation.
If you are arriving into Newcastle after the enrolment date this term and you have not had prior agreement from your Faculty, then please read this important article on your Student Portal: Understanding attendance requirement dates for international students. If you cannot access your Student Portal at this time, please submit a query to our Ask4Help service using this contact form.
Meet and Greet | Northumbria University from Northumbria University on Vimeo.
The Meet and Greet service is next available from Newcastle International Airport from Thursday 14 September to Saturday 23 September 2023 (inclusive).
Please book via the online booking form below.
If you are arriving by train or bus instead then please enter the relevant arrival destination in the ‘Flight Number’ section – Central Train Station, Gallowgate Bus Station or John Dobson Street Bus Station.
If your arrival to Newcastle will be on a date outside those listed above, please still complete the booking form. A meet and greet officer will be available.
To book onto our Meet and Greet Service simply fill out the form below.
If you arrive into a UK airport other than Newcastle International Airport then please look to book an internal flight to Newcastle or research the train and bus options available.
Once you have booked the Internal flight, train or bus journey to Newcastle then please book the Meet and Greet Service to collect you when you arrive in Newcastle.
If you have a train or bus journey then please add the details of this in the flight number box - i.e. Newcastle Central Train Station/ National Express Bus.
Please label each piece of your luggage with a luggage tag using coloured sheets.
Following these instructions will help to speed up the process when you arrive at Newcastle International Airport
Prior to travelling to the UK please familiarise yourself with information provided by the UK Government at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control.
The Northumbria University Meet and Greet Team will be positioned just to the front left when you come through through the ‘International Arrivals’ area of Newcastle International Airport after you have collected your luggage.
You will see an exit straight in front of you and some low seating to the left of this. We will be inbetween this seating and the Emirates kiosk. We are directly opposite the Greggs shop/ seating area.
We will have a desk, large and small banners and Meet and Greet staff waiting to welcome you.
Domestic Arrivals
If you arrive on a flight from one of the UK airports (e.g. London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Dublin) then we will have a member of staff waiting in front of the Domestic Arrivals area with a black and white Meet and Greet sign to help you recognise them.
The Domestic Arrivals area is in between an M&S store and the exit for the Metro Train stop.
If you do not see anyone waiting then they may have just met a student before you, therefore if you turn right and walk to the far end of the airport to the International Arrivals area then you will see our Meet and Greet table, banners and staff.
This is a 2 minute walk and you will pass the departure gates on your right and the Café Ritazza.
Newcastle Airport is a fairly small area, therefore you will find us easily and if unsure then ask someone to point you in the direction of the International Arrivals area and you will find us!
View a map of the Newcastle International Airport floorplan here.
We will be based at the far left on this plan, in front of International Arrivals and Greggs.
Who to look out for
The Meet and Greet Team will be wearing black t-shirts, and will have black and white Meet and Greet signs to help you recognise them.
Please liaise via email with the Meet and Greet staff member who has contacted you.
The 'Meet and Greet' Team
The team is made up of current Northumbria University Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, many of whom used the service when they first arrived here.
They will be there to answer any questions you have, put your mind at rest by helping you to solve any issues you may have when landing and make you feel part of Northumbria University from the moment you step off the plane!
Can my family and friends use the service?
What happens if my flight is delayed?
What if I arrive without booking accommodation?
We require you to have made accommodation arrangements before booking travel to the UK. Meet and Greet staff cannot find accommodation for you and NU Accommodation may not have availability.
If you intend to be joined by your dependants (spouse/partner/children), we strongly advise that you do not travel with family members until you have secured long-term accommodation. It takes several weeks for newly-arrived students to find suitable family housing. It will be easier for you to initially come to the UK alone, and stay in temporary, single housing while you look for a family home. Once you have found longer-term housing for yourself and your family, your family can travel to the UK.
What happens if I do not book the service, will I still be met at the airport?
If you arrive at Newcastle without having pre-booked the Meet and Greet service, we cannot arrange transport to your accommodation. If you arrive on a date that Northumbria Meet and Greet staff are present at the airport, please approach them for advice as to your onwards travel into Newcastle.
If there are no staff, please see the following public transport options: Metro (train) and bus transport, though a private taxi would be more practicable.
Is there a charge for the service?
Useful Contacts
We want to make the transition for new international students coming to Northumbria University from outside the UK as easy as possible. Our Getting Started at Northumbria pages will provide you with essential information on your Welcome Week activities, programme induction and University student support services, as well as how to register with a doctor, how to open a bank account, living and shopping in Newcastle City and other important information.
Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.
Information about all of our tuition fees, funding and scholarships.
Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.
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