Student groups

The UON Architecture Social Club is perfect for anyone who is interested in the built environment and design in general. They hold a variety of events which include raffles, sporting events and social gatherings with students and the wider community. Get involved with the club on Facebook.

This student club was established in 2016 and arranges events like BBQs and other social gatherings such as trivia nights. It is not only a social club but also hosts events to promote industry networking by organising site tours and guest speakers. Sign up on Facebook.

Nuches is THE social group for chemical engineering students, lecturers, staff and friends. The club holds regular events, including BBQs, the annual formal and the famous Hunt... check out the NuChES Facebook page for more on how to get involved.

NUWiE is a student run society which was founded in 2014 by several female students in the Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment. They organise social events such as trivia nights, game nights, cocktail parties, support sessions and BBQ lunches.

Simply sign up on their Facebook page where you can keep updated on the latest society news and events.

The Society of Medical Innovation and Technology, or SoMIT, aims to promote interest and learning in the interdisciplinary fields of biomedical engineering and medical technology. They provide a space for like-minded students from different fields to connect as well as give them an opportunity to network with industries and professionals in the fields of medical research, engineering and technology. Sign up to SoMIT on Facebook.

The University of Newcastle has created a new space to give makers, designers, programmers and scientists the opportunity to collaborate on projects and design, problem-solve and share ideas.

Located in the Architecture precinct in room BSC124, this hands-on learning environment is open to any UON student who wants to work on innovative ideas. The space features:

• Powered work spaces
• 3D printers
• Tools
• Lockable storage - lock away a project that you need to come back to!

Makerspace Student Group

If you'd like to connect with some like-minded students you can also join the Makerspace student group. Initially set up by electrical engineering students in 2012, they are keen to collaborate with students in other areas of study to brainstorm on new projects.

Although you don't need to be a member of the group to use the space, you are welcome to join and enjoy social events and activites hosted by the club.

Find out more

The NU Racing Formula-SAE Team conceives, designs, fabricates and races with a small formula style racing car in the SAE-Australasian Formula competition each year. A number of restrictions are placed on the teams so that the creativity, knowledge and imagination of the students are challenged.

The team has a wide variety of roles available and is not just limited to mechanical engineering students. If you'd like to get involved you can sign up on their Facebook page.

The Newcastle Robotics Laboratory is an interdisciplinary research initiative of Computer Science & Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Statistics. Our robot soccer competition team - The NUbots - has participated at RoboCup regularly since 2002, have won world titles and were the 2011 Australian champions in the RoboCup Standard Platform League.

Students can get involved through summer scholarships, as well as postgraduate, honours, and final year projects. Watch the NUbots in action on Facebook.

The RobotX team consists of undergraduate and postgraduate students, primarily from mechatronics engineering, who compete in the Maritime RobotX Challenge biennual competition.

Sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and run by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Challenge involves teams of university students from five Pacific Rim countries – U.S., Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Japan.

The thirteen participating teams each received an unpowered and unplugged version of the 16' WAM-V® (Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel) along with a grant to build a battery-powered propulsion system. The Maritime RobotX Challenge featured a series of realistic challenges in autonomous navigation and detection. Tasks were specifically formulated to test students' design, implementation and optimisation of sensors and control systems.

In 2018, the team headed to Oahu, Hawaii for the competition. To enquire about joining the team, contact the academic supervisor Associate Professor Adrian Wills.

Out(fit) is an affiliated organisation with the University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture and Built Environment and is identified as collective of volunteers drawn from the architecture and design professions who undertake community specific projects in the Newcastle and Hunter Region and across NSW.

Out(fit)’s core mission is to promote and support women and students who are seeking careers in built environment professions.

Out(fit) do this by engaging in hands-on, design and build projects with underrepresented communities and their projects focus on spaces for women, children and groups in need.  These projects are those which often are not associated with professional design services, but which have a tremendous impact on daily lives.

Out(fit) aim's to build strong and enduring relationships with volunteers, clients and local industry partners.

For more information on volunteering or partnering with Out(fit) and finding out more about their upcoming projects check out their Facebook or website.

The team can also be contacted via email at hello@outfit.org.au

The Student Organised Network for Architecture (SONA) is the official student body of the Australian Institute of Architects. They represent architecture students from across Australia, organising national, state and local events that provide opportunities for students to collaborate with each other as well as professional designers.

SONA members take part in the annual Australia architecture conference, the biannual student congress, local mentoring and social events, design competitions, professional committees, and receive and contribute to nationally-recognised architecture publications.

Visit the SONA website to join or find out more information.

YEN is a vibrant group that provides a voice for Young Engineers in Newcastle. They represent, support and advocate for engineering students, qualified professional engineers, associates and technologists under 35 years of age.

Objectives of the YEN committee:

• Strategically plan and execute events for young engineers in Newcastle Division.
• Strategically collaborate with external young professional interest groups.
• Form meaningful, valued and long-term partnerships.
• Act as an advisory conduit for the division committee, to assist in strategy formation for the Division.
• Plan and execute game-changing events, to revolutionise young engineering in Newcastle.
• Lead the way for young professionals in Newcastle. Manage and deliver events from inception, while building networks within industry
• Exist as a platform for young engineers to connect with other young engineers within the industry

Visit the YEN website