Thousands to attend Welcome Week as University of Newcastle kicks-off academic year
The University of Newcastle is kicking off Welcome Week activities as more than 10,000 new students start their university journey in 2025.
Held the week before Semester One commences, Welcome Week introduces students to life studying at the University of Newcastle to help make the transition to university easier.
University of Newcastle Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zee Upton said she was excited to welcome so many new students from the wider Newcastle region and from across the nation and the globe.
“More than two thirds of the commencing students are from the Hunter, Central Coast and Newcastle region so we know this is a big day for our region. We’re particularly proud to welcome more than 500 Indigenous students this year as well,” Professor Upton said.
“This year is the University of Newcastle’s 60th anniversary and over this time we’ve grown from a university of fewer than 2,000 students to be a university that is fully embedded in our community and teaching almost 37,000 students every year.”
Popular undergraduate programs this year include the Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary), and Bachelor of Business and our engineering degrees which have more than 500 undergraduate students starting a degree in the field.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mark Hoffman said Welcome Week was a great opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with campus, meet their fellow students and ease into university life.
“Welcome Week is the official starting point for our undergraduate students and with many of our students the first person in their family to attend university, it can be a really important opportunity to build connections and make the transition to university life a smooth one,” Professor Hoffman said.
“This year, Welcome Week will have an increased focus on accessibility to help set up all students for success from the start. We’ll have dedicated Welcome Sessions for our neurodivergent community, quiet hours at our on-campus expos, a dedicated sensory room, and captioned presentations.”
Activities during the week will include campus and facility tours, information sessions, live music, free food, games, and a ‘dive in’ cinema at the Forum pool. There will also be a showcase of University Clubs and Societies for students to sign up and get involved with various communities and interests.
The full Welcome Week program and more information can be found online at Welcome Week.
Contact
- Elizabeth Olivier
- Email: media@newcastle.edu.au
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Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.