Newcastle University can trace its roots back to 1834 when a School of Medicine and Surgery was founded in Newcastle. The campus expanded as part of Durham University and granted independence in 1963.
Today, Newcastle University is officially designated as the UK's centre of excellence for the teaching of medicine and dentistry and has developed other major strengths in the sciences, arts and humanities. Newcastle University is a founder member of the Russell Group of leading research universities and is a pioneer of modern widening participation projects.
In 2001, Newcastle University began a restructuring exercise linked to an ambitious investment programme to consolidate its position at the forefront of research, teaching and entrepreneurial activity in the higher education sector.