Smartcards
All University students and colleagues are required to carry a University Smartcard which is issued when you begin your course or contract.
How to get your Smartcard
New students and staff can upload a photo to the University App to create a Digital ID. For those who are studying or working remotely, or who are yet to arrive on campus, you can use the Digital ID as your University Student or Staff identification.
You only need to collect a physical card if you are studying or working on the Newcastle campus.
Several student registration events are held each year. Students can also obtain a card from Student Services (King's Gate Level 2).
You can also pick up a Smartcard from the University Library. Smartcard issuing hours are as the main counter service times in the Philip Robinson Library and the full desk service times in the Walton Library.
New staff should contact the University Library after the photograph is uploaded using the Staff Smartcard Request form. A physical smartcard will be printed for later collection at the Philip Robinson or Walton Library. Staff will be informed by email to their @newcastle.ac.uk account when it is ready.
Smartcard Access
Your Smartcard allows access to the following University services:
- The University Library
- Printing and photocopying
- 24 hour Computer Clusters
- The Centre for Physical Recreation & Sport (fee payable)
- Language Resource Centre
Your Smartcard also gives you access to buildings, rooms and facilities on campus, as appropriate to the requirements of your job or course. Please see Smartcard Access into buildings and rooms for more details and contact information for buildings' access control managers around the campus.
For more information view the Smartcard service definition.
Please note: Changes to Smartcards for Nexus travel
Since the introduction of the Nexus Pop card, University Smartcards are no longer used to buy tickets and travel around the city on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Details of student travel offers can be found on the Nexus website.