Indian Students in Newcastle
New to Newcastle? Here's how our community can help you settle in - safely, confidently, and without doing it alone.
Avoiding Scams
Accommodation Scams
Never pay a deposit for a property you haven't viewed in person, or via a live video call with someone you trust. Genuine UK landlords must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme - always ask for proof.
Fake "Visa Help" Agents
Genuine immigration advice must come from an OISC-registered adviser. Be wary of anyone charging large upfront fees with "guaranteed" outcomes.
Job Scams
Legitimate employers never ask you to pay money upfront for a job, training, or "processing fees."
Phishing & Bank Scams
Banks, HMRC, and universities will never ask for your password or full card details by phone or text message.
Finding a Place to Live
Always view a property in person (or via live video) before paying anything, and make sure your deposit is protected in a government-approved scheme - ask your landlord which one they use. Read your tenancy agreement carefully before signing.
Our community Facebook group is often the fastest way to find genuine room-shares from people who've already been through the process themselves.
Finding Indian Groceries
Newcastle has a number of local Indian and Asian grocery shops carrying fresh vegetables, spices, and everyday essentials from home.
Shree Radhe
Pure Vegetarian47 West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne
391 Benton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7EE
MA Brothers
173 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6SR
Singh's Newcastle
Victoria Enterprise Centre, Benwell Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6RU
Laxmi Indian Groceries
139 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5JP
Best Areas for Easy Commute & Grocery Shopping
If you're choosing where to live, these areas tend to work well for both getting around easily and reaching Indian grocery shops:
Not sure which area is right for you? Join our Facebook group below - someone from the community will be happy to give you feedback and advice.
Building Community Connections
Meeting people and finding your community doesn't have to wait for the next big event - Newcastle's temples and gurdwaras welcome newcomers warmly, any week of the year.
Hindu Temple, Newcastle
172 West Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9QB
Approx. 2 miles from the city centre
Weekly prayers: Tuesdays from 7:00 PM · Sundays from 12:30 PM, followed by Bhandara
Get live directions & bus times →Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha
Cottenham Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5QU
0191 273 8011 · Approx. 1.5 miles from the city centre
Langar (free community meal) served to all visitors, regardless of faith. We'd recommend calling ahead to confirm current timings.
Get live directions & bus times →Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji
Buckingham Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
Open daily, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM · Approx. 1.5 miles from the city centre
The first purpose-built Gurdwara in North East England, opened 2013.
Get live directions & bus times →
Navratri & Garba Nights
Proudly co-organised each year with the North East Gujaratis Association - nights of Dandiya, Garba, music, and devotion, open to the whole community. A great first event to attend if you're looking to meet people quickly.
See This Year's Dates
Public Transport
Newcastle's buses run through three main operators - Go North East, Arriva, and Stagecoach - while the Metro (light rail) connects universities to the city centre and across the wider region. Rather than juggling separate tickets, Network One covers bus, Metro, train, and ferry across Tyne & Wear with one ticket.
Getting Your Student Discount
Full-time students and anyone under 19 can get unlimited travel throughout Tyne & Wear via the Network One Student and Young People ticket - you'll need a Network One Student ID Card, available once your university confirms your student status.
Other options: Student Metro Season Tickets (at least 31% off), or operator-specific student tickets like Stagecoach's Unirider or Arriva's Student Bus Ticket.
Visit Network One →
Registering with a GP
Register with an NHS GP within your first week of arriving - it takes about 10 minutes to fill in the form and 3-5 working days to process. You don't need to be sick to register, and you don't need an NHS number yet - one is issued automatically.
What You'll Need
Your passport or national ID, proof of UK address (tenancy agreement, utility bill, or a university letter). Worth sorting a UK mobile number first too, since surgeries mostly contact you by text.
How to Register
Use the NHS "Find a GP" tool, enter your postcode, and register with a surgery accepting new patients.
Find a GP →
Emergency & Urgent Medical Help
Knowing which service to use genuinely matters - using the wrong one can mean a much longer wait for help.
Call 999
Only for genuine life-threatening emergencies: unconsciousness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or choking.
Call 111
For anything urgent but not life-threatening. Available 24/7 - will direct you to the right service.
Walk-in / Urgent Treatment Centre
For sprains, minor fractures, cuts, or burns. Call 111 to find your nearest one.
Local Pharmacy
Expert advice on minor health issues, often without needing a GP appointment at all.
A Few More Essentials
Council Tax Exemption
Full-time students are exempt, but you usually need to actively apply for the exemption letter from your university.
UK Bank Account
Most banks ask for proof of address and a university letter. Some accept international students more easily than others.
Non-Emergency Police (101)
For reporting something like a theft or a scam after the fact - separate from the 999 emergency line.
University Support Office
A free service that exists to help with almost everything on this page - don't hesitate to use it.
Get Help From Real People
This is where you can actually ask questions and get help from people who've done this before.
Our Facebook group is intended to help Indian students with accommodation, study, life in the UK, job openings, and more.
