History of Engineering
Newcastle and the North East has a rich history of engineering that has influenced the world.
The home of engineering innovators
Newcastle and the North East of England have a long and proud history of engineering research and innovation that has shaped the world. Engineering has been taught in Newcastle for more than 150 years.
The timeline below charts the key milestones in this history, from the first public railway in 1825, to the University's most recent innovations in Global water security in 2023.
In 1871 a College of Physical Science was established in Newcastle as part of Durham University. This was needed to support the growth of ship-building and other mining-related industries in the North East.
In 1904, the College of Physical Science was renamed Armstrong College, in honour of the industrialist, philanthropist and engineer William Armstrong. Armstrong had become a leading local figure with major manufacturing companies on Tyneside. This College would later become known as the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 2007 we expanded overseas, creating a campus in Singapore to offer engineering undergraduate degrees in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Until 2017, our engineering disciplines were organised into several separate schools. To foster greater collaboration in addressing society's challenges, they are now unified in a single School of Engineering. To manage this large School, we're structured into four major disciplines, each led by a Director who reports to the Head of School. Each discipline has its own rich history, dating back to the birth of engineering at Newcastle University in 1871.
The North East has an enduring legacy of Engineering that has influenced the lives of people around the globe. The School of Engineering at Newcastle University is proud to continue this tradition, teaching at the forefront of technology and researching for the benefit of society.