The Shield Reviews

Never even got into campus so wish I’d stayed home. Only just today (end of august) got my deposit back after moving out in JUNE. Staff seem to have a vendetta against giving you parcels. Gym is decent but if you book on weekends the security has to do checks round the building and are never in to give you the key so could be waiting for up to 30 minutes for them and you only have a 1 hour slot in the gym. Never met a single soul living there so not good if you want to make friends. I would just highly recommend you get a house and not stay here, especially if you’re in anything above first year. Also, the walk to newcastle university is much longer than it says on the website, I’m in the medical school and it would take me around 30 minutes to walk there. Also, if you have a car it is so infuriating that there is SO much space to park a car there but it says everywhere no parking. There’s literally fully functioning spaces and I’d have to park miles away it’s very annoying.

As much as I love the staff and social spaces, I wouldn’t have rebooked for so many years if it wouldn’t have been for Keith. The thought of having 24/7 reliable and trustworthy security on site has calmed me greatly and made me feel protected. The few times I had noisy neighbours and couldn’t focus on my assignments, I always turned to Keith who would resolve the situation within the first 5 minutes of me ringing. He’s always been friendly and I could see the effort he put in to get to know the students who live here, from remembering names after one encounter, to trying to learn greetings in different languages so he could make the international students feel more comfortable. He’s always respectful, professional and it’s always been a delight talking to him. He’ll make time to chat with you if you’re lonely, upset or simply want to talk to someone, which has been an immense help, considering I’ve lived alone for what feels like forever now. The Shield is extremely lucky to have him

BEST ACCOMMODATION EVER I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOOKING HERE!! I’ve lived here during COVID and I truly believe the shield has went above & beyond to keep me safe , The facilities are amazing , the staff are kind and beyond helpful (Vanessa has helped me out personally many times ) and then there is Keith , I mean he bakes for us (his brownies are to die for) , brings his puppy’s in for us & helps us out when we’re maybe being a little drunk and silly with patience & he never seems upset or hassled by it , he makes you feel like he truly is here to help in anyway possible and he made me feel safe at all times and I’m very sad to be leaving my home from home

Wanted to write this review to appreciate the security guard Keith. His brownies are from out of this world and he’s always up for helping out with any problems I had. Think the lad deserves a pay rise he’s the best!

Such a great place to live, after a horrible experience with accommodation last year the Shield has restored my faith. There’s always a friendly face on reception, 24/7 security making sure the place is safe and just the building in general is amazing. All the things available are so convenient and well kept, even the garden area. Whenever you have an issue it’s solved within a matter of a few hours! All the staff at the shield make sure that it’s definitely a home away from home, which is usually rare to find with student accommodation.

The Ensuits are well maintained, the staff are friendly and they give good security.

Very good staff and high security.

The staff have been super friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Easily the best accomodation I've lived in in the last three year at uni

Best security ever. Stayed there 3 years

Great accommodation and very secure. The security guard i think he is named Keith was always available and solved all our problems

Lovely place, staff are very friendly, flat I stayed at was well looked after and enjoyed my time here.

Staff are very friendly and rooms are so good for the price! Only 15 minute walk to town so its really handy!

Social spaces aren’t open Staff are lovely and helpful!

The Shield Accommodation team has consistently delivered a great service. Personally, I like the layout of their studio and ample storage wardrobes. However, the management is very strict with their tenure term, which is a problem for students who started the academic term in January.

The Shield is a great place to live. The staff are really friendly and are always there if you need anything. The location is also in a great spot, it is just a 5 minute walk from the main campus and a 10 minute walk from the quayside. Overall, I would definitely recommend The Shield.

Rooms are great value for money! I'm unable to comment really on the social aspect due to the pandemic, but just through seeing the social room itself and images/stories I can see it is great fun!

Very nice accommodation, however haven’t been there for 2/3 of my tenancy due to covid and haven’t received any information about discount/rent payment.

Lovely accommodation and perfect location

The Shield I absolutely love living in this accommodation, the location of it is the best - close to the city center, close to the surrounding parks. The staff is always smiling, kind and willing to help. The studio is big enough with a kitchen and bathroom. I will definitely recommend anyone hesitating, do not hesitate, book this accommodation, you will not regret it!

A new accommodation, very modern. No understanding for students who were impacted from covid and did not use their bookings. No discounts no refunds nothing.

This is my second year living in the Shield, studios are good and practical but covid rules are not adhered by other residents and property managers do nothing about it except sending emails stating the rules. 2 times drunk people have tried to break in my door while I was inside, parties by students (during lockdown) take place every week. Property managers have never done anything effective to stop the incidences (that are not allowed by the tenancy agreement). However, security is responsive, polite and friendly

This is why you should book at The Shield! Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, I couldn't return home, and to be in a different country and away from my loved ones during these very scary times brought immense anxiety and concern. However The Shield's staff removed all my worries and made me feel like I was at home, always having someone to talk to whenever I needed. Keith, is one of the nicest people you can meet. He brings his beautiful puppies in every year for the students to play with, which no matter how stressful exams get, cuddling a puppy takes all of that away. He has never failed to cheer me up whenever I needed it and has even taught me how to bake and play pool! Vanessa, even though she has over 400 students to manage, she always makes time for each & every one of us. Sarah, Christy and Ray have always welcomed me with a smile on their faces, and helped me with anything I needed! This is why The Shield is the best. It isn't an accommodation, it's a home with a caring family!

Its such a lovely environment surrounded by a friendly staff.

The accommodation as a whole is a great student space. Great security, friendly staff and ideal location. Love it here!!

This is why you should book at The Shield! Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, I couldn't return home, and to be in a different country and away from my loved ones during these very scary times brought immense anxiety and concern. However The Shield's staff removed all my worries and made me feel like I was at home, always having someone to talk to whenever I needed. Keith, is one of the nicest people you can meet. He brings his beautiful puppies in every year for the students to play with, which no matter how stressful exams get, cuddling a puppy takes all of that away. He has never failed to cheer me up whenever I needed it and has even taught me how to bake and play pool! Vanessa, even though she has over 400 students to manage, she always makes time for each & every one of us. Sarah, Christy and Ray have always welcomed me with a smile on their faces, and helped me with anything I needed! This is why The Shield is the best. It isn't an accommodation, it's a home with a caring family!

Starting my second year at uni and the shield was the obvious choice for accommodation. After staying for most of my first year the staff and overall feel of the shield have made it feel like home. The staff are super friendly and helpful even going as far as to give more options for moving in. Vanessa and Sarah are definitely some of the most helpful people I've met and the security team are great. Overall the shield is a great place to live while at university.

The Shield is an amazing accommodation and cheaper than most other accommodations. The staff are always friendly and are willing to help with whatever problem you are facing. The maintenance team are quick to respond and are also extremely friendly. The rooms are perfect for the price and are extremely cosy, once you’ve moved everything in. I couldn’t recommend this accommodation enough for both Northumbria and Newcastle students!

Honestly the best place I could have asked for. The rooms are clean, modern and spacious. Ive been in both a bronze and gold studio sharing with my partner. The bronze even with the smaller space was adequate room for the two of us. The gold studio however provides a lot of good floor space and just makes the room feel more open. Amazing for if we have people visit. The social areas are always a lovely place to hang out and I love impressing my friends and family with it. The study area is immaculate and provides a warm, quiet environment to help focus in. However by far my most favourite thing about The Shield is the staff. Ive always felt looked after and cared for. They are super super friendly and always try their hardest to help you with anything you may need. They always make me smile! They provide numerous activities each month to interact even over lockdown they try their hardest to keep spirits high with virtual quizzes and activities. Cant be anymore grateful.

Nice accommodation, very close to Northumbria uni. However, quite overpriced for what you are getting. The main downfall was the reception staff, not only were rude and unhelpful they were also inconsiderate especially towards mental health problems. If a problem was to arise you would be penalised rather than helped. I met many other people who felt this way during the year I was staying at this accomodation. As well as this, during the current Covid-19 situation the Fresh Student Living company has also decided not to waive our final rent payments despite many students being unable to access the accomodation. I feel this reflects their attitude to students generally. In my opinion it is a lot about making a profit and not about the wellbeing of the students there. I really wouldnt reccomend staying at The Shield.

There’s always stuff going on however I don’t usually take part in it but the staff are really good.

My daughter Grace is currently a student at The Shield and it’s a fantastic place for her to stay while doing her studying at Northumbria University. She was at a crappy flat before this and I can’t tell you how good it is that she is staying at somewhere clean friendly and warm. But the best thing is how safe and secure it is. The girls on reception really look after her when she needs anything and the security staff really put our minds at ease with their constant vigil. You have put our minds as parents at ease that she is being so well looked after. Thank you !!!!

The Shield is a really great accommodation for anyone looking to live close to the universities in Newcastle. The facilities are new and kept clean and presentable. The decor of the building is beautiful and modern with excellent social spaces. The gym is amazing and is open 24/7. The cinema room has large comfortable sofas and an enormous TV screen. Great for watching late night movies with your friends. There are the latest games consoles available if you wanted to play the newest releases with your mates. All of the staff are so helpful and friendly if you are having any problems. Keith in particular is amazing! He always has a friendly face and will go out of his way to help. He genuinely listens and he helped me so much this year. I couldn't rate The Shield any higher, it is an amazing place to live while you are away from home!

Fantastic place with dedicated staff, bring your sense of humour

Amazing place to live, studios are clean, fresh, bright & modern. Social areas are the best I have seen. Including the cinema area, so comfy & relaxing, also the cozy Booths are good for chilling with friends or studying, the gym is cool also. Now onto the staff who makes this place even better, Ray is a godsend when it comes to maintenance always friendly & happy to help with no matter what it is big or small. Keith from security who keeps us safe but is always available to talk to or have a game of pool with he’s great, the girls in the office... lovely,,friendly & approachable, always putting effort in to make you feel at home & that your stay is the best including putting theme nights on & dressing the place up for whatever the occasion... love the food treats they put on as well... you will not be disappointed in your stay here.

Best accommodation ever! There’s ntg to find fault about this place. I’ve been staying here for 2 years now and this place and tge staffs never failed to make me feel at home. I will highly recommend this accommodation for students.

The best student accommodation I have been in. Beautiful common room, spacious rooms and very helpful staff who are always around if you need anything.

I honestly can not fault living here at The Shield. I have been here for a year and a half now and if my course was longer, I would have no doubt to stay. I always feel safe which is important to me since I'm on my own. The rooms are lovely sizes and they are designed to meet our study and social needs. The social space is great and the staff organise social evenings to give us opportunities to mingle. It also has air con and booths where I work often. Every staff member is always there for a natter and they work endlessly to make sure we feel comfortable and feel like we are part of the lovely community that is The Shield! Thank you to you all! :)

I loveee staying in The Shield. I miss everything about The Shield, the staff, easy to commute and i feel safe. Thank you ;)

DO NOT BOOK THIS PLACE !!!! I did not get my grades to go the university and i have been promised by the staff that they would give my fee back, i have emailed them loads of time and nobody cares to reply to my email ! Be aware they are nice when you are there booking after nobody cares!

Travelling to a new country made me anxious when it comes to finding a new place I can call my home. A place that can make me feel comfortable and secure at the same time, a place that can give me the possibility to be more social, with a staff that can help me whenever I feel the need to talk to somebody. The Shield's staff couldn't have been nicer and more polite with me in times when I needed support and guidance. Shoutout to Vanessa, Christy and Sarah for always welcoming us with a smile whenever we walk in, and for always keeping us up to date with the activities they organize. Special thanks to Keith for bringing the puppies to help us relax whenever we have exams. He's making everybody feel as safe as possible and always being here when needed. By doing his absolute best to get to know the students as much as possible proves how much he wants for us to feel at home. Don't expect him to show mercy if you're playing pool with him though, I've tried it and it doesn't work.

worst place to live, do not book here

I have lived in this place for two years and i never once thought of changing into anotyer place . I am so used to my flat with a great view my home seems to be alien . Coming dro m India i was worrued as to how the place qoukd be and would it be difficult to adjust witb other international cultures but throughout my stay I learnt so. Many things about so many new vultur es and The shield has been the main reason . They gave been very kind to cater to requests on a perzonal level making my stay comfortable in every way possible . The shield staff ard more like family than a management office , sharing a laughs with the students and a shoulder to cry on at the sams time. Even though i have finisb my education and returned home, i still consider shield a major chapfer in my life and would always miss my flat . I would proudly and gladly claim the shield my home away from home . Loads of love Prynick Prym Raman

Studying abroad can become very stressful at times and finding the right place to live is one of the most important decisions. This place must make you feel like you’re home, it must provide you with clean and nice facilities, safety and kindness. I am very happy to say with no hesitation that The Shield has everything that a student like myself will need. Each room is very good organized, leaving you with enough free space and the shared kitchens are large, modern and nicely decorated. From an economical point of view, the prices are very reasonable and I personally couldn’t be more satisfied. The common space is neither too small nor too big, making it the perfect area to spend your free time or even study. The stuff is very kind and always there to help as much as they can. All the security members are great and BIG thanks to Keith who even the craziest hours, will not only guard you, but also be a fun,trustworthy and reliable person that everyone would want in their life.

The Shield is such an amazing place to live in! I was so stuck for accommodation but the shield managed to come through and were very helpful and understanding about my accommodation. When you actually live here, you’ll see that the staff take so much time and effort to make the people that live here feel welcome and safe. For instance, there’s always something going on in he social space, the security guards are fun and play pool with you (that’s for you Keith you legend!) and they even leave little treats frequently to brighten up your day!! I would 1000% recommend this place, i’ve made amazing friends and wouldn’t have chosen another place to live

All what i can say about the shield is that it is a true shield of love.. As an international student, leaving home for the first time alone, thought would be the hardest thing for me until i moved into the shield.. I found care, love, protection and shelter here.. A place where i can call home.. and home is where you find people of your own.. And of course to the Hero of the shield “Keith”.. A hero, friend, brother and a guardian angel.. i don’t think that there are words that i can use to describe him other than “Home would not be home without you around”.

As an international student coming to a new country and not knowing anyone I was very anxious about my stay here. I wanted to meet the best people, create cheerful memories and have a great first year

Cover, protection, support, warmth, refuge, confidence and safety. These are some of the words that can be used to describe a shield a soldier would rely upon. The Shield in Newcastle upon Tyne provides the exact same things and more and fulfils its promise of being a shield and a safe haven to the students living there. It makes for an amazing place to live with their fantastic facilities like social area, meeting room, study room, gym all tied and brought together with an ensemble of a very supporting, friendly and easily approachable staff. Shout out to Keith Ferrell who works security and is the shield of The Shield!

Big shout out to my man Keith! If your looking for a friendly experience with good value for money, stay here!

I’ve had a great experience at the shield, the staff were all super friendly and accommodating! The social spaces are kept in great condition and met some great flat mates. The rooms and kitchen were in great condition too when i arrived too.

The shield has been the perfect location for me whilst doing my first year at Northumbria uni. I was very anxious when I first moved in but the girls @ reception made sure I felt right at home. My vain self has to admit that my fave part about the shield has to be the amazing bathroom, the lighting is so good, peng selfies always. I have also had great use out of the meeting room where you can access the free tea, coffee and biscuit tins!! If you don’t doing work at your desk in your room distracting then you can head to the study areas, these areas have really benefited me and i use them regularly! All together the facilities at the shield and those who run it have been absolutely fantastic, I can’t fault them!

I’ve really enjoyed living at The Shield the past 2 years. The staff here are always very friendly and helpful. The social area has been a great place to go with friends to play Pool and to watch a movie in the cinema room. Thanks for everything!

I have loved this place and the people since day one. They have made me feel so comfortable I don't miss home . It is the most close knit and comfy accomodation I have been to. Thank you shield for making my stay here so wonderful .