09/10/2026
Introducing your Combined Honours Team! 🎓✨
Swipe to learn more about the staff behind your programme!
Sadek Kessous – Stage 1 Degree Programme Director
What I do: I am here to help first-year students with any academic aspect of their degree – everything from choosing modules to providing assessment adjustments.
Ask me about: Student community! Levi and I are always looking for ways to bring students together around the parts of campus life that matter to you most.
Campus/Local Recommendations: Do a “grub crawl” in the Grainger Market! All made by independent local businesses, you can get fresh bagels, Cubano sandwiches, vegan curry, Greek gyros, Chinese dumplings, Sri Lankan kottu roti and pizza slices all under one roof in the newly renovated historic market!
Dr Franck Michel – Director of Combined Honours
What I do: I’m the (friendly) mastermind behind the smooth running of the Combined Honours programme! This year, I’m your go-to person for final-year support, academic advising and Board of Exam queries for second and final year.
Ask me about:
* Combined Honours programme mysteries or exam regulations (yes, I speak fluent “academic”!).
* Goal-setting hacks to crush your studies.
* How to stay organised and succeed (spoiler: I’m also a qualified coach!).
* Where to find support if uni life gets too much.
Campus/Local Recommendations: La Verne Vintage Coffee at St Peter’s Marina – the ultimate spot for a chilled Sunday brew and pastry, with a side of ship-spotting on the Tyne.
Claire Logue – Deputy Director of Combined Honours
What I do: I help Franck Michel, our Director of Combined Honours, run the degree programme. I am also the Degree Programme Director for Stage 2. I am a broadcast journalist in radio and spent three years as a lecturer on the University’s Journalism and Media programmes before joining the Combined Honours team.
Ask me about: Anything you like! If I can’t answer it, I will find out who can. More specifically, you can ask me about media and journalism modules, study abroad, questions about your programme or the North East, as I am a native!
Campus/Local Recommendations: For the city and surrounding area, I’d recommend Tynesi