University of Durham

Address and Location

Most of the university's sixteen colleges are located close to Durham city centre. The main library and a series of modern lecture halls can be found on the Science site, while philosophy and sociology students will spend much of their time in the Old and New Elvet parts of the university. Queens campus is some way away from the city and home to the Wolfson Institute for Health and Wellbeing.

Background and History

In the UK, only the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are older than Durham, which first achieved university status in 1832 or 1837. The university also shares the collegiate system used at Oxbridge. In the nineteenth century degrees were only awarded to members of the Anglican Church, and it wasn't until 1895 that women were allowed to graduate from the institution. Despite numerous proposals to merge Durham with Newcastle University, the institution remains proudly independent.  

Location and Accessibility

By Rail: Durham has excellent high-speed connections with major towns and cities across the UK. The station is only a short walk away from the main campus in the city centre.

By Road: Motorists should enter Durham via the A1 (M), exiting at Junction 62. From here the university and city centre are well signposted.

Accessibility: Most university facilities and accommodation have been designed to be accessible to those with disabilities. Students should contact the university Disability Support team for more information.

What's on Offer

BA, BEng, BSc, Foundation Degree MA, MBA, MSc, MEng, PDip, PGCE, GDIP, Mchem, Law, Pcert, Msci, MBus, MBBS, MPhys

Entry Requirements

A high standard of academic achievement is required from all applicants. Most courses require three A-Levels at A grade, or equivalent. Competition for places is tough.

University Accommodation

Every student belongs to one of the sixteen colleges which provide accommodation and study space. Fully-catered halls include utilities in their rates, while part-catered rooms on the Stockton Town campus are priced more cheaply.

Private Accommodation

Private housing varies greatly in price across Durham. Rooms in Gilesgate or Langley Moor are relatively cheap, while those in Whinney Hill and Crossgate are more expensive. The university is able to support second and third-year students searching for accommodation.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Durham has an outstanding academic record across the board, especially in English, History, Chemistry, Geography, Theology and Archaeology. The university is recognised as one of the best in the world and a large majority of staff are conducting research of an internationally excellent standard.  

Tuition Fees

Undergraduate courses currently cost £9,000 per year. Fees for international students and postgraduates vary.

Financial Support: A variety of scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to undergraduates and postgraduates. Check the university website for more details.

Academic Facilities

As a world-leading university, facilities at Durham are all of a high standard. The main university library is situated on the Science site, a short distance from Elvet Riverside. The Queen's Campus library and education libraries are located next to the colleges of St Hild and St Bede. The university's laboratories and science facilities are all of an excellent standard, and much investment has been made toward IT provision in recent years. Wi-fi is provided across all sites.

Other on-site Amenities

The university student union offers a host of non-academic facilities including shops, eateries and an on-campus bank. Sporty students are well-catered for at Durham, on-campus is the multi-sport Maiden Castle centre and recently completed Queens Campus facility, which features an ergometer and spinning room. Sports and social clubs cover a broad range of student interests, and if a society you want to join doesn't yet exist, the Student Union will help you create it!  

Medical and Social Care

Where issues of health and well-being are concerned, students are advised to visit theUniversity Health Centre. Religious support is offered by the university chaplain and multi-faith services on both campuses.  

What's on in the Area

Durham may not have quite the same buzz as other major cities like Manchester and Liverpool, but students still have a number of options when it comes to daytime and evening entertainment. The city is host to a range of museums and galleries, and students shouldn't miss out on a trip to the Gala Theatre. Clubs, bars and restaurants are dotted throughout the city centre for nights out.

Moving On

Graduate prospects for Durham students are excellent. All undergraduates are encouraged to visit the university careers centre, where staff are on hand to discuss career options, help with job applications and arrange meetings with prospective recruiters.

Famous Durham alumni include England rugby captain Will Carling, cricket captain Nasser Hussain and newspaper editor Harold Evans. Bill Bryson was previously chancellor of the university. Durham students regularly compete in the Duxbridge tournament, playing football, rugby union and basketball against the Universities of York, Oxford and Cambridge.  

Is Durham University the place for you?

Durham has long had a reputation as the leading alternative to Oxford and Cambridge, sharing much of the same student lifestyle. The university provides degrees of academic excellence and students work hard and reap the rewards, being taught by world-leading academics in english, economics and sports science. Prospective students should expect to achieve AAA at A Level. If this isn't the case, Midland universities like Birmingham or Sheffield offer an excellent alternative.