Planning to apply to university in Durham? Here’s 12 reasons why you should.
Updated: 10 Mar 2025
Durham is a vibrant and lively university city, steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty. From the cobbled streets of its ancient city centre to the rolling hills of its countryside, Durham has something for everyone. Home to a world-renowned university, Durham University, the city offers students ample opportunities to excel academically while at the same time having plenty of fun. Whatever your academic interests, Durham provides an ideal environment to explore them, with numerous museums, theatres and art galleries as well as a lively social scene comprising clubs, pubs and music venues.
Durham University is known worldwide for its high-quality education. Ranked in the top ten UK unis according to Complete University Guide 2025, you can be sure you’re getting a world-class education here.
As a student here, you’ll be able to explore the city’s history, from the university buildings to the cathedral and castle. Everywhere you look in Durham you’ll find beautiful architecture, cobbled streets, green spaces and lots of history.
Durham provides an ideal environment to explore academic interests, with numerous museums, theatres and art galleries. Some of the most notable include Durham Museum and Heritage Centre, the Museum of Archaeology and Gala Theatre and Cinema.
The city has a lively social scene comprising clubs, pubs and music venues, so while the city is fairly small, there’s plenty catering to students thanks to the uni’s presence. There are around 15,000 students studying at Durham, so there’s lots going on to keep all 15,000 students busy.
Students can enjoy discounts at many businesses in the city. From restaurants to high street stores, you’ll find lots of chances to net a bargain thanks to your student status.
There are plenty of green spaces in Durham for students to relax in. If you’ve had a long week of studying, there’s nothing like kicking back and relaxing in the park with your mates at the weekend.
Modern English mustard was born in the city when Mrs Clements had the idea to grind mustard seeds up into a powder all the way back in 1720.
There are excellent transport links to other parts of the UK from Durham, as well as a local bus service. If you’re looking to check out other UK cities, you can get direct trains from Durham to cities including Edinburgh, Newcastle, London and Liverpool.
The cost of living in Durham is relatively affordable compared to other university cities in the UK. As it’s a small city, you’ll often find you get a better deal for your money. It’s always nice to know your student loan is going a bit further than it would if you were studying in some of the UK’s bigger cities.
Northerners are known for being friendly and welcoming, and the compact city of Durham certainly embraces newcomers. The welcoming environment and manageable size of the city helps you to settle into your uni life quickly.
The university campus is well-equipped with modern facilities and resources. You’ll find a library stocked with plenty of textbooks, archives and more. The uni also has a gym and music rooms for you to pursue your hobbies alongside your studies.
In 1838, Charles Dickens visited Durham to research for his novel Nicholas Nickeleby. At least three Booker Prize winners can also be linked to the city – A.S. Byatt, Pat Barker and Ian McEwan.
Durham University is an amazing place to study, providing a stimulating and enriching environment for students. The university has two beautiful campuses, the historic city centre campus and the science site in nearby Queen’s Campus, both of which boast state-of-the-art facilities, modern libraries and inspiring learning spaces. With its vibrant student life, numerous clubs and societies, lively social scene, excellent sports facilities, diverse range of cultural activities and opportunities to engage in meaningful work experience, you can be sure you’ll have a great uni experience here.
Durham has something to offer everyone and is a great place for students to explore. From strolling in the picturesque botanical gardens to shopping at the many independent stores, there’s plenty of leisurely activities to do around the city. The city centre also hosts several events throughout the year, including music festivals, food markets, art exhibitions and live theatre performances. For those seeking an adventure, you can take part in kayaking trips on the River Wear or join one of Durham University's sporting clubs and try your hand at some new sports like rowing or cricket. With its stunning cathedral, castle and museums all within walking distance from the university, there really is no shortage of things to do in Durham for students.
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