Durham University is a very good place to study! Nice collegiale atmosphere and nice lectures also. I love studying here!

• Facilities 4.0
• Students' union 4.0

When applying to universities last year, I read many things, and seeked as much advice that I could about Durham University. What I generally heard was great things; the course will be good with great job opportunities, yes the nightlife is rubbish and yes its quite posh, but you get over that. I shall further illiterate about myself also as it will be important for the review. I am from a northern (non grammar) state school. This puts me in a striking minority of people at Durham straight away. Lets just get some things out the way straight away; 1) Nightlife. There's just no other way to describe it, it is awful. Just awful. "its so bad its good" or "you get over it eventually" or any of the other ridiculous excuses you will hear from most of the other Durham reviewers - they talk rubbish. What makes a good night out is the people - a point I will return to. 2) The SU - awful. 3) The accommodation. I regrettably chose to go to Grey college. All I can say, is that if you look at a strict boarding school and think to yourself "I like the sound of that!" then Grey college, and many of the other colleges at Durham is the place for you. In my first term, I received a total of 7 hours of community service. I know. Community service, at university. This is a list of ridiculous rules the college implements. a) No alcohol outside of your room. No other drink, just alcohol must be consumed in your own room. b)No more than 6 inside a room. A rule which makes enjoying a drinking pre-session v.difficult. c) No noise - essentially, there is no loud noises past 10 o'clock. Basically no loud talking and no music -making it difficult to enjoy a pre-session. Try implement this at any normal university and you'd be giving out so many fines, students would need a new loan

• Facilities 2.0
• Students' union 1.0

What attracted me about Durham was the flexibility in their courses - you can study 'Natural Sciences' and still take up to half of your modules in arts or social sciences, or study 'Combined Arts' but take half of your modules in Maths and Physics. For someone who isn't sure what they want yet, it's ideal, and if you're careful about what modules you choose, you can still transfer to a single honours programme at the start of second year. As for accommodation be very careful in which college you pick. People tell you that you love your college wherever you go but it's not always true at all. The rivalry between bailey colleges and hill colleges is certainly rife, and there's more places at non-traditional colleges than traditional ones, so don't count on having an Oxbridge type experience here. Be slightly cunning - it's much easier to get a place at traditional Hild Bede if you're a science student, because of distance to the science site, whereas an arts student has a good chance of getting a place at St Mary's, still only 10 minutes to Elvet Riverside. Science students probably have a better chance of getting a place at a Bailey college than Mary's, where you'll usually be pooled to a further hill college. Being here it's easy to feel looked down on as a hill college student. At Van Mildert, some of the rooms are fantastic and for normal University halls it would be enviable, but as a college you'll find people turning their nose up at you. It's easy to feel cut off and trapped in the Durham bubble, and the hills are exhausting. Student houses are expensive unless you want to live miles away, and the popular student area, Viaduct, is still too far from the science site compared to colleges!

• Facilities 3.0
• Students' union 2.0

Unfortunately, my brief experience at Durham was quite negative. Coming from a regular state sixth form college, I found Durham to be a refuge of the social elite, and it felt, for me, like what I imagine a boarding school must feel like. This is less the case the further you live up the hill, but the collegiate system actually makes it quite difficult to meet people if you don't fit in at your college. College sport and theatre are both really good, so if that's your thing, then I'm sure you'll find plenty to do. However, I found the societies beyond these to be lacking in participation, particularly political and issue-based societies (even some of the freshers events had only a few people turn up). I think this is largely due to a weak central student union, and the social importance of the colleges. However, I think it's safe to say that if you want a really political experience at university, particularly if you're a liberal/progressive, then I wouldn't reccomend Durham.

• Facilities 4.0
• Students' union 1.0

I really like it. If you want to come here then get good A levels (seriously, it's really fun!)

• Facilities 4.0
• Students' union 2.0

I really like Uni so far - the Collegiate system is fantastic! Prospective students should be prepared to put a lot of work in but I can guarantee it'll be worth it!

• Facilities 3.0
• Students' union 3.0

Having a great time. Make sure you look into the Colleges to pick the right one as all are very different and are scattered around the City. Also I love being in a smaller town even if it isn't for everyone.

• Facilities 4.0
• Students' union 2.0

Durham is a great place so far! There is a really tight knit community here and it is brilliant to live amongst some of the cleverest people in the country. You are never stuck with nothing to do and being part of a Collegiate institution means that there are a wide variety of events literally on your door step. I am two minutes away from my lectures so I can always have a lie in. The possibilities for extra curricular activities, especially sport, are second to none. There literally is a society for everything and you can access sports at all levels, from beginners to University level! I would highly recommend Durham to anybody who loves taking part.

• Facilities 5.0
• Students' union 5.0