This university is the best choice I have ever made. Everyone is amazing - the lecturers are so helpful and are always there should you need them. The college system unites all of the university together.
Overview
Located in the northeast of England, just south of Newcastle, Durham University is one of the most respected universities in the UK and places a real focus on world-leading environmental research.
Durham University is made up of 17 individual colleges, meaning a unique university experience is had by its students. The colleges each have their own strong identity and make up the heart of uni life. As such, at Durham there’s a real community feel, as students are plunged into college life.
With over 80 student-led music clubs and societies and 27 theatre companies across the university, Durham is a great place for students who are interested in music and the arts. There are also 700 sports teams to join, across 18 sports. As the city of Durham is small, much of the nightlife and entertainment experienced by students comes from the colleges.
There’s also a rich history at Durham uni. It was founded in 1832 but its plans were first drawn up by King Henry VIII in the 16th century and then again in the 17th century by Oliver Cromwell before the university was eventually opened.
The city of Durham bears great cultural and historic significance as well, as it’s home to one of Europe’s most famous cathedrals and a castle that was built by William the Conqueror. This led to the area becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
Courses and lecturers
3.8Course rating
3.9Course content rating
3.9Lecturers and Teaching quality rating
Durham focuses on research-led teaching across a broad range of degree subjects including the arts and humanities, sciences and social sciences. There are over 200 undergraduate courses to choose from, most of which can only be studied on a full-time basis.
You will, however, find some courses that are possible to study part-time, like medical anthropology, philosophy and theology and religion. The majority of undergraduate courses begin in September.
Typically, undergraduate degrees at Durham take three years to study, but a number of courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take four or five years to complete. Most degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree areas you’re most interested in.
It's possible to combine two or three subjects within an undergraduate degree in what’s called a combined honours degree. For example, it’s fairly common to study a humanities course, like history, alongside a language, such as French or Spanish.
Entry requirements
Durham University accepts a wide range of qualifications from the UK and the rest of the world. All undergraduate courses require students to achieve specific grade qualifications – these can be found by searching for individual courses on the uni’s website.
In general, Durham accepts A-level results of A*A*A*–BBB and doesn’t accept general studies as a subject. BTEC Nationals Level 3 are also accepted, although many courses will ask for specific A-levels (or equivalent) alongside this. Other qualifications, like the International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers and Cambridge Level 3 Technicals are also accepted.
If you want to study a business or economics degree at Durham, for example, you’ll likely need A-levels of A*AA–AAB, BTEC grades of D*DD– DDD or an International Baccalaureate score of 38–36. The same range of grades is also needed to study most humanities subjects and the same can be said of the university’s music and arts degrees.
It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying.
Accommodation & facilities
3.7Halls rating
4.0Facilities rating
As stated, Durham is a university made up of several colleges in which most students end up living. The type of accommodation available varies greatly, ranging from new college environments to older, historic buildings and rooms are available on both an en-suite and shared bathroom basis.
All colleges have a representative body, usually known as a Common Room, which is made up of elected voluntary student officers. It’s their job to represent the students in their college and to organise events and activities, e.g., in sport, theatre and music.
Most of the colleges are clustered close together and nearby to the university, making access to classes, facilities and other colleges easy.
First-year undergraduates are guaranteed an offer of college-managed accommodation, as long as the application deadline is met, however, if the college lifestyle isn’t for you, there are also purpose-built private student accommodation options available.
Students will also be able to find rooms in houses owned and operated by private landlords throughout the city.
DDylanReviewed 09 Feb 24
History MA
Durham is a beautiful city and university with great social opportunities. The traditions are very strong at this...
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EEmReviewed 15 Aug 22
Archaeology MA
The town of Durham is charming and vibrant, and just generally a nice place to live. Student life may be a little...
READ FULL REVIEW
Job prospects
4.0Career prospects rating
Durham is committed to helping students and graduates gain work experience and prepare for the working world. This includes providing advice on submitting job applications, preparing for interviews and finding a career direction.
The uni’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise service gives free and confidential advice to students and has several resources aimed at helping students to explore employment opportunities and career sectors. For example, online resources are accessible for students and graduates, as well as various careers events.
The university also works with leading recruiters, who target graduates from Durham, and has relationships with employers who host company presentations and drop-in sessions, in association with the university. These can present a really good chance to learn about potential career opportunities and to meet potential employers.
Career fairs are also held every year where several employers turn up to talk about opportunities in their sector and to meet possible future employees. Recruitment events are also held and allow students to engage with major employers.
Scholarships and funding
Durham University looks to support the best students, no matter what background they come from. There are several scholarships and bursaries on offer for undergraduates to help do this.
To qualify for any of the funding options, students need to meet the associated eligibility criteria. This could be coming from a household with a certain annual income or studying a particular course, for example. Information about eligibility and application deadlines can be found on the uni’s website.
To give you an idea of some of the scholarships available, we’ve summarised a few here. The Brian Cooper Scholarship gives annual funding to a local student in need of financial support and is worth £13,000 per academic year. Likewise, the Durham Inspired North East scholarships support applicants from the north of England and provide £4,000 a year. There are also scholarships available for applicants who don’t come from that part of the country.
Scholarships are also available for students who meet the criteria and are applying to study science, law and computer science as well as for students who excel in music, sport or the arts.
Other notable scholarships are available for applicants with asylum seeker status or who have been injured through military service.
Campuses
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
United Kingdom Nearest train station: Durham 0.3 miles away
As well as a wide range of courses, studying at Durham University offers you loads of opportunities to boost your CV thanks to the careers department. You might even have the chance to do a work placement or sandwich year during your degree.
As well as providing you with opportunities to develop academically and professionally, you'll have a wide range of clubs and societies to join. You'll be able to pick up a new hobby and make loads of new friends by joining some of the clubs and societies on offer at Durham University.
What can you do with a degree from Durham University?
The world is your oyster! Of course, the exact options open to you will depend on which subject you choose to study. Employers often look to hire graduates, so you can be sure that your degree will give you a wider range of employment opportunities.
No matter what degree you choose, however, you'll have option of going on to further study. If you want to keep studying, your undergraduate degree will enable you to go on to a master's degree or even a PhD.
What accommodation does Durham University offer?
If you opt to live in uni halls, you'll benefit from free WiFi and all-inclusive rent. Rent for uni halls also includes security and maintenance, so you can be sure you'll be well-looked after. There are several accessible rooms available, which are adapted for disabled students.
Halls also have communal areas such as kitchen facilities where you can meet your flatmates over a cup of tea. You'll also have access to dining facilities where you can share a meal with other students in your accommodation.