Durham is a small city and the university campus buildings are located around the city. Everything is within walking distance so students don’t feel isolated or unsafe. Prospective students can visit Durham and walk around the campus to get a feel of the place although buildings will be closed due to the virus (in normal circumstances some can only be accessible by campus card only). There are students around so feel free to ask them any questions.
Accommodation
There are several hotels, guest houses and B&Bs in Durham and I have attached some details. Further information can be found at www.thisisdurham.com. Travelodge Durham is in a good location and reasonably priced. If staying overnight you could leave your car at the hotel and walk around the city centre and campus. Premier Inn, Radisson Blu and The City are also in a great location.
Applying to Durham
Students need to apply through UCAS and it is advised that they apply as early as possible as the admissions process can take some time. Once students have applied through UCAS they can send a supplementary personal statement to Durham. Details of what to include can be found here.
Catering
The university has many catering outlets for students around the campus including cafes in the library, Teaching and Learning Centre, Palatine Centre and Calman Learning Centre. Details of the cafes and food/drink available can be found here.
Colleges
Durham is only one of a few collegiate universities in the UK. There are 17 colleges (the newest one – South College opens in Oct 2020) at Durham and UG students have the option of choosing between 16 of them (Ustinov is PG students only). Every students becomes a member of a college and students live in college in their first year and can return in their third year. Each college has a mix of students by nationality, level and course of study and no teaching takes place in college. Colleges are student communities and there is someone there 24/7 to help students if required. College staff look after student welfare and the students are known to college staff. Each college has a JCR who organise activities including college formals and other social events. Rooms are single en-suite and you can opt for self-catering, part or fully catered. Students tend to choose a college near their department (the nearest ones to English are the hill colleges – Grey College or Collingwood College). Further information about colleges can be found here. Students can choose on their UCAS application which college they would like to be considered for. The most popular tends to be University College (Durham Castle). Facilities and activities in colleges include music, drama, sport and a gym. Students can get involved in university life as much as they like.
Eating Out
There are loads of places to have lunch around the campus and city (see www.thisisdurham.com). Places in or near the Market Place include Café Nero, Costa, Flat White Kitchen, Chapters, Zap, Bill’s, Fat Buddha and Bells fish and chips. You could always opt for a pub lunch such as Wetherspoons. Other places include In Shanghai (Chinese buffet), Zen (Asian Fusion), Ask Italian, Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Nandos, Pizza Express and Tapas Factory. Alternatively the Undercroft Restaurant in the Cathedral does amazing food (and cakes).
Exchanges/Study Abroad/Erasmus
As part of their studies students can do a Erasmus placement (Europe wide) or a Year Abroad at a partner university (US, Canada, China, Singapore, Australia etc). Further information can be found here and the university holds an Exchanges and Study Abroad fair every October whereby Durham students who are interested in going abroad can talk to representatives from partner universities. The event is free and there is usually freebies (pens etc) available for students.
Getting to Durham
Details of getting to Durham can be found here. For those who wish to travel by train there are great transport links and on arrival at the train station you can take a taxi to where you need to be around the city. Costs are around £5.
Language and academic skills courses
The university runs short languages courses on an evening for staff and students who wish to learn a new language. Classes include Spanish, Italian, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. Further details can be found here. Academic skills classesincluding academic writing are also available.
Library
The main library of the university is the Bill Bryson Library and is located on the university science site (known as the Billy Bee). There are 4 floors of books and study spaces for around 2000 students. The library is opening 24/7 for most of the year including the run up to exams. Further information about the libraries can be found here.
Palatine Centre/Law School
The Palatine Centre houses the support service departments for students – Student Immigration, Student Registry, Careers, Disability Support, Counselling, Student Funding, Academic Support Office and Experience Durham. The Executive Office is also located in the Centre (Vice Chancellor etc). There is a café also and the building includes the Law School (one end is the Palatine Centre and the other is the Law School).
Parking
If you visit Durham for the day I would recommend starting your visit from the university science site (Stockton Road/South Road). Parking is available on Stockton Road and costs around 50p per 30mins. There are multi storey car parks in Durham but these are more expensive. Other on street parking is available on Church Street or Green Lane. You can park at the Park and Ride (PR2 – Howlands). You can walk from Howlands into the city centre. The bus takes less than 5mins travelling down South Road (past Grey College, Collingwood College, Teaching and Learning Centre) then onto Church Street.
Places of interest
There are many places of interest in Durham and the surrounding area including the Botanic Gardens (free for Durham students), Oriental Museum, Durham Cathedral and Beamish Museum. Beamish is around 30mins by car from Durham but definitely worth a visit. Other facilities include the Walkergate Complex whereby a new cinema is currently in construction. Further information is available here.
Science Site
This is the main hub of university life. The science site houses the Palatine Centre/Law School, Bill Bryson Library, Calman Learning Centre, Mountjoy Centre (HR, admissions, CIS, finance dept etc) as well as academic departments – Anthropology, Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Maths,, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. There are many events and activities held outside the Bill Bryson Library (in library square) throughout the academic year.
Self-Guided Campus tour
Students can undertake a self-guided campus tour and the brochure can be found here. You can begin from the science site and head up South Road towards the Hill colleges. Coming back down you can head down Church Street to the Durham Student Union building and onto New Elvet. Turn right off New Elvet onto Old Elvet and the location of Hotel Indigo, take a sharp left at the top of Old Elvet and walk along Green Lane which is the location of the cricket and rugby club. Continuing on Old Elvet you would walk past HMP Durham (its secure so don’t worry) and onto Mountjoy Crescent. The street takes you back to Stockton Road.
Student Societies
The university has over 200 student societies which are started and run by students. You can join as many societies as you wish and if there is something you want to do and there isn’t a society then provided you have 4 prospective members you can start your own. Further information can be found here.
Teaching and Learning Centre
This is a new facility which opened in September 2019. There are a range of study spaces, lecture rooms and theatres with the most up to date IT facilities. A large café is also available to students to relax and grab a coffee with friends. Further information and images can be found here.
Accommodation
There are several hotels, guest houses and B&Bs in Durham and I have attached some details. Further information can be found at www.thisisdurham.com. Travelodge Durham is in a good location and reasonably priced. If staying overnight you could leave your car at the hotel and walk around the city centre and campus. Premier Inn, Radisson Blu and The City are also in a great location.
Applying to Durham
Students need to apply through UCAS and it is advised that they apply as early as possible as the admissions process can take some time. Once students have applied through UCAS they can send a supplementary personal statement to Durham. Details of what to include can be found here.
Catering
The university has many catering outlets for students around the campus including cafes in the library, Teaching and Learning Centre, Palatine Centre and Calman Learning Centre. Details of the cafes and food/drink available can be found here.
Colleges
Durham is only one of a few collegiate universities in the UK. There are 17 colleges (the newest one – South College opens in Oct 2020) at Durham and UG students have the option of choosing between 16 of them (Ustinov is PG students only). Every students becomes a member of a college and students live in college in their first year and can return in their third year. Each college has a mix of students by nationality, level and course of study and no teaching takes place in college. Colleges are student communities and there is someone there 24/7 to help students if required. College staff look after student welfare and the students are known to college staff. Each college has a JCR who organise activities including college formals and other social events. Rooms are single en-suite and you can opt for self-catering, part or fully catered. Students tend to choose a college near their department (the nearest ones to English are the hill colleges – Grey College or Collingwood College). Further information about colleges can be found here. Students can choose on their UCAS application which college they would like to be considered for. The most popular tends to be University College (Durham Castle). Facilities and activities in colleges include music, drama, sport and a gym. Students can get involved in university life as much as they like.
Eating Out
There are loads of places to have lunch around the campus and city (see www.thisisdurham.com). Places in or near the Market Place include Café Nero, Costa, Flat White Kitchen, Chapters, Zap, Bill’s, Fat Buddha and Bells fish and chips. You could always opt for a pub lunch such as Wetherspoons. Other places include In Shanghai (Chinese buffet), Zen (Asian Fusion), Ask Italian, Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Nandos, Pizza Express and Tapas Factory. Alternatively the Undercroft Restaurant in the Cathedral does amazing food (and cakes).
Exchanges/Study Abroad/Erasmus
As part of their studies students can do a Erasmus placement (Europe wide) or a Year Abroad at a partner university (US, Canada, China, Singapore, Australia etc). Further information can be found here and the university holds an Exchanges and Study Abroad fair every October whereby Durham students who are interested in going abroad can talk to representatives from partner universities. The event is free and there is usually freebies (pens etc) available for students.
Getting to Durham
Details of getting to Durham can be found here. For those who wish to travel by train there are great transport links and on arrival at the train station you can take a taxi to where you need to be around the city. Costs are around £5.
Language and academic skills courses
The university runs short languages courses on an evening for staff and students who wish to learn a new language. Classes include Spanish, Italian, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. Further details can be found here. Academic skills classesincluding academic writing are also available.
Library
The main library of the university is the Bill Bryson Library and is located on the university science site (known as the Billy Bee). There are 4 floors of books and study spaces for around 2000 students. The library is opening 24/7 for most of the year including the run up to exams. Further information about the libraries can be found here.
Palatine Centre/Law School
The Palatine Centre houses the support service departments for students – Student Immigration, Student Registry, Careers, Disability Support, Counselling, Student Funding, Academic Support Office and Experience Durham. The Executive Office is also located in the Centre (Vice Chancellor etc). There is a café also and the building includes the Law School (one end is the Palatine Centre and the other is the Law School).
Parking
If you visit Durham for the day I would recommend starting your visit from the university science site (Stockton Road/South Road). Parking is available on Stockton Road and costs around 50p per 30mins. There are multi storey car parks in Durham but these are more expensive. Other on street parking is available on Church Street or Green Lane. You can park at the Park and Ride (PR2 – Howlands). You can walk from Howlands into the city centre. The bus takes less than 5mins travelling down South Road (past Grey College, Collingwood College, Teaching and Learning Centre) then onto Church Street.
Places of interest
There are many places of interest in Durham and the surrounding area including the Botanic Gardens (free for Durham students), Oriental Museum, Durham Cathedral and Beamish Museum. Beamish is around 30mins by car from Durham but definitely worth a visit. Other facilities include the Walkergate Complex whereby a new cinema is currently in construction. Further information is available here.
Science Site
This is the main hub of university life. The science site houses the Palatine Centre/Law School, Bill Bryson Library, Calman Learning Centre, Mountjoy Centre (HR, admissions, CIS, finance dept etc) as well as academic departments – Anthropology, Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Maths,, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. There are many events and activities held outside the Bill Bryson Library (in library square) throughout the academic year.
Self-Guided Campus tour
Students can undertake a self-guided campus tour and the brochure can be found here. You can begin from the science site and head up South Road towards the Hill colleges. Coming back down you can head down Church Street to the Durham Student Union building and onto New Elvet. Turn right off New Elvet onto Old Elvet and the location of Hotel Indigo, take a sharp left at the top of Old Elvet and walk along Green Lane which is the location of the cricket and rugby club. Continuing on Old Elvet you would walk past HMP Durham (its secure so don’t worry) and onto Mountjoy Crescent. The street takes you back to Stockton Road.
Student Societies
The university has over 200 student societies which are started and run by students. You can join as many societies as you wish and if there is something you want to do and there isn’t a society then provided you have 4 prospective members you can start your own. Further information can be found here.
Teaching and Learning Centre
This is a new facility which opened in September 2019. There are a range of study spaces, lecture rooms and theatres with the most up to date IT facilities. A large café is also available to students to relax and grab a coffee with friends. Further information and images can be found here.
