Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Durham university - explain the college system to me?

116 replies

cashewnutty · 29/08/2015 18:15

DD2 wants to apply to Durham and seems very keen on the course they offer (anthropology). In know nothing about this university but I do know it operates a college system. Can someone explain this to me?

Has anyone attended Durham? What is it like? DD2 is fairly quiet and would hate a raucous party type environment.

Any information would be gratefully accepted.

OP posts:
Colyngbourne · 01/09/2015 22:01

I was at St John's on the Bailey (from a comprehensive school) - and it tends not to have a "raucous party" style. I believe some students still have to share rooms in first year (though mostly not), and there is an option to be in halls for 3rd yr as well (in my day, you could stay in halls all three years if you wished). Durham has a really homely and cosy feel to it, regardless of which college, because you become very bound up in your college's social life and community. I really recommend it - and it's stunning generally as a place to live.

ptumbi · 02/09/2015 07:27

Halved - yeah I know Sad - and ds2 has to be there between 230 and 4 on 3rd Oct. As it's a 5 hours drive I though I'd stay over - the nearest B&B I could find was 15 miles away! I think the entire uni is dropping off on 3rd and staying over. Oh well, at least Darlington is 30minutes in our direction!

And it doesn't help that there is a Rugby World Cup game at Newcastle on that day too...

grovel · 02/09/2015 08:52

ptumbi, sympathies. DS recently finished at Durham (Aidan's - lovely). We live in Berkshire. Have tried several B&Bs in the area. The Premier Inn is fine.

grovel · 02/09/2015 09:06

DH has just reminded me that when DS started we all went up the night before (similar accommodation problems) and stayed at Dowfold House B&B. Made the big day more relaxed. Drove back after dropping DS off (the welcoming committee at Aidan's were brilliant).

jpgirl · 02/09/2015 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katkat50 · 02/09/2015 12:55

My son is going to Collingwood - he's very sporty and was his first choice. Exciting times ????

gonegrey56 · 02/09/2015 13:07

For accommodation in Durham when visiting, try the Victoria Inn, very close to the Bailey and honestly much nicer than it might seem - 0191 386 5269.

Only a few rooms but great value and excellent breakfasts.

grovel · 02/09/2015 14:42

gonegrey, wish I'd known about that place.

halvedfees · 02/09/2015 15:26

My DS is going to Hild Bede. Anyone else?

GypsyFl0ss · 02/09/2015 19:23

DD goes to Grey next month Smile

On our two previous visits we stayed at the premier inn in Washington which is about 15 mins drive towards the Angel of the North , with decent parking and a carvery next door. We've currently got a room booked for moving in day but DD has been given a 1.30 time slot so we will sort her out and hit the road again.

Given that you don't actually get to choose your college these days I would suggest that your Dd doesn't get too hung up on any particular one.
DD had her heart set on Chads and got the complete opposite. It's grown on her though and her chances of an ensuite single room are greater on the Hill so that's a bonus in her eyes!

ptumbi · 03/09/2015 07:21

Gypsy - might see you in passing! Does it matter if we get there before our alloted time? I imagine it is for car parking access, rather than anything else? I wondered if we could drop tye car at Darlington B&B and train up. With 3 of us it wouldn't be too bad on the ,luggage haulage!

Gonegrey - I will bear that in mind for next time Grin. I managed to find a AirB&B with double and ensuite, so am happy enough. I'd have loved to have a good look around Durham though.

fastdaytears · 03/09/2015 07:22

Gypsy I don't want to start a war with any Chads MNers but your daughter will have so much fun at Grey. she will love it.

GypsyFl0ss · 03/09/2015 17:12

fastdaytears she is really looking forward to it. She's itching to get back to studying , she doesn't suit doing nothing!

fastdaytears · 03/09/2015 17:16

She definitely won't be doing nothing. College is great for people who want to be super busy and try everything (other than incest and Morris dancing as our freshers fair posters used to say). She'll love it.

GypsyFl0ss · 03/09/2015 17:20

ptumbi I'll wave! I'm not sure if it's a problem getting there a little early for the hill colleges, am hoping not.

I'm planning to take DH sightseeing before we head back down south. He's never been to Durham and it's just so beautiful. I'm very envious of DD's opportunity...am less bothered about the cold and rain part though.

ptumbi · 04/09/2015 07:27

I took ds2 to Durham on te plane in Feb to see the uni/college and I agree, it is beautiful. I'd never been, in fact didn't even know where Durham was until then Grin. Unfortunately Easyet cancelled the route Gatwick-Newcastle so it's either train or car for us.

Did you hear radio2 sports broadcaster on Wednesday saying that the Commonwealth games are to be held in 2022 in Durham?

(He meant Durban, but it gave us a laugh! Grin)

fastdaytears · 04/09/2015 07:47

The train's actually pretty good- or it used to be. It's a direct service from quite a lot of places (Exeter for me- 7.5 hours but you could upgrade to 1st class for £10 and stuff your face on sandwiches for most of that time. Don't think the train staff liked students a lot).

GypsyFl0ss · 04/09/2015 08:01

We have to back in to London for the train or try and catch it from a town about 20 miles westwards from here. I did check out flights from Stansted to Newcastle and they're more reasonable than I thought they'd be. Likewise the national express coach...until I found it that its about 10hour journey on that stopping at everywhere en route!

NiceCardigan · 04/09/2015 08:34

DS is off to Collingwood next month and is very excited. DH and I are Durham grads (Collingwood and Trevelyan) so we are looking forward to visiting the city again. We're staying the night before in Wetherby which is the nearest we could get! DS hasn't mentioned a drop off time so will have to quiz him on that.

GypsyFl0ss · 04/09/2015 10:41

I didn't realise how close Collingwood and Grey are NiceCardigan; they'll be neighbours. DD is rather pleased with the proximity to the Botanic gardens. She's partial to a nice bit of cake Smile

Katkat50 · 04/09/2015 15:01

nicecardigan how far is Collingwood from the science buildings? Thnx

IAmAPaleontologist · 04/09/2015 15:22

Tobeachadsman when were you there? I was Castle but Dh was Chads, we've been married 7 years now. Dh graduated 2007.

If you want booze and parties then you will find it. If you prefer things a bit more quiet then you'll find that too. I think one of the biggest advantages of the college system is that they all have their own sports teams and many have their own theatre groups, orchestras and bands, choirs and so on so even if you don't play/do sport/act to a high level to be in the university wide teams then you can still be involved at college level so anyone can join in.

TheSilveryPussycat · 04/09/2015 15:35

Aidan's maiden here - from back when the colleges were single sex, choice for women was Aidans, Trevelyan, or Mary's. I came up in 1970, and like many of my friends, have made my life here :)

Durham is lovely, and County Durham is lovely too.

halvedfees · 04/09/2015 17:33

Durham grads - any info on Hild Bede? - A Durham grad friend who was in another college went very quiet when I asked...

fastdaytears · 04/09/2015 17:35

Hild Bede is a bit out on its own which can make it a bit insular. People seemed even closer to their college friends there and didn't mix much (briefly had a HB boyfriend so can whinge about this for hours if needed). I would guess that's why people are a bit funny about it.
In my day it was also quite public school heavy but I suspect that changes all the time

Swipe left for the next trending thread