Durham college allocation

[PosyRosie]

DD1 has just received an offer from Durham and is quite keen, but isn’t sure whether they only allocate colleges once the offer has been firmed. She is put off by the idea of not knowing her college. I know that they don’t begin allocation until February but just unsure how it all works. Also is it a fairly random allocation process? I heard that they try and have a spread of courses across the colleges, but if anyone knows any more that would be great. Thanks.

It's on the website:
www.dur.ac.uk/experience/colleges/allocationprocess/howthisworks/.

Did your DD express a preference for a particular college?

No they allocate colleges whether the offer is firmed or not. Everyone with an offer, firmed or insured or not, goes into the allocation process which starts in Feb, linked to above.

Thank you. Sorry, I didn’t look hard enough on the website I don’t think. Yes she put St Hild and Bede as her preference because she knows of someone who goes there who seems happy and she didn’t really know how to choose! I don’t know if she has her heart set on going there, but I think there are some that she doesn’t like the look of and feels she wouldn’t be so happy at.

I always hear those FAQs in the slightly testy voice of someone who has explained all this QUITE A FEW TIMES and it is REALLY VERY SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND if only we would PAY ATTENTION.

Hild Bede is probably not wildly oversubscribed. DD didn’t get the one she wanted. Her school advised on one to go for due to her choral singing. Another girl from school was offered that hall and DD was not happy with her allocation which was very remote from her faculty and any choirs!

They get allocated a college. However if they put Durham as their insurance or miss their offer but still get accepted, they can be moved college. However I don't think many are. Dd's Durham group had a lot who received an email after they'd accepted their place saying they might be moved, but none were in the end.

Thanks for all your replies. She told me today that she has been told she will hear her college allocation by 1st March. She has applied for Theology and Religion, I don’t know if that is a smaller course and will affect where she is allocated a place, but at least she will know before she needs to firm her offer so can make an informed decision.

She has been given a contextual offer so would get a much reduced offer if she firms them, so it would likely be first choice rather than insurance as it would be her highest offer without the contextual reduction and her lowest offer with.

DS’s best friend has just received an offer for Italian. Poor DS still nervously waiting...

@KingscoteStaff I hope that your DS hears soon. Several of DD’s friends heard on Friday whereas she just received a holding email on that day and so she was convinced it was a No. she was very shocked to then receive an offer on Monday teatime. They seem to come at around 5.30pm apparently! She has only heard from 2 of her 5 choices so far and she wasn’t expecting Durham to be one of the first to reply. It’s awful for them having to wait so I hope offers are made soon for everyone.

@KingscoteStaff - fingers crossed he gets an offer soon. There really does seem to be no rhyme or reason to how Durham get their offers out. Bit naughty of them.