Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

January 2022 finds our DC packing their big coats, checking the forecast for snow and wondering when Michaelmas actally is...?

Assemble!
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If your DC is in the process of choosing a college, they will get a good feel for how much is going on by looking at the Instagram pages for each college. They is always lots of fun stuff happening in the summer at all colleges, but here is a flavour of what is on at St Johns. And for those of you who might be visiting tomorrow, you will be shown around by one of these folk.

My DS has a MEng computer science offer (needs AA so not too taxing) for Durham which he is delighted with. He also has an unconditional offer for Edinburgh for the integrated masters. As he's Scottish, it would make sense he remains in Scotland due to free tuition fees and of course Edinburgh is very highly regarded with its Informatics department.

However, he's really taken with Durham and has worked out that as the masters is a year shorter in length than a Scottish degree, it mitigates a lot of the cost of paying RUK tuition fees as he'll be earning a year sooner.

He's also very interesting in the year industry/year abroad which you can apply for as part of the MEng.

Has anyone else's DC studied computer science at Durham and/or completed a year in industry. Also, what do you think of the course, the support offered and the university as a whole?
With thanks!

DS is first year on the 3 year course at Durham. He’s enjoying it and not finding the content too difficult so far. He chose to do a Maths module for the inter-disciplinary module. He find the maths challenging. He is loving it so far. The college system is good for general support.

Do you have any specific questions?

Thank you @Watsername

Is it comp sci your son is studying?

How is he finding the level of support and interaction with academics? I understand Edinburgh is not so hot on this. Also, how much of the course contains a more practical aspect? My own DS particularly enjoys hands on activities.

@Aurea my son says every lecturer has office hours where you can ask questions and clear up anything you aren’t sure about (but he’s not been to any). You can email lecturers but they aren’t all very good at replying. And you can ask questions after a lecture.

in Practicals (which are a substantial part of first year) you are given tasks to complete (which replaces formative coursework for most CS modules). While in practicals you are supervised by postgraduates whose job it is to help if you have any questions. He’s says they seem helpful.

In first year the programming modules consist of two practical projects. There are some programming aspects in other modules too, but not as much. Maths for CS is more theoretical and less hands on. And you get an elective choice.

DS reckons it’s about 30% programming. I think CS at ‘top’ unis is more mathsy and theoretical. So probably similar at both Durham and Edinburgh.

@Watsername
Thank you for going to this trouble and also to your son.

I've passed this info on to mine as it all sounds quite positive.

My DS is very lucky to have a choice of two great courses, but this makes the decision more difficult.

I'm glad to hear your son has enjoyed his first year at Durham.

My DD does biological science - just came home yesterday for Easter. Lots of academic tutorials for her with prep work and 10 invited but only 5-7 go so great inter activity. College system brilliant. I’ve had three kids go to uni and my Durham one is the last. I’ve also been to 4 unis to study and worked at another. Durham is the best of all of those.

Different course but a STEM subject and my son is absolutely loving Uni life at Durham. He is in year 1 in a hill college and has a number of friends from his flat, College, his Course and sporting activities.

Graduation question… I plan to go to DS’s graduation this July with DH and my two other children.
Does anyone know if the graduation will be ticketed? DS doesn’t know; said he hasn’t heard anything. I’ve booked a hotel and restaurant for the night before and we’re travelling some distance so I’d like to be sure we can all attend!

Yes it is ticketed. Usually 2 guaranteed tickets. I won't link because the app does funny things to them but put Durham graduation tickets in to Google. First link tells you about tickets, second more about the ceremonies and then 4th is even a pdf with all the info, timings etc. All the info is freely available on the uni website.

Thank you!

Without being too negative, does anyone know whether Durham ever considers students who miss their offer by a grade? I realise it may well depend on department and success of other offer holders, but just wondered if anyone had any experience of this, and what the procedure may be... TIA

@wonderwoman10 is your young person struggling in a subject ? Sorry I know how stressful this time of year can be - sending a hug.

Sorry don’t know anyone who got in with a missed grade. I know there are some courses that are less popular so this may happen there. Politics and international relations and there’s another one where the contextual offer is often low for Durham so perhaps they do?

Unfortunately we know several biological science, economics and law candidates who missed out by one grade. At least two of those got A*AB for AAA offer requirements and weren’t given a place. Biological science has an FAQs sheet that states clearly that their offer of AAA is the minimum they will accept.

Durham is known for taking a long time to decide if a student has missed. Can be a couple of days which is awful for the student waiting in limbo.

Having said that Dd1 missed her grades by one and got in straight away. They'd only made the decision the night before plus she'd only missed the grade by 2 marks-don't know if they get marks.
They also say if you missed the grade you have a chance of being moved college. In reality that rarely happens, but it caused a lot of anguish on her college group chat at the time when they got the email saying they might be moved college because of that. None of them were moved in the end though.

Sorry, just to say dd was doing maths and had an A A A offer and missed on further maths
But there were a number of them doing various subjects who got the email. So clearly they do take missed grades.
They won't have over the last couple of years though with the extra candidates from covid.

That was A star, A star, A offer

@Suzi69 the ceremony is ticketed but extra guests over the 2 with a ticket can watch a live stream from nearby. And there is nothing to stop extras hanging around on Palace Green before and after with you. Also, I do know that at one of the ceremonies last year some extra people were let in at the back of the cathedral after all the ticketed guests because there was space - but you wouldn't be able to guarantee that, it probably depends on which subjects are graduating together and therefore numbers of graduands.

Really useful information, thanks. I’ve now located the information on the Durham website and DS will be at the ready to make sure his younger brother gets a ticket, so hopefully we’ll get three tickets anyway.

When dd graduated there was a parent outside who had a spare ticket and was offering it down the queue. I thought that was really kind.

That was useful to know. My son has an offer for Maths (MMath) AAA and I am likewise just nervous for the A in FM. He is not struggling but it is a tough A Level and A may just be a grade off. Not worried about the other grades. Thanks for your comments of your experience.

That was A star, A star, A ...

How much time do you need for an open day? Planning to do Fri 16 and then head to Leeds for Sat 17.

Driving from London so wondering if we could leave 6am get there for 11 - stay overnight and head to Leeds in the morning - or should we aim to drive up on Thursday Eve - so 2 nights in a hotel?

Having sat on the M1 yesterday and Thursday, I would choose two nights in hotel (1 night each city) or take the train. Durham is on the main east coast line so plenty of times available. DS buys split tickets which make a big difference and check Lumo as they aren't so well known.

@Ooolaaaala I second @EwwSprouts suggestion of the train.

Get an early Friday morning train from Kings Cross - 2h40 up to Durham and then either get a Friday evening or Saturday morning train to Leeds - approx 75 minutes from Durham and then back to London Saturday night.

More relaxing and no messing around with park and rides in Durham and trying to find somewhere to park in Leeds

DS buys split tickets which make a big difference and check Lumo as they aren't so well known

Stupid question but I've only travelled to Durham by LNER. Lumo are a difference franchise altogether?

My train tip is bidding for a first class LNER upgrade on the Seatfrog app. On my trip last month, the difference was £40 each way if I bought first class tickets but won the Seatfrog auction at £20. Mind you, the catering is nothing to write home about so you're really paying for a more spacious seat.