Durham University

[EwwSprouts]

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

June 2023 End of term for all. Hopefully young people are brim full of plans for summer fun and jobs to pay for it!

Link to old thread
]Previous thread (fingers crossed!)

That list brought back memories- I lived in one of those houses in 4th year and 2nd year was next door to another. They are considerably more expensive now though!

I hope everyone who has just started at Durham is having a brilliant time.

@Fawful he sounds content with Durham which is important. My DCs are all so different. What’s he like doing? One if mine got very involved in D&D and SSAGO. Not sporty but that and gaming were their things.

@Fruitygal Your DD is clearly a lovely home-maker. DS came home yesterday too. We had a brief catch up then he was out with friends for the night, Today it's sport and he's then going straight back up, but he would like to have breakfast together! To enhance the flat he plans to take his dartboard back. 😂

Thanks @KittyMcKitty. She's looking at the CHSS at Durham doing Sociology and perhaps....Politics? Or just Sociology. She liked the look of the modules, but I have heard negative things about the teachers - that they weren't particularly engaging or that forthcoming.
She's a bit put out about how far away it is from home - today she was looking up train prices to see how realistic it was to come home for a weekend! She likes the look of Chads and St Johns but she would hate to share a room. Not a partier and not sporty.
How is you daughter finding it? One real concern (nothing to do with Durham) is she has no idea what she wants to do afterwards and thinks sociology is not specific enough and will require a masters...?

@mondaytosunday i thought I’d answer you here rather then on the other thread.

Im not sure who you’ve heard negative things about the lecturers from but dd's experience has been entirely positive - staff have been exceptional. Dd has also spoken to quite a few studying sociology in other years and they all talk about how supportive the department is. The timetable is 2 weekly and dd has an average contact time of 8.5 hours a week which for humanities/ social sciences I feel is good (and better than many). As an aside DD’s modukes run for the whole academic year whereas my ds’s at Manchester are for the Semester. I really would recommend you visit them your dd can meet staff - my dd met and heard talk a variety of people - some of which are teaching her this year. They were massively impressive and stood out from other unis she visited. You can choose a module from outside of the department - dd originally chose one from CHSS about decolonisation but has actually switched to a departmental one as it facilitated a greater number of modules for year 2 and 3.

again re colleges you need to visit - I genuinely don’t think you can get a feel for them from looking online. You have asked previously if they are just a fancy hall of residence as there is no teaching in college etc. They are much more than a hall of residence. The college librarian is very active, there are many visiting speakers, Chad’s has an extensive College tutoring program and many research fellows. Academics aside their feel and identity is totally different from a hall of residence. I have discussed with my dh as to whether they are Oxbridge lite (dd had no interest in Oxbridge so I have not visited etc) and we don’t think they are - they are a very distinct thing in their own right with each college having its own identity.

When you say sociology isn’t specific enough - specific enough for what? It is a broad based academic degree which will gain access to grad schemes etc so no more or less specific then History, politics or English.

Social life wise there is much to do both on a college, Uni and city level. Dd is having a great time and over the last 2 weeks has been clubbing, bowling, college Bop, petting zoo, gardening club, kareoke, FemSoc and last night was watching Bake Off with a group of people.

What does your dd like about Durham? I only ask as you mention many negatives but no positives? It may be that it’s not her thing - and that’s absolutely fine but it is easy to have a negative mindset about Durham which doesn’t reflect the reality. My dd thought she’d hate it until she visited - as soon as she got there she did a complete about turn. It has its faults and there is classism - and this is something she will discuss in some detail in sociology. Dd loves the city - everything about it - it really does feel magical. She finds her course interesting and the staff engaging and encouraging. Dd has spent all of school reluctant to talk in class and says that in her seminars they have been told that no one should feel they have to talk and that the most important thing is that they feel comfortable- this removal of pressure to make people talk has actually provided a situation where dd is probably contributing more then she ever did before.

From the student room for dd’s year of intake it seems a number of those who applied for CHSS were offered alternative courses. In terms of timescale whilst Durham can make people wait dd was offered in January so it’s not necessarily a long wait.

If you live in the SE (as we do) then Durham is a long way away althiugh it is a very easy journey from Kings X. Other then that there seems to be a lot of upset about the food this year for those colleges who have it provided by DU (so everywhere other then Chad’s and Johns). Apparently the JCR’s are complaining to the university. Dd says the food at Chad’s is really good.

@mondaytosunday my DD is doing CHSS (Geography & Anthropology, but did one Sociology module last year). She is a CHSS mentor this year, so feel free to ask any questions and I can get you answers. What she would say is that as there are so many option combos you may find that there are only a couple of students in the uni doing the same, and then they may pick different modules. This is fine but means students have to be self-starters as you can't just follow the crowd. Working through 2nd year module choices with a view to what this unlocked or restricted her from for Y3 was slightly more complicated than for courses with a whole cohort doing the same subject where the pathways are perhaps more obvious. Oh, and she is St John’s, living out this year but had a lovely room last year (not shared, small double bed, shared bathrooms - 2 between 7).

Thank you @GoldenRuby and @KittyMcKitty!
Durham was not on her radar due to distance initially. We are very close (I'm a widow so no dad) and this year she was diagnosed with MS, so while she has no disability it is taking time to come to terms with and while I'd describe her as confident (though self contained) she may feel a bit vulnerable being so far away. But her old Head of Sixth recommended it and she likes the course. The negative is only my impression from these Durham threads here, and wondered what it could give she couldn't get closer to home.
As for sociology not being specific enough @KittyMcKitty, what I mean it's not like you do this degree which leads to that particular job (like law or medicine). She doesn't want to devote three/four years to it then get a job in an unrelated field. So all the 'you can do so many different careers' that we hear at Open Days is not reassuring. Until she got her results she was going to do Animation, but felt there wasn't a secure enough job in this country for the type she wants to do so was looking to something with a more definite career path that she was also interested in. It seems so broad that you have to then take a masters to specialise in a particular area.

She's applied to Durham officially now. Sociology, as she's not sure about Politics as a combined degree. Long wait now I guess!

Yay great news! My dd is really loving the course and finds it engaging and thought provoking- she says all the staff are great and there’s a very robust tutoring / peer mentoring program within the department? What’s yr ds’s specific interest in sociology - my dd is particularly interested in violence and aggression annd discrimination against women (she found the Authority Gap, Unwell Women and Stigma useful reads) and York also had many modules covering this. York was her insurance and the course seemed great although perhaps not as intellectually challenging as Durham.

so far all of DD’s lectures / seminars have been at Elvet Riverside which is just a couple of minutes walk from the Bailey but a longer walk from the Hill.

Im sure your dd won’t have to wait too long as she has grades in hand - dd was offered in January (she’s non contextual) and I know some were offered pre Christmas.

@KittyMcKitty my daughter has MS so is interested in the inequality of access to healthcare in this country as well as abroad, partly due to government failings, partly systematic bias, partly individuals. Also the education system - we all know how that is failing so many!

Kimberly Jamie (who is in charge of admissions in Durham Sociology) is a medical sociologist - if your dd hasn’t come across her work before it’s worth a Google. Having heard her speak she is MASSIVELY impressive - I really can’t over emphasise how good she is and is a large part of why dd applied to Durham - dd did science A levels and she spoke to her about science/ sociology for a while.

How are our freshers getting on with finding a house for next year?

Parents of older students, have you got any tips you can share?

Dc is finding it frustrating so far. Houses have been signed for before they view or just as they view one, someone else signs up first.

My only advice is try not to panic at this stage. Easier said than done, I know! Nice houses further out than the super popular Viaduct etc. No, it won’t be Party Central, but Durham is so small most places are walking distance.Put name down for College accom and go on waiting list.

The viewing frenzy is absolutely ridiculous and I suspect largely estate agent driven. DS’s agents gave him 12 hrs to find 4 other people for next year in this year’s current house (he’s the only one in there doing 4 yr course), then started viewings. They are bringing groups of students round just about every day, with 2 hr windows, which is hardly safe and secure. I’m assuming none of the groups are large enough to fill the house themselves, hence the continuous viewings. Luckily, he has found a better house round the corner for 24/25 and paid the deposit. He just needed more than 12 hrs to contact friends and see if they wanted to house share next year, but the agent wouldn’t wait, which at this stage of the academic year is ludicrous. I’d name the agent but from what I hear they are all pretty much the same, capitalizing on the manufactured panic about accomodation to earn their commission.
Having said that, the house is shabby but up to date with safety certificates, new boiler etc and landlady is now very proactive if they have something she can come round and fix.

Prices are going up and up and it’s not going to do Durham any favours attracting students from low income families in the future imo.

Durham Uni Find A Housemate on FB might be useful? As people drop out of houses they signed up for, or see a house but need to make up a group, they post on there.

My son has just signed for his third year. Less stressful than last year but something about Harringtons releasing theirs unexpectedly early when they'd said 1 November. He'll be in Whinney Hill rather than the far end of Gilesgate so should be a bit easier.

Thanks for the Uno Momento recommendation. Once we'd manoeuvred my dad up to the second floor, we had a lovely meal. Good food, quite cheap and quiet enough that he could hear our conversation.

My river view room at the Royal County wasn't quite so successful...

Wouldn't attach the photo so here goes

Hope you had your flannel pjs!

Glad Uno Momento was a hit.

Don't have a student but one of my DC lives in Durham. If your DC is sporty then look at top (Durham) end of Bowburn (only a mile away from Maiden's Castle) you can rent a three bed for £700-£750 pm (or at least you could at the beginning of 2023). Buses every 15 minutes and okay cycle. Taxi £10 from station.

Uni need to get the estate agents to sign up to a code. Hassling tenants with viewings so early is not on. My DC refused viewings until 6 weeks before the end of contract (agency made veiled threats about references but since he didn't need their goodwill for another property he stood firm).

@SandyIrving DS was very happy on Whinney Hill last year - nicely poised for Maiden Castle and the BillyB!

@Trumporange depends on your budget. Prices were stupid in comparison to other great unis cities last year and now even more silly.

I’d also say that the quality of some of the £200 plus stuff is still very poor compared to other uni towns offerings.

DD in viaduct this year and was on the hill last year so longer to science lectures but closer to town.

We signed for third year with a nice couple found via a non traditional route. Pleased as nice quality and not stupidly expensive.

I’d find college or course friends with similar budgets. If you have a lower budget - below £160 then you’ll be in gilesgate or Neville’s cross. Budget £190-250 Elvet. Somewhere in between viaduct.

Use StuRents app on your laptop as it works better to see prices and ask if available using messaging function to save time. Or go in and speak to agents.

I liked the guys at Frampton and Roebuck and locate over Rise or Robinsons who I found off hand.

Durham unj find a housemate FB page can be useful

Read small print carefully with the bills included properties.

DD heard from student on her module who’s had a workman fall through a roof onto his desk in the last week - luckily he’d just gone to the loo?!?! Sounded like a landlord to avoid.

I think prices seem a bit lower than last year although I could be mistaken. The current Gilesgate one is £185 but the Whinney Hill for next year is £199 (including bills).

@sep135 they’ve done a big survey 10-15% is the average uplift in rents but best have gone up 5% and worse 40%

I think the rents generally and quality of most houses is pretty poor. We’ve had some stunning properties in other cities. DDs friend doing medicine in a very popular student city is in student cribs property on a par with the £204-220 ones and paying £150.

Some of DD's friends initially wanted to upgrade from Claypath/Gilesgate to Whinney Hill, but said the houses available there when they looked didn't have much communal space and had very small kitchens, and were generally very tired. They felt the landlords were relying on proximity and had no incentive to bring properties up to scratch. I'm sure they aren't all like that, but DD's group agreed they are much better staying where they are in a modernised all en-suite house than pay more to live somewhere less nice, even if it means they have further to walk.

My son's sent me a list of the various houses, locations and price from one of the agents. If anyone would like me to post it, let me know.

DS1 told me when we had a chat this weekend that he has a group of 13 of them from his block at Stevenson who are looking together already for next year, think they are looking at multiple houses for the 13 of them, but nice to know he's made some friends and is getting this together. He also said he might need a guarantor. I am studying at the moment so don't have my own income, but DS also has his own money from trust from grandparents which he is using to fund university, so would he still need a guarantor? And could I be a guarantor with no current income? His dad and I are divorced by the way and I have a new DH who has an income. But not sure about his dad, he seems to be having employment issues currently although we don't speak so I don't know details.

Yes please x