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!)

Well grades for last year have finally arrived. DS can officially proceed to the second year, which is a relief as they are already well into the term. He seems completely underwhelmed despite decent grades. I think he had already moved on in his own mind. I hope others are happy with the grades they got.

Glad everything was good @EwwSprouts DD was pleased and so were her housemates. She seemed a little lighter today as a result. I think one had been a bit wobbly at the time as she’d not been well and she’d quietly worried about it but there was nothing to worry about in the end.

That’s good news @EwwSprouts and @Fruitygal . I don’t know how DS has done, he seemed ok with the grades he did have, so I assume he’s fine to proceed into his 4th year!

@SpamhappyTootsie is he going to do a Masters or is this a four year degree because he’s on placement / year abroad?

It’s the integrated Masters @Fruitygal . He decided very early on that’s what he wanted to do so I resigned myself to having to wait until 2025 for a Cathedral graduation

@SpamhappyTootsie whats the course? You’ll enjoy it even more once you get to the cathedral event !!

He’s doing Chemistry. Loves it, wants to do Chemistry for as long as possible!

@Fruitygal Delighted your DD has done well and the whole flat is happy. A couple of DS's flatmates knew before the summer because it had all been multi choice at the end of year and assignments were before the marking ban. Maybe that's why he so underwhelmed.

@SpamhappyTootsie How fantastic that he is so excited by his subject! Fingers crossed fantastic opportunities lie ahead.

@SpamhappyTootsie wow!! Is he thinking work or a PhD and research next ?

Mine was glad to finally get results too- (year3 of 4 - also integrated masters)

We are going to Durham to see dc (and also for Lumiere festival ) at the weekend .. v much looking forward to it.. it’s seems ages since they were home for summer!

Oooh fabulous @Longtimenewsee , enjoy Lumiere!

I don't think he minds @Fruitygal as long as he can carry on tinkering with Chemistry. He did mention PhD funding not being high so maybe has his eye on a decent salary. He does NOT want to teach, though.

Have a super time at Lumiere @Longtimenewsee it looks to be a fantastic display.

@SpamhappyTootsie Here's one for him to watch. Friend works for them and seems a decent employer. https://croda.csod.com/ats/careersite/search.aspx?site=5&c=croda

Thanks @EwwSprouts .. very much looking forward to it
It’s every 2 years so last chance for us oldies to see it (dc is in third year).
Also planning a seaside walk …. Maybe Seaham

Seaham to Nose’s Point is lovely. Bit of pavement walking past the docks and the dock buildings but you get to take in the Tommy statue. We park at the Seaham Hall Beach car park and head up either along the beach for a while or along the prom if the tide is in. Chemical Beach is very atmospheric but steep approach at both ends. Further up is Hawthorn Hive, with pebble sculptures/ names spelled out in stones but the steps down there are truly alarming! You can carry on to Hawthorn Dene but possibly a bit muddy for an autumn walk.
Really want to be at Seaham now!

Ooh thanks so much for this! Looking forward to a bracing beach walk now

Hey there. DD has had unconditional offer for Sociology (she's PQA). Cambridge top choice still but we know how that could go! Looking at colleges now - she's thinking St John's, St Cuths and St Chads. She doesn't want to share a room and has a medical condition (MS), and kinda hoping this means she might be able to stay in halls for Y2. Any words of wisdom? Am I right in that most are self catered?

Chads, Johns and the Bailey part of Cuths are catered. If she wants to be on the Bailey it’s all catered. There has been much upset re DU catering but Chads and Johns have their own caterers.

Chads is mainly shared in 1st year but would (I’m sure give her single room for medical reasons and prioritise her for 2nd year).

As I’ve said before my daughter is at Chad’s doing Sociology (and sharing a room).

Thanks @KittyMcKitty! We will visit it before making the final list, any idea of likelihood of getting any of the top three choices?
She will be looking at them all closer once her C interview is behind her but 'what college' is the first question people ask when she's said dshe's had an offer.

One thing which is worth thinking about is that sociology lectures / seminars are not at the science site - dd has everything at Elvet Riverside. She can get everywhere from Chads in less the 5 minutes. Chads also has 7 libraries (basically fancy study rooms) and a permanent in house college librarian.

re colleges expressing a preference for a college is just that and many are reallocated. The Uni website has statistics of allocations- I think Chads is 45% (dd was v lucky to get it).

She is having the time of her life but it is a very different Uni experience to any other I’ve seen (I know nothing about Oxbridge dd wasn’t interested) - she jokes that at times it seems more like a boarding school then a Uni - Chads is VERY sociable and very big on everyone joining in. Last week as an example dd went on a college ice skating trip to Newcastle (they hired an ice rink), a formal, this terms second ball, karaoke, various sporting things and last night was the advent procession - it’s obv all optional but v busy! I’m sure other colleges are equally busy.

Hi @mondaytosunday. My DD is a second year at St John's - living out this year. She absolutely loved John's - very friendly and supportive, very pretty. Only a small number of shared rooms, but they are huge. As Kitty said the catering at St John's and Chad's is different to the other catered colleges - seems to have a better reputation. Johns also has other perks -free formals and laundry. State of the art new library. She doesn't know anybody who was allocated it in 2022 who didn't put it first choice though.

@mondaytosunday my DD has graduated now but was at Johns. I agree with everything that @GoldenRuby has said. The food is amazing, the community is so welcoming and the study facilities especially the new LRC are fab. Free tea and coffee available all day too. Specifically for your DD, my DD had a friend who had cerebral palsy and was allocated a single room. I think it's the sort of thing you could request on medical grounds. The pastoral care at Johns is second to none and I speak from experience. Just last weekend I left a card and flowers for the amazing Jasmine who supported my DD through 4 years.

Another Johns parent here. The food seems much better than at the non-independent catered colleges and more plentiful (there have been complaints this year about quality and quantity), it's incredibly friendly and an amazing location.
Dc like having the new library as it's on their doorstep and very nice.

Rooms are quite tatty and especially the bathroom but dc is too happy and busy to care.

The new principal sounds great and very involved.

I couldn't recommend it enough and the Durham collegiate experience generally.

Teaching on some courses sounds patchy but maybe that's the same at lots or universities.

Just to add, I agree with others, if medical reasons are evidenced, your dc will get a single room.

Goodness thanks! She's not at all disabled (but does need a fridge in her room as her medicine is very temperature sensitive) but she does get fatigued. Anyway more investigating and a visit needed!