Tell me about Durham

[Durhamm]

DD has Durham on her list of potential unis but she has never been, can't make the open day and it's a long way for us to visit.

She is looking at one of the joint hons degrees via nat sci.

As far as I can see, lots of people like it for the college system and the formals, but DD isn't bothered one way or the other about those. So what else is good / bad about Durham? A family member went there and didn't have a great experience but we'd like a second opinion and I know there are many Durhamites here.

She wants self catering accommodation, great teaching, to be challenged academically, a diverse and interesting bunch of people to meet, lots of fun things to do when not studying. She is not particularly into team sports, but likes music, going to gigs, cycling, green spaces. Space generally would be good - she found Bristol a bit crowded and much preferred the vibe of the campuses at Birmingham and Nottingham.

Please tell me everything you know, good or bad! Does Durham have lots of other positives apart from the college system, living in a castle and the formals?

I don't know if they still do it, but they used to be verrrrry late issuing offers. Other pupils could be firming offers, organising accommodation, getting on with life, etc whilst Durham applicants were still waiting to hear (in March!) ...

I studied Law at undergrad level there a few years ago. I was in University College (colloquially called 'Castle' given that part of the accommodation is in Durham Castle).

Overall I had a good time. Quality of teaching was very high, there are absolutely TONS of extra-curriculars and societies to get involved in (there really is something for everyone!), and the college system does make it very easy to make firm friends early on. Good facilities on the whole as well. Castle was obviously lovely - a fantastic novelty eating meals in the main hall (it really is like Harry Potter) and I was lucky enough to actually live in the castle itself in first year. The city of Durham itself is truly charming as well, and the cathedral on the hill by the river is simply stunning.

The downsides - if space is an issue then your DD may want a rethink as Durham is a very small city and the uni just seems to cram more and more students in. During term time, some of the streets going up to the Palatine Centre (one of the main campus areas) were completely clogged for people. It also means that securing second-year private accommodation is really stressful and expensive because there's a shortage (but tbh this is a problem across the country). You can get good accommodation outside the centre, but these areas can be very deprived and run down.

There is also a bit of tension between locals and students - 'towns v gowns' - but nothing that made it an unsafe or unpleasant place to live in my experience.

Thank you both - the town v gown aspect was something our family member also mentioned. They are from a deprived area in the north and felt quite out of place at the uni.

Maybe Durham is not for DD with the overpopulation issues! Shame because the course looks quite good.

Also take the point about the late offers.

@Durhamm interested in responses here too. DD is struggling to fill her list of 5 as only some do her course and Durham has a really good one. However we visited last term and came away rather flat and still can't decide whether to include it or not. Like yours, my DD is after self catering and she was disappointed by what we were able to see of the hill colleges. She also commented on the lack of diversity and I think worries what she would do there - she isn't into sport or drinking but likes music, though I am sure there is plenty of that. The hills made it feel rather claustrophobic but obviously that might have felt worse on the day because of the crowds. Sorry I'm not being very positive and of course you may get a much better view of things from someone whose DC has been there.
I would be really interested to hear what you thought of Birmingham (which does do her course) compared to Nottingham (which doesn't but which I know.

Went to the open day last year and had a mixed view. Course and sporting facilities were excellent. Looked round 2 colleges/halls of residences and thought they were dumps compared to basic/standard accomodation elsewhere. Was informed there were groups for state educated students so felt very out of place. Student Union didn't have a bar but the colleges did. Durham is a lovely city but small. Not for my DD as seemed very elite but I do know of students who have gone and loved it.

My older ds had a Durham offer (missed his grades so he's not there!) but would have been in South (newest hill college, self catering, great facilities). In retrospect I think he would have missed being in a bigger city - he's in a band, is a very keen musician and loves gigs and prob would have had to go to Newcastle for that. Not sure he would have found his people as easily there. Academically it would have been fine, I'm sure.

@Hope4534

Birmingham's campus isn't as big as Nottingham's but there's still plenty of space and we both felt it had a really friendly and open vibe. There was a real mix of people at the summer open day, which DD liked (unlike Bristol which seemed much less diverse). We are going back in Nov to check out a slightly different course.

Unlike Nottingham the halls of residence are slightly separate from the main Birmingham campus but walking distance away I think - we haven't seen them yet though.

I wondered about the small size too - we live just outside a medium sized city and I think DD ideally would prefer a campus but with city life close by.

The Durham negatives probably outweigh the positives, and it's a long way away, so I think that's one off the list!

(I thought Durham was really popular on MN so this has been interesting.)

Not sure what will take its place, like your DD @Hope4534 she doesn't have much choice. We are going to look at Warwick next month, plus Liverpool and back to Birmingham. Maybe Exeter, not sure.

I went there as a student some years ago. My instinct would generally be to advise against it. It’s a very small city so can feel claustrophobic. The winters are icy. The town and gown issue was noticeable and put me off the place. The student cohort at that time seemed to be dominated by the privately educated and hugely wealthy.

My DC did not apply to Durham. They thought it was insular, like a boarding school with the collegiate system, small town, and had heard reports of how difficult and expensive student accommodation is in 2nd and 3rd years (queueing all night to be near the front of the line for viewings etc). Formals and gowns also put them off. Having said that, several of their friends went there and enjoyed it.

My husband and I went to Durham and my son's just started his second year.

Pluses are so far away that no one goes home at weekends, great uni and college sport, very pretty and well-respected by employers.

Minuses - far away (for most), crap nightlife if you're an avid clubber and getting a house was an expensive and stressful process for lots of students last year.

A relative went and didn’t enjoy it. They are very bright, sporty etc. and have done very well subsequently but they don’t have happy memories. It’s very posh and cliquey and some of the other students are very intense. Lots of young women with eating disorders and men with sexist attitudes. The teaching isn’t great either. I know they are not alone in these views and yet people lose their shit trying to get in every year because, you know, Hogwarts 😬

DS is going into his third year.
Pros - Hill colleges are very inclusive and quite diverse. Lots of green space around (Houghall Woods, Low Burnall nature reserve, river walk to Old Durham Gardens, students get free entry to the Botanic Gardens).
Excellent support and pastoral care via Colleges.
Feels very safe.
The city centre isn’t great for independent shops etc, but the cafes are good, there’s a Tesco etc. There’s a shopping centre on a bus route giving more variety.
Everywhere is walking distance, as long as you don’t mind hills.
Cons - accomodation issues after first year. More options if you don’t mind a bus ride.
Nightlife not busy, but Newcastle very near.

DS hasn’t had any bad experiences as a state school student. That’s not to say they don’t exist, but just not for him at a Hill college, doing Chemistry. His friends say similar.

Well my DD is off there in 10 days. We didn’t experience any of what is described here in the run up and know lots of incredibly happy people there. None of them are privately educated and are lovely kids. The accommodation issues exist in lots of universities. If you want big city not for you but I wouldn’t write it off on basis of lots of these comments …

I went there in the late 90s, but the posts above all sound right to me.

Staying in the old part of the city in the first year was just magical (St. Cuthberts), but in a rented house at the top of a hill on the outskirts rather less so in year 2. It was my first encounter with people with proper money - I remember feeling rather left out over one dinner where everyone was talking about their parents' estate's arrangements to avoid inheritance tax.

The music scene was non-existent, with no practice rooms available. Not being on the music course the music dept didn't want to know. To be honest I spent a ton of time in Newcastle instead, to the point I ran one of their uni bands and landed a weekly gig in the jazz cafe. The last train back to Durham (~1am IIRC) got pretty mental.

I also never understood Durham's take on the collegiate system. It really is just a fancy name for halls of residence.

I don't really have a comment on the quality of the course/teaching, but the reputation of the university did carry a little weight when interviewing for jobs post-graduation.

Those commenting about town v gown, it isn't really a thing any more (I went there when it certainly was a thing, as did my DC more recently when it wasn't). That may be because of the sheer number of students these days compared to when I was there. It is a very unique place, beautiful, and safe, but small with low key nightlife, so it would not suit anyone wanting loads of gigs, jazz clubs etc, and absolutely freezing in winter! The college system is great, but only a few are self catering, and the catered colleges are extremely expensive. You won't necessarily get your choice of accommodation type either. Trains are cheap when booked in advance, and I'd definitely recommend a visit. Yes lots of privately educated but I believe state school educated are the majority so that shouldn't necessarily put people off.

people lose their shit trying to get in every year because, you know, Hogwarts

Made me laugh - I'm really surprised how negative the initial responses have been, and glad to hear more positive impressions.

DD is applying to Oxbridge and really likes the college set-up, but as far as I can make out, Durham is not the same, no tutorials system so the Durham colleges are more like halls of residence? Please correct me if I'm wrong though.

I'm sure it's well-respected by employers, which is not to be sniffed at. But DD can get that closer to home I think.

It's very pretty and very hilly. Maybe not the best cycling uni....

Does she have York on list? More down to earth, also colleges, and a cycling mecca!

Good point about the hills!
I have Yorkshire roots so would love her to go to York but I don't think she could find a course there that suits her. I will have a look tonight though in case she's missed anything!

DS graduated from Durham this year. State school, stayed in one of the Bailey colleges (Hatfield). He had a fantastic experience. Yes there are lots of privately educated kids but he never had any issues, I'm not sure he expected any though. I have three older children who went to different universities and I think the collegiate system is much more than just halls of residence.
He found great nightlife in Durham itself , but went to Newcastle if he wanted more. In practice he was happy with what Durham has to offer and only went a few times. As to town /gown, there seemed to be an unwritten rule that Saturday was locals night so the students stayed around the colleges. No other problems.
Second year accommodation is an issue however, as others have said. You have to be quick off the mark.

My DD submitted her UCAS application in mid October ‘22 and received an offer from Durham two weeks later. We weren’t expecting that at all, and didn’t hear from any others for a couple of months.

She had her A-Level results in hand, though - not sure whether that made a difference.

I think the collegiate system is much more than just halls of residence.

How so, @happyharpy78?
I have heard about a sense of community, easy to make friends, eating together, sports teams etc but I think you'd get that at most halls?

I know a distinctive feature of Oxbridge is students often stay in college accommodation for more than just first year but that seems not to be a thing in Durham if 2nd years are struggling to find rentals. Again please correct me if wrong, I probably have no clue what I'm on about.

DD’s moving into halls there on the 23rd so having read this thread I’m worrying that it won’t live up to what she hoping for! She’s so excited to be going, and she certainly won’t enjoy “posh & cliquey”. 😔

Re the colleges… DD went up there and looked around three colleges, iirc. She liked them all and got Josephine Butler (a hill college) which she’s really excited about (mainly because all the rooms are en suite and the facilities are good, I think!). I did some research into the colleges as well and it certainly seems more ‘collegiate’ than just being different halls of residence - they seem to have particular vibes and reputations to them, and then there are the different bars, clubs, places to eat and communal areas.