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?

We're year 12 (so not as much pressure to narrow things down). I have a biochem Dr/lecturer friend who is going to attempt to explain key differences between Biochem/MPharm/Biomed science etc etc and hopefully DD has some work experience at the local hospital lined up.

I quite liked city of Birmingham (used to have to go there for a sporting thing). It's broke now, though, but hopefully the infrastructure won't be neglected too much. Will look at Nottingham (though do remember a taxi driver telling us not to leave a nightclub without making sure the taxi was outside-not safe-decades ago).

I think the difference in what a current student told me at the open day on rental costs compared to what people are quoting on here may be to do with with or without bills. The £125 per week was without bills and I'm guessing the £160 per week mentioned on this thread is including all bills? I was wondering do you need to fill out your choices of College on your UCAS form? DS is doing early application as is having a punt at Oxford, but hasn't thought at all about Durham colleges!

It was mostly £170 to £220 per week with bills for this year, if that helps.

Wow, that’s expensive!

Yes, agree you can find something for about £80 for a box room to about £160 per week excluding bills if you are prepared to be out in the sticks and slum it in Gilesgate (which many choose to do). £170 a week upwards gets you somewhere a bit nicer, more central but doesn’t necessarily include all bills either.

But the students seem to be having the most fabulous time in Durham wherever they end up living. The Collegiate system is very good and they seem to make lots of friends and all look out for one another.

Yes, agree you can find something for about £80 for a box room to about £160 per week excluding bills if you are prepared to be out in the sticks and slum it in Gilesgate (which many choose to do).

My son did poorly in that case with his £180 per week for a very small room in the furthest end of Gilesgate. Might even be £190, I'd have to check with him.

He's currently doing viewings for next year so we'll see whether it's the same or higher still. Hopefully not.

Loving the idea of living in Gilesgate being “slumming it”.

Or out in the sticks! OK, it's not the best bit of Durham but it is easy walking distance into the city centre and they've got easy access to decent supermarkets so need never run out of pasta and booze. There's often subsidised buses between there and South Road.

Another one pointing out that Gilesgate isn't 'slumming it'.

I've noticed that it is yet another part of Durham where a lot of purpose-built student accommodation has sprung up, which seems perfectly adequate. And the main sweep of Gilesgate is a very characterful broad street (though there is also a lot of housing behind and beyond that main street that isn't so nice).
It is an attractive walk down into the city centre (and an attractive but tiring walk back up again).

Plus, my vet is there, so you might spot an exceptionally sweet terrier.

We moved my DD into her Y2 house on Gilesgate today. It is a really nice house. She is at the town end, not far from the roundabout, in a modernised Grade 2 listed building. 6 double bedrooms all with small en-suites, a really good open plan kitchen/lounge/dinner and large outdoor space. £166 a week inc bills.

That’s a great house!! So is that near Hild Bede?

That's a lovely house.

Love that Gilesgate is still seen as slumming it, far out etc. It is about 20 min walk to town and has perfectly good houses plus walking distance to big Tesco when everybody staying in town complains that the big supermarket is a <<gasp>> bus ride away.

I lived up gilesgate as a second year. Then spent a couple of years living there after graduating. Dd was born up there. I even managed to walk to the centre of Durham and back pushing a pram. I'm sure most students can manage it!

@KittyMcKitty yes, it's not far from HB. DD plans to cut through HB to get to the Billy B/ lectures.

I think it is a great location. There is a fairly big Sainsbury's Local, then further up as well as the big Tescos there is an Aldi and Lidl so great for student budgets (although if you are my DD the temptation to buy decorative bits in B&M, Home Bargains or the Range could be her downfall. Oh and a Bells fish & chips!)

It sounds perfect although shopping for decorative things could prove costly 😂 hope she has a wonderful 2nd year!

@GoldenRuby that looks a lovely house. I was referring more to ‘Gilesgate Moor’ area much further up the hill and away from
the City Centre.

I bought my first house in Gilesgate - that Sainsbury’s Local used to be Gateways and there was always a gaggle of teens hanging around outside (“the Gateways Gang” 🤣).

DH had a house in Gilesgate Moor and that was definitely a bit rough around the edges - neighbours were fine, a PhD student and an elderly greengrocer who kept us supplied with his leftover fruit and veg. Local pub was an experience!

Great outside space! Although a few containers could brighten it up; get the daffodils planted now!😀

She's definitely good for the big Tesceurgh there, @GoldenRuby 😀

@mushroom3 You don't have to put a Durham college down on UCAS application. DS was asked for his choices (they get to rank them) after he firmed his offer and ended up with his first choice in self-catering.

@GoldenRuby Super flat. Been chatting with DS about location v cost. He left it late last year and is paying over the odds but it's a short walk to Billy B and MC. Who knows what they will decide this year.

Some initial first impessions from my dc experience so far as a fresher:

Bailey colleges are not at all diverse in demographics but equally when there it's very welcoming, nobody has been talking about what schools people went to or flashing money about. I can see why it might feel far, far too homogenous for some students and would be intimidating and offputting and understand why. Hill colleges are better for this but the diversity stats overall are still very low across the university.

Colleges are incredibly welcoming for freshers and have activities for drinking partying types but also for quieter people who don't want that. Something for everyone and it makes it so much easier to find friends/potential friends than a non-college university. Freshers week has been an amazing experience for my dd.

Durham feels safe and small. Some might find it too small and claustrophobic. She loves the charm and size of the place but not everyone would.

Loads of activities and sports as both college and uni level options.

@Middleaugust that is good to hear!

So far, so off the scale good!

But for the OP, I can see it would not suit everyone.

Thanks @Middleaugust
That's a very useful summary. Great to hear your DD is enjoying Durham life!

DD’s experience of the first week has been very similar to @Middleaugust dc. Dd is at Chads and she has found Freshers week amazing and the Freps beyond fantastic waiting outside the clubs for everyone to get them home safely etc.

She thinks Chads is fab and the food really good. She’s met some lovely people. She likes Durham and it’s smallness and cute shops. She even thought Klute was good fun and likes the fact it’s a 5 mins walk back to her room.

Her Dept and course seem very supportive and she’s met her academic tutor and also Dept peer mentor. Pastorally is also great she has a college tutor and a seemingly unending list of college parents / grandparents and so on. Their second college formal was a subject one where they sat with other people doing their subject. College is very proactive in addressing the lack of diversity Durham has. At another formal they had a selection of speakers (incl the last JCR president) talking about imposter syndrome and belonging.

So lots and lots of positives.

Negatives she has been surprised by the amount of casual classism you hear and has been asked the where did you go to school question a few times (this question has only been asked by boys and all from the same college - dd has also met lovely people from this college). Dd is not bothered by the question - she says they just laugh and don’t answer it and it’s just lazy and poor social skills but she was surprised and can see how others may feel different (for context dd is from a grammar school in the south east). But you’re going to get some idiots wherever you go.

I don’t say this to bad mouth Durham (dd loves it and is massively pleased she is there and doesn’t care where people went to school be that a top public school or a sink comprehensive) but I wanted to give an honest reflection of her experience. She says the majority of accents she hears are those from SE England but equally her brother at Manchester said the same.

Her other main complaint seems to be her shock and disgust at the fact that circuit laundry is £4.20 and that the app keeps
crashing - she has given adulting 0/10 😂

But in short she’s having a great time and the college provides a massive amount of support to students in all areas.

Oh and she says it’s not too cold so far 😂

Oh and she’s very excited by the vast amount of opportunities for student theatre - there really is something for everyone.

Also excited for the Taylor Swift boat party. Taylor Swift aside she’s really into live music (indie ish girls with guitars type of stuff) and Newcastle seems to get a reasonable range of gigs and is so easy to get to.

Dd has piercings and tattoos and there are plenty of people who look like her even at the Bailey colleges. There is also a very strong pro LGBT message from the colleges (dd is a lesbian).

Oh and she loves the gown and dressing up and was pleasantly surprised by the Scottish dancing which she wouldn’t have considered anywhere else!