Parents of Durham freshers 2025

[MillicentFaucet]

We've chatted on a different threads over the past few months so do any anxious/excited/slightly overwhelmed parents want to congregate here for Durham chat?
My DS will be starting an MEng next month and has been allocated to Cuths 🐯(but no confirmation of what type of accommodation he has yet).
He's slowly working his way through registration etc and fretting about the important things like what to wear for matriculation <sigh>
How's everyone else getting on?

Haha yes, I did see an insta post about college weddings in the bar this weekend, no sure if DS is partaking though!
I think his course has weekly quiz sheets for some of the modules to help them keep on track. I don't know if he has had anything more formal yet. He did mention a group project to build something (?) this month, he says he's fine keeping up with coursework & claims to have only missed one lecture since the start of the year <chinny reckon>
He understands he'll get bounced down the the BEng if he slacks off so I'm trusting him to be proactive if problems arise 🤐

Dear Durham parents, sorry to hijack your thread but was just wondering if any of your DC ended up missing their predicted grades and still getting a place. My DC has an offer which is the same as his PG and this is causing me some anxiety as I've heard that Durham are quite strict about this. Just wondering what the likelihood is of still getting a place if he doesn't do as well as predicted

Durham are pretty strict on grades (DS got his but friends did not) so I would try and be sure he’s happy with his insurance if results day doesn’t go to plan

In my experience of recent years it depends on the subject. They were unusually forgiving for some subjects in 2025. But pretty immovable for the most popular including History and Business/finance/economics.

Thank you - that's what I've heard too. DC doesn't seem worried (it's just me!) and is working hard so hoping for the best!

Anyone else's DC off to the student thing at Gosforth races on Friday? DS is missing labs to go, claims he's already rescheduled for another time. Hmm

Was the event at Gosforth races good @MillicentFaucet? Were labs rescheduled?

Have you, or anyone else, been to the Beamish museum? It looks amazing and not far from Durham itself.

Hi @Ventress DS said he enjoyed the race day even though it poured with rain. This weekend's shenanigans were Cuths feast & the rowing club ceilidh so the new black tie has been well used, he's definitely living his best student life atm. Are you still planning to come up for an OHD, which colleges are you looking at?

I can confirm that Beamish is a fantastic place, we have had annual passes for 20+ years. My DC continue to love the various steam trains & engines, it's a great place to visit on a sunny day (with a picnic to avoid the cafe queues)

That sounds wonderful- in spite of the weather! I’m pleased that your son is having is having such a fantastic time at Durham. My nephew is the rower in the family so I expect DS will enjoy the ceilidh rather than try and get in the rowing team! I am loving all of talk of how much opportunity there is amongst the group to branch out and live their best lives 😊

We are going to see four colleges on OHD, including St Cuthberts and other central colleges (I have a list somewhere!) and perhaps others that we can sneak into.

The Beamish sound fab. We will definitely go while we are in County Durham 😊

I thought this was going to be my first ever child free Mother's Day but DS (& DH) plotted a little surprise visit for me.
He's in the kitchen now making osso buco & saffron risotto🤗

What an amazing surprise, hope you enjoy your meal. Not long to go until the end of term. I’m counting down the days as DS has only been home for 1 night since he went back after Christmas.

That’s lovely to hear @MillicentFaucet! Good on your DH and DS for their caring plot!

We went to the OHD yesterday and loved it! Such a lovely place with very happy, friendly students. Just wondering if any of the existing parents could say when they typically finish for the year? Saw on the Exeter group that lots of students finish end of March and then have six months at home before returning in September. Quite shocking really. I assume this is just Exeter and that Durham finish much later but would be useful to know. I could just google it, but terms dates on the university website are not necessarily indicative of the reality of finishing the lectures/seminars earlier with no exams or remaining input offered.

My Dd finishes her exams on May 22 but they don’t have to move out of college til the end of june so is going to stay there til then and enjoy some fun weeks post-exam. HTH!

Thank you, that's really helpful. Apparently Exeter have two longer terms which means the third one finishes (end of March), although they can stay in halls until May if they wish. Doesn't sound like a great system to me and is making me think twice of having it down as insurance.

@Fabfabfab - i didn’t know that about Exeter but elder DD is at Edinburgh and has 2 long semesters. She does finish classes by the end of March and exams are over by late May but each semester is long. It doesn’t feel like she is missing out academically. Obviously it’s about what suits your child but I wouldn’t be automatically put off by the 2-semester set-up.

I guess they have finished after their last exam but my dc has always said that the bit after exams is Durham at its best. The colleges put a lot on after exams end and most students stay until the end of term

That's reassuring to hear. From what I heard in Exeter, a lot of students didn't even have exams and just went home, having paid for accommodation until end of term.

I’ve heard this as well. My DD is already estimating she’ll stay til at least mid-June for the summer ball and festival day.

Last year after exams my dc had a ball & college day, the regatta, formals, picnics by the river, trips to Edinburgh and college days out to the seaside plus all their society events and socials . It looked amazing and there seemed to be loads of drop in type college events that they could get involved with too

@Fabfabfabmy DS is at Exeter (has done 2 years and currently doing placement year). Lectures finish before Easter and then in summer term, they have revision seminars followed by exams in mid May. He and all his friends have stayed until end of 1st week in June both years, enjoying the sunshine, beach, day trips etc + the EGB (Electric Garden Ball) which is kind of a big festival on a country estate.

He says he's not aware of anyone not going back for summer term - house contracts run until at least end June so it doesnt make sense to not to.

DS will be staying until the bitter end (27th June), even after exams are over he has a professional accreditation course in mid June. Also formals, balls & college day, plus Durham Regatta. He's going to be shattered 😁

Sounds like they are having a wonderful time! Good to hear about Exeter as well @NorthernStar96 - I suppose even if exams end super early it makes sense to stay and enjoy themselves afterwards especially if they have paid for accommodation

Is that to do with engineering (wonders if DS has forgotten something)

@HelenDenver it is yes.
Probably splitting up the cohort across a few different dates. I think they are required to complete 2 days fieldwork as part of the Engineering Practice module.
How is your DS finding the course so far?