Durham help - economics / college and firm/insure

[RvLl]

Hello, would be grateful for any help. My dd has an offer from Durham for Economics. She’s ill and asleep but has asked me to read her emails re this and help her out.

There is one email asking her to submit college choices. Does anyone know where economics lectures are held? When she went on the open day, there was a management school and then another economics place that was quite far across the city. If anyone knows which of these buildings Economics lectures would be in or have any college recommendations, that would be welcome.

Unfortunately the offers she received were all exactly the same grades (A star, A, A). Does anyone know if she insures Bath or Exeter if either would be likely to take her if she missed a grade? She did know it would be a possibility getting same/similar offers but is happy to go via clearing if it comes to it.

Thanks for any help x

My experience is several decades out of date but my heart will always be hexagonal shaped (that’s Trevelyan).

this is completely out of date for your daughter but it was well situated for most things - a hill college but only 20 minutes from the centre, not far from the library, and lots of lovely green space.

anyway, bumping to hope you get some more up to date info to inform you.

There’s a good map on Durham’s website. Shows location of teaching blocks and colleges.
Looks like Mill Hill Lane atm near Hill colleges. Our DD was in Chad’s on the Bailey.
College choice is important.

Sorry I can't help with Economics or offers but I can tell you my son really couldn't decide on a college so picked University (Castle) and got a place there. It has been a fantastic experience. Bear in mind they only live at the college for the first year. After that they have to find their own accommodation in Durham and don't spend a lot of time at their college.

He was fully catered and had a great year. There is some accommodation actually in the castle but most is nearby in modern blocks. They have all meals in the Great Hall.

I work at Durham. Most of the Business School is now located in the Waterside Building which is the new building right in town. A few Economics staff still have offices in the Mill Hill Lane Building which is the older Business School building about 40-minutes from town. I believe they're being slowly moved out and into Waterside.

I've just checked the timetable for a few first year Economics modules. Teaching seems to be at Waterside, at the Teaching and Learning Centre or on the main campus (called Science Site). None of the sessions I've found seem to be taught at the Mill Hill Lane site.

Edited to add: I can't comment too much on colleges because I have no idea on that side of things. To me, South College, Butler and Mildert seem quite a trek from town.

Thanks for these specifics - very useful. I’ll look at the map with those places in mind. A cab driver told my dd that the Waterside Building couldn’t accommodate the largest lectures in Economics so that ties up with some of those being in the teaching and learning centre or main campus.

Yep, that's basically the upshot of it.

Any of the bailey colleges would work as being central between the waterside business school and the teaching and learning centre. A walk to each but probs about 20mins. They’re also central to the town too.

The hill colleges would be about 40mins walk to waterside but closer the teaching and learning centre - depending on the college chosen.

Each college has a unique feel about it so it’s worth doing a little research.

Re. insurance choice, if you scroll down to the end of the UCAS page for each course, it will show you the most common grades achieved by students on the course.

For Durham and Bath, that's A*AA, but for Exeter it's AAA, which suggests that Exeter would be a safer (but by no means safe) insurance choice.

Durham: https://www.ucas.com/explore/courses/25ec5554-1f69-4b6b-7519-e471e1c92b19/course?SearchText=

Bath: https://www.ucas.com/explore/courses/0063638a-4be2-4b70-9253-02f2d2c28cf9/economics

Exeter: https://www.ucas.com/explore/courses/63f8c006-e5d4-f81d-7e11-bb48051b6877/course?academicYearId=2026

The only problem with Bath as an insurance choice is getting accommodation. I’ve heard it can be hit and miss and they only guarantee it if you firm them. Exeter was also a bit of a nightmare this year for accommodation apparently as they are doing up a block.

I can’t remember what the stat is but an awful lot of people don’t get the college they want - and the even get moved around after allocation! So I wouldn’t put too much stock in it. Dd is in Stephenson which is about as far away as it comes and it’s fine, she’s getting very fit walking up and down the hill all day.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that college allocation can be quite hit and miss. A large number of students will get a preferred college but it seems that an equally large number of students will get allocated a college a long way down their list. That happened to my DD who wanted Bailey and catered and got Hill and self-catering. However, we were aware from Mumsnet posts that many students do not get a preferred choice but that students typically end up very happy wherever they land. That has been our DD’s experience. She had a few days of disappointment on the initial provisional allocation but very quickly got used to the idea of the college to which she had been allocated (John Snow) and by the time results day came round she was very excited to be confirmed as going there.

Also, bear in mind that allocation of a college is not the same thing as allocation of accommodation at that college. This was something I also learnt from Mumsnet posts. Once the college has been provisionally allocated, it will issue an accommodation form which will allow your YP to express any particular preferences. From memory, DD’s accommodation form was issued in June 2025 and had to be returned in early July. I have heard (also from Mumsnet) that failure to complete the accommodation form can mean students having to go into private accommodation because nothing has been allocated for them in college. So that’s something to keep an eye out for and make sure gets done as well.

Some don't get their first choice college but on a positive note some also do, DD did.
Should add it can change from initial allocation in May/June to final confirmation in Aug/Sep after results. Keep an eye out for the emails.

We found room allocation type can also be a bit of a lottery (didnt get ensuite as requested but did get a recently refurbished room and bathroom/pantry area) but if Durham is firm choice and grades exceed offer, the room allocation may be better.

@NorthEastFartHeadand they moved the Sociology department to the old Business building from Elvet Riverside! My DD loved her five minute walk from St John’s to there and rented in Elvet Crescent for this year only to discover her classes moved! However better than being in Gilesgate.
OP my DD did get her first choice college and actually does spend quite a lot of time there in Y2 as she likes the library , the Common room is a good place to chill and it’s a short walk from her house. Next year she’s opted to be much further out (40 min walk) as the rent is below £100/week, which is a bargain in Durham! Everyone seems to think their college is the best, whether it was their first choice or tenth. One thing is they will all get fitter - my DD walks up to 17k steps a day just getting around.

You're preaching to the choir. I'm in Sociology.
I have many thoughts about our relocation 😠