Durham University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Durham University

Coat of arms of the university
Latin: Universitas Dunelmensīs
Other name	The University of Durham
Motto	Latin: Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis
Motto in English	Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1)
Type	Public research university
Established	1832; 193 years ago (1832) (university status)
Academic affiliations	ACU Coimbra Group EUA Matariki Network of Universities N8 Research Partnership Russell Group Universities UK
Endowment	£101.7 million (2023; exclusive of independent colleges)
Budget	£483.6 million (2022/23)
Chancellor	Fiona Hill CMG
Vice-Chancellor & Warden	Karen O’Brien
Academic staff	2,530 (2022/23)
Administrative staff	2,920 (2022/23)
Students	17,810 (2015/16)
Undergraduates	13,665 (2015/16)
Postgraduates	4,720 (2015/16)
Location	Durham and Stockton-on-Tees , England
Campus	257 hectares (640 acres)
Student newspaper	Palatinate
Colours	Palatinate
Sporting affiliations	BUCS, Wallace Group
Sports team	Team Durham
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Durham Castle and Cathedral
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	ii, iv, vi
Designated:	1986 (10th session)
Reference #:	370
Extension:	2008
Region:	Western Europe

Durham University is a famous public university in Durham, England. It was officially started by a special law in 1832. The university is one of the oldest in England, opening after only Oxford and Cambridge.

Durham is a collegiate university. This means it has different parts:

• Academic departments focus on teaching and research.
• 17 colleges look after student living and well-being.

The university is part of the Russell Group, a collection of leading research universities in the UK. It also belongs to international groups like the Matariki Network of Universities. Durham University owns many old and important buildings, including parts of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. This includes Durham Castle itself.

History of Durham University

Durham University has a long and interesting history.

How Durham University Started

Long ago, in the 1200s, monks from Durham had a place to study at Oxford University. Later, in the 1600s, there were ideas to start a university in Durham. But these plans didn't work out because Oxford and Cambridge universities didn't want new universities to give out degrees.

Finally, in 1832, a law was passed by the British Parliament. This law allowed the church leaders in Durham to use some of their property to create a university. King William IV approved this law on July 4, 1832.

Early Years: 1832–1909

The university officially opened on October 28, 1833. In 1837, it received a special document from the King, making it a full university. Students started living in the Archdeacon's Inn. When Queen Victoria became Queen, she allowed the university to use Durham Castle. This made it one of the oldest buildings in the world used as a university college.

In 1846, Hatfield College was founded. It offered affordable rooms and meals, which was a new idea then. This idea later spread to other universities. The university also grew by adding a medical school in Newcastle in 1852.

Durham was the first English university to connect with colleges overseas. In 1875, it partnered with Codrington College in Barbados and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone. Students at these colleges could take exams and get degrees from Durham.

The first student debating society in Durham started in 1835. The Durham Union Society was formed in 1842. It is still a very active student group today.

At first, only members of the Church of England could get degrees from Durham. This rule changed in 1865. Women were allowed to get degrees from 1895. The first women's college, St Mary's College, was founded in 1899.

Federal University: 1909–1963

The university's part in Newcastle grew very quickly. It became much larger than the colleges in Durham. In 1937, the two Newcastle colleges joined to form King's College. The head of the university, called the Vice-Chancellor, would switch between Durham and Newcastle.

After World War II, the Durham part of the university expanded a lot. New colleges were built, and science and engineering studies grew. In 1947, Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) laid the foundation stone for the new St Mary's building.

In 1963, King's College in Newcastle became its own separate university, called Newcastle University. From then on, Durham University was based only in Durham City.

Modern University: 1963–1999

After the separation from Newcastle, Durham University continued to grow in Durham City. New colleges like Grey College (1959), Van Mildert College (1965), and Collingwood College (1972) were added. A Botanic Garden was also created in 1970.

In 1965, the Graduate Society was founded for postgraduate students. This later became Ustinov College. In 1988, Hatfield College, which used to be only for men, started accepting women.

Stockton Campus Development: 1992–1999

In 1991, Durham University started a new campus in Stockton-on-Tees, about 30 miles south of Durham. It was first called University College Stockton (UCS).

At first, UCS was meant to offer degrees from both Durham and Teesside universities. But Teesside University later withdrew, and Durham took full control. The Stockton campus became known as the University of Durham, Stockton Campus (UDSC) in 1998.

21st Century at Durham University

In 2001, two new colleges, John Snow and George Stephenson, were opened at the Stockton campus. A new medical school also started there. In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II named the Stockton site "Queen's Campus."

In 2012, Durham University joined the Russell Group of top research universities in the UK.

Changes to Queen's Campus and Durham Expansion

In 2016, the university decided to move the colleges and academic activities from Queen's Campus back to Durham City. The medical school was transferred to Newcastle University. Queen's Campus then became an International Study Centre for students from other countries.

In 2017, a new building called the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics was opened. This building provides more space for scientists. The university also announced plans to invest a lot of money to improve its campus and welcome more students.

Two new colleges opened in 2020 at a place called Mount Oswald. John Snow College moved into one of these, and the other became a brand new college called South College.

Durham University Campus

Durham University has a large area of land, about 257 hectares (635 acres). Most of this is in Durham City. It includes parts of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. The university also owns many historic buildings.

One popular place is the Botanic Gardens, which covers 10 hectares (25 acres) and has over 80,000 visitors each year. The university has more than 380 buildings.

Durham City Campus Areas

Durham City is the main home of the university. It has all the colleges and most of the teaching departments. The campus is spread out in different areas:

• The Bailey is the oldest part of the university. It has five colleges and some academic departments. The Palace Green Library, which holds special old books, is also here.
• Old and New Elvet areas have many departments for subjects like Philosophy and Sociology.
• Mountjoy (also called the Science site) has most of the science departments, large lecture halls, and the main Bill Bryson Library.
• Elvet Hill has ten of the colleges, the Botanic Garden, and the Business School.

Mount Oswald Colleges

Two new colleges, John Snow College and South College, opened in 2020 at Mount Oswald. These colleges have about 500 rooms each for students to live in.

Future Plans for the Campus

The university has plans to improve its campus even more by 2027. This includes building a new home for the Business School and improving other teaching facilities. They also plan to build more new colleges.

Ushaw College

Ushaw College, a former Catholic seminary, is also connected to the university. It hosts parts of the Business School and a research library.

Queen's Campus in Stockton

The Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees is about 30 miles from Durham City. Until 2017–18, it had about 2,000 students. Now, it is an International Study Centre. This centre helps students from other countries get ready to study at Durham.

The Wolfson Research Institute is also located at Queen's Campus. It focuses on research about health and well-being.

University Libraries

Durham University has over 1.5 million books. The main library is the Bill Bryson Library. There is also the Palace Green Library, which holds very old and special collections.

In 2012, the university helped buy the St Cuthbert Gospel, which is Europe's oldest intact book. It is sometimes shown at the Palace Green Library.

Each college also has its own library for students.

University Museums

The university has three museums that are open to the public:

• The Durham University Oriental Museum has over 30,000 objects from Asia and the Middle East.
• The Durham University Museum of Archaeology focuses on the history of North East England.
• Durham Castle Museum has about 5,000 items from the castle's history.

How Durham University Works

Academic Year

The school year at Durham is divided into three terms:

• Michaelmas term (October to December)
• Epiphany term (January to March)
• Easter term (April to June)

Before Michaelmas term, there is a special "Induction Week" (also called "Freshers' Week") for new students.

Durham University Colleges

Durham has a college system, much like Oxford and Cambridge. All students belong to a college. Most students live in their college during their first year. Colleges are important for student life, offering places to live, social activities, sports, and support.

Students often have "formal dinners" at their colleges. At some colleges, students wear special academic gowns for these dinners. There is friendly competition between the colleges, especially in sports like rowing.

The colleges are:

University Leadership

The university is led by a Chancellor and a Vice-Chancellor. The Chancellor is mostly a ceremonial role. The Vice-Chancellor is in charge of the university's daily operations. Since 2022, the Vice-Chancellor has been Karen O'Brien, the first woman to hold this position.

Students graduate in special ceremonies held in Durham Cathedral.

Departments and Faculties

The university's teaching departments are grouped into four main areas, called faculties:

• Science
• Arts and Humanities
• Social Sciences and Health
• The Business School

Each faculty has many different departments. For example, the Faculty of Science includes Biosciences, Chemistry, and Physics.

Academic Strengths

Research at Durham

Durham University is known for its strong research. It is part of the N8 Research Partnership, which connects top universities in Northern England for research. The university also has many research institutes. For example, the Institute for Computational Cosmology studies the universe.

Durham received a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2018 for its research on how babies sleep.

University Rankings

Rankings

National rankings
Complete (2021)	8
Guardian (2021)	7
Times / Sunday Times (2021)	7
Global rankings
ARWU (2020)	301–400
CWTS Leiden (2020)	126
QS (2021)	78
THE (2021)	174
British Government assessment
Teaching Excellence Framework	Gold

Durham University is often ranked among the top universities in the UK. It is usually in the top ten in national university guides.

Top Subjects in the UK

Durham is especially strong in certain subjects. For example, in 2020, it was ranked:

• 1st in the UK for English and Music.
• 2nd for French, Geography, and Theology.
• 3rd for Archaeology, Chemistry, History, and Classics.

Global Rankings

Durham is also recognized internationally.

• The Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Durham 174th in the world in 2024.
• The QS World University Rankings placed Durham 78th in the world in 2024.
• For specific subjects, Durham is ranked very highly globally:

* 6th in the world for Theology. * 8th for Classics. * 10th for Archaeology. * 14th for Geography.

Admissions to Durham University

UCAS Admission Statistics

	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
Main scheme applications
Applications	34,205	32,570	32,685	30,710	29,890
Accepted applicants	4,610	6,130	5,140	4,485	4,335
Applications/accepted ratio	7.42	5.31	6.36	6.85	6.90
UK domiciled applicants, June deadline
Applications	22,960	21,995	22,355	20,400	20,010
Offer rate (%)	48.0	71.0	72.2	76.6	71.7
Offers	11,020	15,625	16,140	15,620	14,355
Placed applicants	3,375	4,895	4,135	3,570	3,455
Placed applicants/offers (%) (Yield)	30.6	31.3	25.6	22.9	24.1
Summary statistics
Total accepted applicants	4,680	6,160	5,710	4,580	4,390
Average Entry Tariff	n/a	n/a	187	184	192

Durham University is a popular choice for students. In 2020–21, the average entry score for new students was high. This shows that students who get into Durham usually have excellent grades.

The university aims to welcome students from all backgrounds. It has programs to help students who might not have had the same opportunities as others. For example, the "Supported Progression" program helps talented young people from certain areas prepare for university.

Durham also works with the Sutton Trust to run summer schools. These schools help bright students from less privileged backgrounds get ready for university.

Student Life at Durham

Living in Colleges

Students at Durham belong to a college for their entire time at university. Most students live in their college during their first year. Colleges offer a supportive environment, with staff and older students helping new students settle in.

Each college has its own unique feel and facilities. These can include computer rooms, libraries, sports courts, and gyms. Many colleges have their own sports teams and theatre groups.

Student Groups and Clubs

Durham has about 200 student clubs and organizations. These cover many interests, like academics, arts, sports, and hobbies. The Durham Students' Union (DSU) helps fund and support these groups.

The Durham Union Society is one of the largest student groups. It holds weekly debates and invites famous speakers.

Helping the Community

Durham University students are very involved in volunteering. The Durham University Student Volunteering and Outreach (DUSVO) group runs over 80 projects. More than 2,000 students volunteer each year. These projects help the local community in many ways.

The Durham University Charity Kommittee (DUCK) is the university's fundraising group. It organizes events throughout the year to raise money for charities.

Sports at Durham

Sport is a big part of student life at Durham, with most students taking part. The university has been named Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year twice.

Durham offers over 50 different sports. These are organized under the name Team Durham. The main sports facility is the Maiden Castle sports centre.

Durham is consistently one of the top universities in the UK for sports. It often ranks in the top three in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) table. Durham is especially strong in rowing and tennis.

Athletes who achieve a very high standard in their sport can earn a "Palatinate" award. This is similar to a "blue" at other universities.

Music and Drama

Durham has a lively arts scene. Durham Student Theatre (DST) has about 700 student members. They put on many plays and shows each term at the university's Assembly Rooms theatre.

The Durham Drama Festival celebrates new plays written by Durham students. The Durham Revue is the university's comedy group. They perform regularly and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Music is also very popular. The Durham University Chamber Choir and Orchestral Society are well-known. Many colleges also offer scholarships for talented singers and musicians.

Famous People from Durham University

Many people who studied at Durham University have become famous in different fields.

• Government and Politics: Mo Mowlam, who was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process. Internationally, Sir Milton Margai was the first prime minister of Sierra Leone.
• Religion: Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury.
• Law: Several Supreme Court Justices, like Lord Hughes and Lady Black.
• Military: General Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt, a former head of the British Army.
• Science and Academia: John D. Barrow, a famous mathematician and physicist.
• Business: Tim Smit, who co-founded the Eden Project.
• Journalism and Media: Harold Evans, a famous newspaper editor, and BBC presenters like George Alagiah and Jeremy Vine.
• Writing: Authors like Minette Walters.
• Sports: Many famous athletes, including rugby captains Will Carling and Will Greenwood, and Olympic gold-medallist Jonathan Edwards.

Images for kids

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  Durham University Logo

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  Coat of arms of the university

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  William van Mildert, Bishop of Durham and one of the founders of the university

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  An examination taking place in Cosin's Library, 1842

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  Durham Castle (gatehouse pictured) houses University College, making it one of the oldest buildings currently being used to house a university in the world

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  Durham University College of Medicine, Newcastle, now the Sutherland Building of Northumbria University

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  St Chad's College, one of the two independent colleges

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  The lawn at St Mary's College, the first of the Hill colleges

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  Ebsworth Building, Queen's Campus, Stockton

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  School of Government and International Affairs

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  The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics

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  Hatfield College, Durham

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  Old Elvet is the home of a number of departments

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  The Palatine Centre on the Mountjoy Campus

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  Sheraton Park, site of a former teacher training college and home to Ustinov College since 2017

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  South (left) and John Snow (right) colleges on the Mount Oswald site

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  Wolfson Research Institute at the Queen's Campus

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  The original university library, now known as the Palace Green Library (centre), and the School of Music (left)

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  St Cuthbert Gospel, an 8th-century gospel book

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  The Old Fulling Mill, original home of the Durham University Museum in 1833

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  Archdeacon Charles Thorp, founder and first Warden of Durham

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  The university's graduation ceremonies take place in Durham Cathedral

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  Bill Bryson (Chancellor 2005–2012) in the academic dress of Chancellor of Durham University

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  The Dawson Building houses the departments of Archaeology and Anthropology

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  Durham University's national league table performance over the past ten years

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  Durham Law School

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  Cosin's Hall, home to the Institute of Advanced Study

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  The Great Hall at University College

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  The Durham Union Society is the university's largest student society

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  Dunelm House, home of the Durham Students' Union

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  University College Boat Club and Newcastle University racing at Durham Regatta

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  The Racecourse is one of the university's main sites for sporting facilities

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  Durham University Botanic Garden

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  General Sir Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff

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  Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project

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  Harold Evans

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  Jonathan Edwards, Van Mildert College, Physics

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Durham para niños

• Armorial of UK universities
• Common Awards
• Historical list of Durham University Colleges
• List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)
• List of UK universities
• Doxbridge