Old Shire Hall
Old Elvet
Durham DH1 3HP

Tel 0191 334 6128

admissions@durham.ac.uk

www.durham.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 11 (8)

Teaching excellence 68%

Student satisfaction 75.5%

Head teacher ranking 8 (9)

Peer ranking 20 (12)

Research quality 74.4%

A/AS-level points 425

A-levels for entry 87%

Unemployment 5.8%

Firsts and 2:1s 77.8%

Student/staff ratio 16.8:1

Dropout rate 3% (6%)

World ranking 132

Undergraduates 11,565 (459)

Postgraduates 2,806 (2,490)

Teaching staff 603

Applications/places 27,906/3,533; 7.9:1 (+6.1%)

Clearing entry 1.6%

Bursaries 24%: £310-£3,070

Scholarships Various

EU/overseas 2.4%/7.8%

Mature 7.1%

State school 62%

Lowest social classes 16%

Low-participation areas 10%

Live in 50% (99%) £88-£144

Celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, Durham has announced plans to extend its Queen’s campus in Stockton. Some of its most prestigious courses are based there, including medicine, biomedical sciences, anthropology, education, business and psychology. Recently acquired land in the North Shore area could be used to develop research facilities or to house another residential college to add to the two colleges based in Stockton already. Another 14 are located at the home base, 20 miles up the A1.

The collegiate structure is one of Durham’s key distinguishing features. The colleges are essentially social groupings and loyalty to them is all the stronger for that.

Competition for places can be intense, with University College, or Castle as it is known on account of its stunning location in Durham Castle, the toughest to get into. Last year, 3,740 applicants chased just 165 places. Other colleges, such as St Mary’s and the new Josephine Butler, offer better odds of getting a place. Once in, few drop out.

Teaching and research standards are high and graduates among the most sought-after. Facilities are excellent. The main science site is being made over, with a new lecture-theatre block this term. A new institute of hazard and risk is the latest research initiative, built around Durham’s 5*-rated geography department.

The creation of Team Durham to assist national-class athletes indicates the sporting calibre of student Durham has been able to attract. A string of rugby and cricket players, including Will Carling, Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain, are products of Durham’s high-quality coaching.

Open days Contact the university.

Student view Alex Duncan, students’ union president:

USP More students do more activities because of the college system. There are 60 football teams and 80 plays were staged during the past year.

Worst feature I think we could have a more diverse student population.

Location Durham is a green city with a beautiful cathedral and castle.

Social scene You will see all your friends in the college bars, while Newcastle is only 10 minutes away.

Rated excellent (25) Anthropology; applied social work; archeology; chemistry; economics; education; English; French; general engineering; geography; geological sciences; German; history; law; linguistics; Middle Eastern and Islamic studies; molecular biosciences; organismal biosciences; philosophy; physics and astronomy; psychology; sport; subjects allied to medicine (biomedical sciences); teacher training; theology and religious studies.

Degree of student satisfaction 75.5%

History and Archeology 84.5; English-based studies 82.1; Mathematical Sciences 79.7; Physical Science 79.5; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 79.5; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 77.3; Politics 77.0; Other subjects allied to Medicine 76.6; European Languages and Area studies 76.5; Economics 76.0; Mechanically-based Engineering 75.4; Human and Social Geography 74.3; Business 73.2; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 73.0; Other Languages and Area studies 73.0; Law 71.9; Biology and related Sciences 70.6; Psychology 68.5; Teacher Training 66.3; Computer Science 64.7; Performing Arts 62.7

Explore Education

• Young Times

• Schools

• A Level & GCSE Results

• Good University Guide

• Sunday Times University Guide

• Student

Times recommends

• Five essential tips for your year abroad
• Are students killing television?
• Reading masses discover British Library