Old Elvet
Durham
DH1 3HP Tel
0191 334 6128
admissions@durham.ac.uk
www.durham.ac.uk
Open days: contact the university

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 7 (8)

Student satisfaction 78.8%
Head teacher ranking 6 (8)
Peer ranking 13 (11)
Research quality 68%
A-level/Higher points 455
Unemployment 7%
Firsts and 2:1s 77.5%
Student/staff ratio 14.8:1
Dropout rate 3.3% (6%)
World ranking 122=

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 11,273 (366)
Postgraduates 3,114 (1,522)
Teaching staff 744
Applications/places 24,335/3,646; 6.7:1 (-1.2%)
Clearing entry 3.3%
Live in 44% (100%) £99-£143
Bursaries 22%: £1,300
Scholarships 20: £2,000

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 2.6%/8.5%
Mature 6.4%
State school 61.5%
Lowest social classes 14.3%
Low-participation areas 4.4%

The “Durham difference” is hard to define. A term much-loved by the marketing department, it does touch on the contradictory qualities of this traditional, yet modern, university; this northern, yet quite southern, university; this collegiate, yet very united, university.

The third-oldest university in England (behind Cambridge and Oxford) is too often dismissed as the back-up option. This does Durham a great disservice. Academically distinctive and capable of competing for the brightest of students, Durham is a popular choice in its own right.

Its collegiate structure with 13 colleges in Durham and a further two on its modern Stockton campus creates distinct identities. They are the centre of most students’ social networks and the subject of intense loyalty, plus sporting and other rivalries. Josephine Butler College, opened three years ago in Durham, is the newest, while University College, founded in 1832 and known as Castle, is housed in the oldest university buildings in the world. Students live in the midst of a world heritage site.

High levels of student satisfaction attest to the quality of teaching offered here. Under the formal assessment regime, Durham secured 24 excellent ratings for teaching quality, and the latest research assessment exercise results, which were published last December, confirmed Durham’s research strength, helping it to its highest-ever ranking in our league table.

In any given year, the university helps about 20 international-class athletes across a variety of sports. About 90% of students play sport regularly. Facilities are outstanding.

STUDENT VIEW

Andy Welch, students’ union president:

First impressions The architecture is amazing and being part of a small collegiate community hits you fast.
Worst feature It seems that every department building is on top of a hill. The steepest is known as cardiac hill.
Facilities Sports facilities are great. We’ve got very nice and not so nice accommodation — you’d better hope you get lucky!
Deal clincher Students are very involved in how their colleges are run and plan loads of extracurricular activities.

Rated excellent (24)
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); theology and religious studies.

Student satisfaction
History and Archaeology 90.6; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 84; Education studies 83.9; Other subjects allied to Medicine 83.6; English-based studies 83.5; Other Languages and Area studies 82.5; Physical Science 82.4; Initial Teacher Training 80.3; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 79.7; Finance and Accounting 79.5; European Languages and Area studies 78.7; Human and Social Geography 78.3; Psychology 77.7; Economics 77.3; Sports Science 77.3; Mathematical Sciences 76.7; Politics 74.9; Computer Science 74.7; Business 74.7; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 74.5; Performing Arts 74.3; Law 74; Mechanically-based Engineering 73.4; Biology and related Sciences 71.1

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