Durham University (legally the University of Durham)[6] is a collegiatepublicresearch university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charter in 1837. It was the first recognised university to open in England for more than 600 years, after Oxford and Cambridge, and is thus the third-oldest university in England.[7] As a collegiate university, its main functions are divided between the academic departments of the university and its 17 colleges. In general, the departments perform research and provide teaching to students, while the colleges are responsible for their domestic arrangements and welfare.
Between around 1286 and 1291 the Benedictine monks of Durham established a hall at Oxford University to provide them with a seat of learning. In 1381 this received an endowment from Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, becoming Durham College. Durham College was surrendered to the Crown in 1545 following the Reformation. The strong tradition of theological teaching in Durham gave rise to various attempts to form a university within the city itself, notably under King Henry VIII and then under Oliver Cromwell, who issued letters patent and nominated a proctor and fellows for the establishment of a college in 1657.[12] However, a proposal to allow the college to confer degrees met with opposition from Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the whole scheme was abandoned at the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.[13] Consequently, it was not until 1832 when Parliament, at the instigation of Archdeacon Charles Thorp and with the support of the Bishop of Durham, William van Mildert, passed "an Act to enable the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral to appropriate part of the property of their church to the establishment of a University in connection therewith" (2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 19) that the university came into being. The act received royal assent from King William IV on 4 July 1832.[14][15]
The Church University, 1832–1909
An examination taking place in Cosin's Library, 1842Durham Castle (gatehouse pictured) houses University College, making it one of the oldest buildings currently being used to house a university in the world
The university opened on 28 October 1833.[18] In 1834 all but two of the bishops of the Church of England confirmed that they would accept holders of Durham degrees for ordination.[19] In 1835 a fundamental statute was passed by the Dean and Chapter, as governors of the university, setting up Convocation and laying down that Durham degrees would only be open to members of the Church of England.[20] Regulations for degrees were finalised in 1836 and the university was incorporated by royal charter granted by William IV on 1 June 1837 as the "Warden, Masters and Scholars of the University of Durham", with the first students graduating a week later.[13] At the opening of the university, accommodation was provided in the Archdeacon's Inn (now Cosin's Hall); in 1837 an order of the Queen-in-Council was issued granting the university use of Durham Castle, which had previously been a palace of the Bishop of Durham, for further accommodation.[13][21]
In 1846, Bishop Hatfield's Hall (later to become Hatfield College) was founded, providing the opportunity for students to obtain affordable lodgings with fully catered communal eating, a revolutionary idea at the time, endorsed by a Royal Commission in 1862 and later spread to other universities. Those attending University College were expected to bring a servant with them to deal with cooking, cleaning and so on. The level of applications to Bishop Hatfield's Hall led to a second hall along similar lines, Bishop Cosin's Hall, being founded in 1851, although this only survived until 1864. Elsewhere, the university expanded from Durham into Newcastle in 1852 when the medical school there (established in 1834) became a college of the university.[13] This was joined in 1871 by the College of Physical Sciences (renamed the College of Science in 1884 and again renamed Armstrong College in 1904). St Cuthbert's Society was founded in 1888 for non-collegiate, mostly mature, male students as a non-residential society run by the students themselves. Two teacher-training colleges – St Hild's for women, established in 1858, and The College of the Venerable Bede for men, established in 1839,[13] also existed in the city and these merged to form the mixed College of St Hild and St Bede in 1975. From 1896 these were associated with the university and graduates of St Hild's were the first female graduates from Durham in 1898.
During its expansion phase the university also became the first English university to establish relationships with overseas institutions;[22] firstly in 1875 with Codrington College, Barbados, and secondly in early 1876 with Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone.[23] Under the arrangements the two colleges became affiliated colleges of the university with their students sitting examinations for and receiving Durham degrees.[23][24] The landmark event was not met with universal applause, with the London Times stating "it would not be much longer before the University of Durham was affiliated to the Zoo".[25] After nearly a century of affiliation and with the prevailing winds of decolonisation, Fourah Bay became independent of the university in 1968 to form part of the University of Sierra Leone[26] while Codrington College became affiliated to the University of the West Indies in 1965.[27]
The Durham Colleges Students Representative Council (SRC) was founded around 1900 after the model of the College of Medicine SRC (in Newcastle). The Durham University SRC was formed in 1907 with representatives from the Durham Colleges, the College of Medicine, and Armstrong College (also in Newcastle). In 1963, after the creation of Newcastle University, the Durham Colleges SRC became the Durham University SRC, and was renamed as the Durham Students' Union in 1970.[33]
Until the mid 19th century, University of Durham degrees were subject to a religion test and could only be taken by members of the established church. Medical degrees in Newcastle were exempt from this requirement from the start of the affiliation of the medical school, but in Durham it lasted until the revision of the statutes in 1865.[34] Despite the opening of degrees, staff and members of Convocation were still required to be members of the Church of England until the Universities Tests Act 1871. However, "dissenters" were able to attend Durham and then sit the examinations for degrees of the University of London, which were not subject to any religious test.[35] Following the grant of a supplemental charter in 1895 allowing women to receive degrees of the university, the Women's Hostel (St Mary's College from 1919) was founded in 1899.[36]
The Federal University, 1909–1963
Durham University College of Medicine, Newcastle, now the Sutherland Building of Northumbria UniversitySt Chad's College, one of the two independent colleges
The Newcastle division of the university, which comprised both Armstrong College (named after Lord Armstrong) and Durham University College of Medicine, quickly grew to outnumber the Durham colleges, despite the addition of two independent Anglican foundations: St Chad's College (1904) and St John's College (1909). A parliamentary bill proposed in 1907 would have fixed the seat of the university in Durham for only ten years, allowing the Senate to choose to move to Newcastle after this. This was blocked by John Taylor, MP for Chester-le-Street, with the support of graduates of the Durham colleges, until the bill was modified to establish a federal university with its seat fixed in Durham, as well as greater representation for the graduates (including that the chancellor would be appointed by convocation, as remains the case) and the abolition of ad eundem degrees.[37] This reform also removed the university from the authority of the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral, who had been the governors of the university since its foundation.[38] Thirty years after this, the Royal Commission of 1937 recommended changes in the constitution of the federal university, resulting in the merger of the two colleges in the Newcastle Division to form King's College. The vice-chancellorship alternated between the Warden of the Durham Division and the Rector of the Newcastle Division, the chief academic and administrative officers of the two divisions under the 1937 statutes.[39][40] The executive head of Durham University continues to use the title of "Vice-Chancellor and Warden".[41]
After World War II, the Durham division expanded rapidly. St Aidan's Society (St Aidan's College from 1961) was founded in 1947 to cater for non-resident women and the decision was made to expand further on Elvet Hill (where the science site had been established in the 1920s), relocating St Mary's College, building new men's colleges, vastly expanding the existing pure science provision in Durham, and adding applied science (1960) and engineering (1965).[42]
In 1947, the foundation stones for the new St Mary's College building on Elvet Hill were laid by Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II). The new building opened in 1952.[43] In the same year, tensions surfaced again over the Durham–Newcastle divide, with the university court putting forward a proposal to change the name of the university to the "University of Durham and Newcastle".[44] This motion was defeated in convocation (the assembly of members of the university) by 135 votes to 129.[45] Eleven years later, with the Universities of Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne Act 1963, King's College became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, leaving Durham University based solely in its home city.[46]
These were not the only developments in the university, however. The Graduate Society, catering for postgraduate students, was founded in 1965 (renamed Ustinov College in 2003) and the Roman Catholic seminary of Ushaw College, which had been in Durham since 1808, was licensed as a hall of residence in 1968 (closed 2011). In 1988 Hatfield, the last men's college, became mixed; followed by the women's college of Trevelyan in 1992, leaving the original women's college of St Mary's as the last single-sex college.[51]
In 1989 the university opened a fund-raising and alumni office, with a virtual community for alumni.[52]
UCS was initially intended to grant joint degrees validated by both institutions (BAs and BScs). However, Teesside, which had only become a university in 1992, had difficulties in taking on its responsibilities for the college and withdrew in 1994, Durham taking over full responsibility for UCS and the degrees to be awarded there.[53]
A programme of integration with Durham began, with the Privy Council approving changes in Durham's statutes to make UCS a college of the University of Durham. Further integration of the Stockton development with the university led to the formation of the University of Durham, Stockton Campus (UDSC) in 1998 and the separation of teaching responsibilities from UCS.[53]
21st Century University
School of Government and International Affairs
In 2001, two new colleges, John Snow and George Stephenson (after the physician and the engineer) were established at Stockton, replacing UCS, and the new medical school (operating in association with the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) accepted its first students. In 2002, her golden jubilee year, the Queen granted the title "Queen's Campus" to the Stockton site.[54] By 2005, Queen's Campus, Stockton, accounted for around 18 per cent of the total university student population.[55]
In 2005, the university unveiled a re-branded logotype and introduced the trading name of Durham University, although the legal name of the institution remained the University of Durham and the official coat of arms was unchanged.[6] The same year, St Mary's College had its first mixed undergraduate intake.[56][57] In October 2006, Josephine Butler College opened its doors to students as Durham's newest college – the first purpose-built self-catering college for students within Durham. This was the first new college to open in Durham itself since the creation of Collingwood in the 1970s.[58]
The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, next to the Department of Physics
The university announced in 2016 that it would relocate the colleges and academic activities currently at the Queen's Campus to Durham City from 2017;[65][66] with the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health being transferred to Newcastle University.[67][68][69] The Queen's Campus became an International Study Centre to prepare overseas students to study at Durham, run by Study Group.[70]
In March 2017 Lord Rees opened the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, designed by Daniel Libeskind.[71] The new building, named after alumnus Peter Ogden, provides extra laboratories and office space for 140 staff.[72] In May 2017 the university announced a new ten-year strategy that proposed investing £700m in improving the campus, creating 300 new academic posts, increasing the size of the university to 21,500 students while attracting more international students, and expanding the business school and the departments of law, politics, English and history to reach "critical research mass".[73][74]
In 2018 the university announced that a consortium led by Interserve would design, build and operate two colleges at Mount Oswald (new buildings for John Snow College and one new college) for £105million.[75][76] The project company (in which the university has a 15 per cent stake) financed the construction via a £90million 46-year bond issue.[77] The two colleges opened in 2020.[78] Separately, the university announced that it had raised £225million to fund its estate masterplan through the private sale of long-term bonds to British and US investors.[79] In 2021 it was reported that there was a culture of sexism and bullying at Durham, and that the university had been reluctant to address structural problems, thereby enabling this culture to develop relatively unchallenged.[80][81][82]
One of the major public attractions in Durham City is the 10ha (25-acre)Botanic Gardens, established (on the current site) in 1970, with over 80,000 visitors annually.[104]As of 2021,[update] the university estate contains over 380 buildings with a floor area of 424,600 square metres (4,570,000sqft), including 189,400 square metres (2,039,000sqft) of residential area in 170 residential buildings (not including the independent St Chad's and St John's colleges, which are not owned by the university).[5] The insurance reinstatement value was estimated as close to £850million in 2014.[105]
Durham City is the main location of the university and contains all of the colleges and academic departments. The Durham City estate is spread across several different sites.
The Elvet area contains the departments of English studies and philosophy along with the school of modern languages and cultures in the faculty of arts as well as departments of sociology and sport and exercise sciences of the faculty of social sciences and health. While many of the departments are in converted houses, the Elvet Riverside complex is home to the school of modern languages and cultures and parts of the department of English studies. Durham Students' Union is based in Dunelm House, just north of Elvet Riverside, linked to the peninsula area by Kingsgate Bridge. The Racecourse has university playing fields, including the main cricket ground. While no colleges are based in the Elvet area, it does contain the Parson's Field accommodation for St Cuthbert's Society and Hatfield College's James Barber House and Palmer's Garth accommodation.[106]
Leazes Road
The Leazes Road site on the north bank of the Wear, opposite the Racecourse playing fields and Old Elvet, was home to the School of Education and Hild Bede College. As of 2024,[update] this site is being redeveloped and refurbished with the aim that a 19th college will be established adjacent to Hild Bede. In preparation for redevelopment, departments and facilities were relocated from Leazes Road in 2022,[107][108][109] and Hild Bede college moved temporarily to Rushford Court in the viaduct area in summer 2024. UPP were announced in May 2024 as the preferred bidders to deliver the refurbishment of Hild Bede and the building of the new 19th college under a design, build, fund and operate model.[110][111]
Mountjoy
The Palatine Centre on the Mountjoy site, home of the university's administration
The Mountjoy site (formerly the Science site) south of New Elvet contains many of the university's departments, including all of the departments in the faculty of science and most of the departments in the faculty of social science and health. Development of what is now Lower Mountjoy began in 1923 with the Dawson Building (originally the Science Building until 1952, when it was named after Sir Arthur James Dawson, a northeast educator). This building is now home to the departments of archaeology and anthropology, but has also housed chemistry, geology, physics, biology, botany and zoology.[112] Later 20th century development included the Chemistry Building (chemistry), the Maths building (temporary home of the school of education),[109] the West Building (geography), the Rochester Building (physics, named after George Rochester, Professor of Physics), the Christopherson Building (engineering, named after Derman Christopherson, vice-chancellor and warden 1960–1979), the Higginson Building (engineering, named after Gordon Higginson, Professor of Engineering), and the Bill Bryson Library (named after the writer Bill Bryson, chancellor of the university 2005–2012),[106][113]
What Lies Beneath Us geological sculpture at the pedestrian entrance to Lower Mountjoy near the Bill Bryson Library
Development in the 21st century has included the Arthur Holmes Building (2003; earth sciences; named after Arthur Holmes, Professor of Geology),[114] the Calman Learning Centre (2007; named after Kenneth Calman, vice-chancellor and warden 1998–2006),[115] the Palatine Centre (2012; law and the university's administration),[116] the Daniel Libeskind-designed Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics (2016),[117] and the Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre (2019), the only part of the site west of South Road.[106] In October 2013, a geological sculpture of the British Isles titled What Lies Beneath Us – a map with the geology of each location shown by a sample of the rock found at that location (and, for most areas, from that location) – by artist John de Pauley was unveiled by Iain Stewart at the pedestrian entrance to Lower Mountjoy at the junction of South Road and Stockton Road, near the Bill Bryson Library.[118]
The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics
Development of the Upper Mountjoy site started with construction of the psychology building in 1970,[119] followed by the Mountjoy Research Centre, built in 1984 for the University of Durham Industrial Research Laboratories (now the Mountjoy Centre, housing university service departments),[120] and the biological sciences building in 1993 (now biosciences).[121] The mathematical sciences and computer sciences building opened in 2021 and also includes the Hazan Venture Lab, intended to equip students for entrepreneurship and to encourage student start-ups.[106][122] The local NHS administrative offices are also located in John Snow House in Upper Mountjoy.[123][124]
Large lecture theatres with a capacity of over 200 on the Mountjoy site include Applebey (West Building; capacity 275; named after Malcolm Applebey, chair of the Durham Colleges Council 1937–1955);[125] Scarbrough (Chemistry Building; capacity 264; named after Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough, chancellor of the university 1958–1969);[125] Dawson (Dawson Building; capacity 228);[125] the Calman Learning Centre lecture theatres: Arnold Wolfendate (capacity 400, named after Sir Arnold Wolfendale, Astronomer Royal and Professor of Physics), Rosemary Cramp (capacity 260, named after Dame Rosemary Cramp, first female professor at the university and Professor of Archaeology) and Ken Wade (capacity 260, named after Kenneth Wade, Professor of Chemistry);[125][126] and the 250 and 500 capacity Lower Mountjoy Teaching and Learning Centre lecture theatres.[127]
Sheraton Park, site of a former teacher training college and home to Ustinov College since 2017
Ustinov College, Durham's postgraduate college, is located in Sheraton Park, beyond Elvet Hill.[128]Rushford Court, owned by Unite Students, is the temporary home of Hild Bede College as of 2024[update] and was also used by John Snow College in 2019–20. In the longer term, it is planned to become Durham's 18th college.[129][130] The Waterside Building, home of the business school's Department of Management and Marketing from 2024, is on the east bank of the River Wear north (downstream) of the city centre.[131] Boldon House in Pity Me will house some professional services from 2025.[132]
Development plans
The university published a strategy document in 2017 setting out (among other things) a roadmap for development of the estate over the period to 2027, including the development of a new home for the business school at Elvet Waterside (Old Elvet), to open in 2021, the redevelopment of the arts and humanities facilities at Elvet Riverside (New Elvet), opening from 2022, the construction of four to six new colleges, and the continued development of the Mountjoy site.[133][134] The university's Estate Masterplan for 2017–2027 identified the area around Howlands Farm (Josephine Butler and Stephenson colleges), the Leazes Road site (Hild Bede College), and the Business School site on Mill Hill as possible locations for new accommodation development (i.e., new colleges).[135] A 'strategy refresh' was approved in 2023, which included establishing a new cultural quarter on the old swimming baths site in Elvet and developing interdisciplinary science research and laboratory facilities at Upper Mountjoy.[136]
Ushaw College, 5 miles west of Durham, is a former Catholic seminary that is a licensed hall of residence of the university. It hosts parts of the Business School and of the Centre for Catholic Studies, with the university having committed to leasing the East Wing until 2027 and to establishing a residential research library at Ushaw.[137]
The colleges and academic departments were relocated between 2017 and 2018, and Queen's Campus became an International Study Centre (ISC) run by Study Group, preparing non-EU foreign students to enter degree courses at the university, from September 2017.[70][133] The former John Snow College buildings were sold in 2020[140] and, from 2022, only the Ebsworth building has been used by the ISC.[141]
The original university library, now known as the Palace Green Library (centre), and the School of Music (left)
Durham University Library was founded in January 1833 at Palace Green with a 160-volume donation by the Bishop of Durham, William Van Mildert, and now holds over 1.5million printed items across four branches: Bill Bryson Library (the main library), Queen's Campus Library, Durham University Business School Library and Palace Green Library, which holds the special and heritage collections.[142][143]
In 2005, designated status was granted by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to two of the special collections: Bishop Cosin's Library on Palace Green (founded in 1669 and including medieval manuscripts and early printed books) and the Sudan Archive, held in Palace Green Library.[144][145]
In 2012 the university, together with the British Library and Durham Cathedral, purchased Europe's oldest intact book, the St Cuthbert Gospel, for the nation for £9million. It is displayed equally in London and Durham, being shown at the university's Palace Green Library for the first time as part of the Lindisfarne Gospels Durham exhibition in 2013.[146][147][148]
In addition to the central library system, many colleges maintain their own libraries,[149] such as the Bettenson, Brewis, Williams and Fenton Libraries of St Chad's College, which contain over 38,000 volumes.[150] Durham staff and students can also access the libraries of Durham Cathedral and Ushaw College.[151] Some departments, such as classics and ancient history, also have their own libraries.[152]
In February 2017, the university announced a £2million investment to establish the first residential research library at a UK university in collaboration with Ushaw College and Durham Cathedral and offering access to the collections of all three institutions.[137]
Museums
The Old Fulling Mill, original home of the Durham University Museum in 1833, on the bank of the River Wear below Durham Cathedral
The university's Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions manages three museums open to the public, all accredited by Arts Council England through the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme, as well as two non-public collections. Total holdings are over 100,000 pieces.[153][154]
The Durham University Museum of Archaeology, housed in Palace Green Library, originally opened in 1833 and was the second university museum in England to allow admittance to the general public.[159] It focuses on the heritage of North East England and includes national and international collections spanning the Prehistoric, Ancient Greek, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Post Medieval periods.[160]
Durham Castle Museum has around 5,000 pieces from the history of the castle, including suits of armour, tapestries, silverware and art.[161]
In addition to the three public museums, the university also holds a biosciences collection[162] and an art collection.[163]
Chapels, prayer rooms and other faith resources
University College's Norman Chapel, built c.1080, is the oldest surviving building in Durham
There are Anglican chapels at many of the colleges, including the 11th century Norman Chapel in University College[164] and the art deco chapel in Hild Bede College.[165] There are also multi-faith rooms at St Aidan's College,[166] Trevelyan College,[167] and in the hub building shared by John Snow and South colleges.[168] Muslim prayer rooms are located in Old Elvet and at Grey College.[169] There is a kosher kitchen in St Aidan's College which supports Jewish Sabbath meals and other festivals.[166]
Environmental initiatives
A path through the Great High Wood, an ancient woodland on the university campus
Durham has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2035 and to achieving a net biodiversity gain on campus by 2032.[170] The university joined the Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign in 2020, receiving silver accreditation in 2021/22 and gold accreditation in 2022/23,[171] before becoming one of only six universities with the highest level platinum accreditation in 2024.[172] It was a founding member of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance in 2022.[173] Actions taken to enhance biodiversity have included converting 9 hectares (22 acres) of lawns to grassland and enriching 4 hectares (10 acres) of land in the botanic garden to increase wildflower diversity.[172]
The green initiatives at the university and its rise in two years from 96th (3rd class) to 30th in the People and Planet University League (between 2019 and 2021) have been noted in the national press.[174] In the 2023/24 table, it is ranked 26th (1st class).[175] Internationally, the university was ranked 22nd globally for sustainability in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025[176] and joint 36th globally in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.[177]
The academic year at Durham is divided into three terms: Michaelmas term, which lasts 10 weeks from October to December; Epiphany term, which lasts ten weeks from January to March; and Easter term, which lasts nine weeks from April to June. All terms start on a Monday. The weeks of term are called "Teaching Weeks", numbered from 1 (start of Michaelmas) to 29 (end of Easter), although this period is used for teaching and exams. Additionally, there is an "Induction Week" (informally known as "Freshers' Week" or Week 0) for first year students prior to the start of Michaelmas term, starting on the first Monday in October.[187]
Students at the university are also expected to "Keep Term", whereby students must fulfil their academic requirements at the university. As such Heads of Departments must be satisfied that each student has attended all necessary tutorials, seminars and practical work throughout the term and vacation period.[188]
Durham operates a collegiate structure with the colleges being "listed bodies" under the Education Reform Act 1988,[189] as bodies that appear to the Secretary of State "to be a constituent college, school, hall or other institution of a university which is such a recognised body" (the "recognised body" being, in this case, Durham University).[190] Though most of the Durham colleges are governed and owned directly by the university itself (the exceptions being St John's and St Chad's), the legal status of the Durham colleges as listed bodies is similar to those at Oxford and Cambridge, setting them apart from those at the universities of Kent, Lancaster, and York.[191] However, unlike at Oxford and Cambridge, there is no formal teaching at Durham colleges (with the exception of Cranmer Hall theological college within St John's), although colleges are active in research.[192][193][194] All of the college heads are ex officio members of the university senate.[195]
Formal dinners (known as "formals") are held at every college; gowns are worn to these events at just over half of the colleges.[196][197] There is a great deal of intercollegiate rivalry, particularly in rowing and other sporting activities. There is also rivalry between the older "Bailey" colleges and the newer "Hill" colleges on Elvet Hill.[198][199]
Archdeacon Charles Thorp, founder and first Warden of Durham
The university is governed by the statutes put in place by the Universities of Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne Act, 1963, and subsequently amended by the Privy Council. The statutes provide that: "The University shall be governed by a Visitor, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Convocation, Council, Senate, and Boards of Studies." (Statute 4). [200]
The visitor of the university is the Bishop of Durham. The visitor is the final arbiter of any dispute within the university, except in those areas where legislation has removed this to the law courts or other ombudsmen, or in matters internal to the two non-maintained colleges (St Chad's College and St John's College), each of which has its own visitor. Student complaints and appeals were heard by the visitor until the Higher Education Act 2004 came into force.[201] All student complaints are now heard by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
The chancellor of the university is Fiona Hill, who was appointed in November 2022 in succession to Sir Thomas Allen and took office in June 2023.[202][203] The chancellor is appointed by convocation for "a fixed period of not normally less than five years as determined by the Council",[204] which can be renewed. The role of the chancellor is mainly ceremonial; The vice-chancellor and warden is the chief executive officer of the university and is appointed by council after consultation with senate.[205] As warden, the vice-chancellor is responsible for the 15 maintained colleges of the university.[206] Since January 2022 this has been Karen O'Brien, the university's first female vice-chancellor and warden, succeeding Stuart Corbridge who retired in July 2021.[207]
Convocation is the assembly of the university. Membership of convocation includes the chancellor, vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellors, all graduates, the teaching staff (lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, and professors), and the heads of colleges and licensed halls of residence. It must meet once each year in order to hear the Vice-Chancellor's Address and to debate any business relating to the university. Further meetings can be called if representation is made by a minimum of 50 members. Its powers are limited to appointing the chancellor (on the nomination of council and senate) and the making of representations to the university on any business debated (statute 30).[200]
Council is the executive body of the university. In addition to representatives from the university it includes up to 12 lay members (not being teachers or salaried staff in the university or any of its colleges), the Dean of Durham and the president of Durham Students' Union (Statute 10). Its powers include establishing and maintaining colleges, and recognising non-maintained colleges and licensed halls of residence (statutes 12 & 13).
Bill Bryson (Chancellor 2005–2012) in the academic dress of Chancellor of Durham University
Senate is the supreme governing body of the university in academic matters. It has the right to be consulted by Council on the appointment of the vice-chancellor and warden, the deputy vice-chancellor and the pro-vice-chancellors, and recommends the establishment of Faculties and Boards of Studies (academic departments). It is Senate that grants degrees, and has the authority to revoke them. It also regulates the use of academic dress of the university (statutes 19 & 20).[200]
The academic electoral assembly consists of all members of academic staff, except those who are ex-officio members of senate, and the senior tutors of St John's College and At Chad's College. In addition to electing members of senate, it has its own chair and standing committee and may discuss "Any matter of interest to the University" and make recommendations to senate, council or both (statute 24).[200]
The day-to-day running of the university is in the hands of the University Executive Committee (UEC), which is also responsible for the development of the policies and strategies. This is a joint subcommittee of Senate and Council and consists of the vice-chancellor and warden, the deputy vice-chancellor and provost (chief academic officer), the five pro-vice-chancellors (Colleges and Student Experience; Education; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Global; and Research, the executive deans of the four faculties, the chief financial officer, the chief information officer, the university secretary, and the directors of four support divisions (Estates and Facilities; Human Resources and Organisational Development; Strategy Delivery; and Advancement, Marketing and Communications). All heads of departments and of colleges report directly to one of the members of the UEC.[208][209][210]
Trade unions
There are four recognised campus trade unions at Durham with branches of the University and Colleges Union (UCU),[211] UNISON,[212] UNITE[213] and GMB.[214] The four campus unions meet senior members of HR on a regular basis to negotiate on various matters.[215]
Union activity in the 2020s has included winning a £1000 payment to all staff and a number of other commitments in 2022,[216] and commitments from university management to become an accredited Real Living Wage employer, improvements in the starting salary grade for some staff and additional payments for international staff with visa costs in 2023.[217] There is a history of trades union activity at the university stretching back many decades with joint action by all staff at the university in 1996 being one example.[218]
Departments & Faculties
The teaching departments of the university are divided into four faculties: Science, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Health, and the Business School. Each faculty is headed by an executive dean and one or more deputies. These, along with the heads of the departments in the faculty and the vice-chancellor, make up the Faculty Board for that faculty. Each department also has a Board of Studies consisting of the executive dean of their faculty, the teaching staff of the department, and student representatives (statute 29).[200] Associated with the first three faculties are three combined honours degrees: Natural Sciences (BSc and MSci), Liberal Arts (BA), and Combined Honours in Social Sciences (BA).[219] Various joint honours degrees are also offered spanning multiple departments, such as the Philosophy, Politics and Economics BA offered by the departments of philosophy, government and international affairs, and economics.[220]
School of Modern Languages and Cultures (Includes Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian, Japanese, Russian and the Centre for Foreign Language Study)
The Dawson Building houses the departments of Archaeology and Anthropology
The university is part of the Russell Group of British research universities as well as the European Coimbra Group and the global Matariki Network of Universities.[225] It is also a partner in the Arqus European University Alliance, part of the European Union's European Universities initiative,[226] and is part of bilateral groups including the UK-Japan RENKEI network,[227] the UK-Norway North Sea University Partnership,[228] and the UK-Saudi Arabia Joint International Institute for Clean Hydrogen,[229] and other international research consortia including the Virgo Consortium[230] and the University of the Arctic.[231] It is also part of regional groups including the N8 Research Partnership of universities in the north of England; Universities for North East England, bringing together the five universities in north east England;[232] the Northern Accelerator knowledge exchange and research commercialisation partnership;[233][234] and the Durham Learning Alliance in association with four further education colleges in County Durham.[235]
Durham hosts the 'memory intensive' service of the UK's tier-1DiRAC supercomputer facility,[236] as well as the N8 Research Partnership's tier-2 Bede supercomputer.[237] It has partnered with the Net Zero Technology Centre, SHIFT Geothermal and the Reece Foundation to launch the UK National Geothermal Energy Centre,[238] and also leads the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub, a consortium of thirteen universities.[239]
While Durham does not have a medical school, the "Health at Durham" programme takes in 44 institutes, centres, academies and projects from across the university. The programme focuses on non-clinical aspects of health, including physical, mental, social and environmental aspects of health.[243] Durham hosts the Welcome Trust-funded Black Health and the Humanities Network in the university's Institute of Medical Humanities, and is also one of the lead partners in the Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research.[244] The Durham-led Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases won the Medical Research Council's Impact Prize for Outstanding Team Impact in 2024.[245] The university was awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize, the UK's highest academic honour, in 2018 for research on parent-infant sleep.[246]
In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), Durham's research profile was assessed as 45 per cent world class (4*) (33 per cent in 2014), 45 per cent internationally important (3*) (50 per cent in 2014), 10 per cent internationally recognised (2*) (15 per cent in 2014) and 0 per cent nationally recognised (1*) (1 per cent in 2014).[247][248] This gave it an overall 'GPA' (calculated by Times Higher Education) of 3.34 (3.14 in 2014, 2.72 in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise).[247][248][249] However, this improvement was in the context of a rise in the average profile, leading to a fall in Durham's relative ranking by GPA from 20th in 2014 to joint 25th in 2021.[247] Durham's indexed research power (calculated by Times Higher Education, with the top university by research power having an index of 1000) rose from 282 in 2014 (relative to UCL) to 299 in 2021 (relative to Oxford), and it remained ranked 20th by research power.[247] Durham's 'market share' of funding (estimated by Times Higher Education) was expected to fall very slightly from 1.55 per cent in 2014 to 1.5 per cent in 2021.[247] In regional terms, the success of Durham alongside Newcastle University and Northumbria University gave the North East the largest concentration of researchers in a city area outside of London.[250][251]
Durham University's Strategic Plan 2017–2027 defined targets of being in the top 5 nationally on the Times/Sunday Times league table, of having 50 per cent of eligible subjects in the top 50 globally on the QS world rankings, and of being in the top three UK institutions by citations per academic staff member.[273]
The High Fliers Research UK graduate market report for 2024 placed Durham 9th in its table of universities targeted by the largest number of top employees.[274]
In the 2025 Complete University Guide subject rankings, Durham had 31 of 33 subjects ranked in the top ten.[252] In The Guardian 2025 subject rankings, Durham had 21 of 28 subjects ranked in the top ten.[253]
International
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2025 placed Durham 172nd. In subject area rankings for 2024, Durham was placed 39th in arts and humanities, 201–250 for life sciences, 126–150 for physical sciences, 81st for social sciences, and 101–125 for business and economics. Durham was ranked joint 36th in the Times Higher Education impact ranking for 2024, measuring the impact of universities' research, stewardship, outreach and teaching towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.[275]
The QS World University Rankings 2025 placed Durham 89th in the world, while the QS European University Rankings 2025 placed Durham 27th in Europe. In the QS global subject area rankings for 2024, Durham ranked 42nd for arts and humanities, 290th for engineering and technology, 401–450 for life sciences and medicine, 92nd for natural sciences, and 90th for social sciences and management.[276]
The average UCAS point score for new entrants in 2021–22 was 185 points, placing Durham University tenth in the country in terms of entrants' points.[280] Durham's student body consists of 17,765 undergraduates and 4,600 postgraduate students (2022/23).[4] The university gave offers of admission to 48% of its undergraduate applicants in 2022, the 13th lowest offer rate across the country.[281] In the 2023–34 academic year, 31 per cent of students (across all levels of study) came from outside the UK and 54 per cent of students were women.[282]
Widening access
UCAS statistics on low/high participation neighbourhoods[279]
Durham was criticised in 2017 for not accepting as many students from low participation neighbourhoods, and from state schools, as might be expected from its admission standards and course offerings. For admissions in 2015/16 (the data published in 2017 that sparked the criticism), Durham had the third lowest percentage of state school students (among higher education institutions with over 1,000 full-time first-degree entrants) at 60.5 per cent, compared to a Higher Education Statistics Agency benchmark of 75 per cent. According to pro-vice-chancellor, Alan Hudson, this was a temporary drop from the 63 per cent level the university has reached in recent years, and to which it was expected to return in 2016/17. The university also fell short of its benchmark for admissions from low participation neighbourhoods, accepting 5.1 per cent, compared to a benchmark of 6 per cent.[283][284] The data for 2016/17 showed that admissions from state schools had recovered to 62.9 per cent, still short of the location-adjusted benchmark of 74.9 per cent, and that admissions from low participation neighbourhoods were 5.2 per cent compared to the location-adjusted benchmark of 6.6 per cent.[285]
Since 1992 the university has run a widening access programme, originally called the Centre for Lifelong Learning and now known as the Durham Centre for Academic Development. The centre provides access to Durham degrees for mature students who show academic promise but do not hold the traditional entry requirements. The centre runs a range of foundation year courses associated with specific degree courses.[286]
Durham has partnered with the Sutton Trust since 2012 to run the Durham University Sutton Trust Summer School for gifted and talented school children from underrepresented backgrounds, leading to qualification with 16 to 32 UCAS Tariff points and a guaranteed conditional offer from Durham if they choose to apply.[287][288] The university also runs the Durham International Summer School[289] and partners with the Sutton Trust to run the Durham Teacher Summer School.[290]
Durham gives a bursary, known as the Durham Grant, to home undergraduate and PGCE students from low and middle income households, including all students receiving a means-tested maintenance loan. As of 2024,[update] the maximum is £2,670 for students with a household income (as assessed by Student Finance England) of £30,000 or less, falling to a minimum bursary of £700 for students with a household income between £47,201 and £62,342.[294][295] The university also runs the "Supported Progression" programme for sixth-form students, aimed at helping talented young people from the North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire to fulfill their potential via a two-year structured programme of events.[296]
For UK domiciled young full-time undergraduate entrants in 2020/21, 61.6% came from state schools, significantly below the location-adjusted benchmark of 78.5%, and 7.6% came from low participation neighbourhoods, not significantly different from the location-adjusted benchmark of 8.0%.[297] For UK-domiciled undergraduate entrants in 2022/23, UCAS data shows no significant difference in offer rate with gender, a statistically significantly higher offer rate for Black and Asian applicants coupled with a significantly lower offer rate for white applicants, and a statistically significantly higher offer rate for applicants from the 80% of neighbourhoods with the lowest rates of participation in higher education coupled with a significantly lower offer rate for applicants from the 20% of neighbourhoods with the highest rates of participation in higher education.[298]
Durham students belong to a college for the duration of their time at the university. Most students live in their college for the first year of their undergraduate life, then choose to 'live-out' in their second year, and subsequently have the option of moving back into college for their final year, usually via a ballot system.[299] The colleges provide most of the pastoral care and social centre of students with each running a college tutorial system,[299][300] along with junior common rooms (JCRs) running events, providing representation and supporting societies for undergraduate members, middle common rooms (MCRs) for postgraduate students and senior common rooms (SCRs) for college officers, fellows and tutors. JCRs are run by executive committees, usually headed by a president although some colleges use other titles.[301][302]
Each college has a unique identity and a variety of facilities for students ranging from computer rooms and libraries to tennis courts and gyms.[303] Most colleges have their own sports teams and compete in the collegiate leagues (such as Durham College Rowing) and may also have their own theatre and music societies, which operate in parallel to the university-level sports teams and organisations.[304]
Approximately 200 student clubs and organisations run on Durham's campuses, covering academic, arts, culture and faith, hobbies and games, outdoors, politics, law and music interests.[305]Durham Students' Union (DSU) charters and provides most of the funding for these organisations. The Durham Union Society, founded in 1842 as Durham's Student Debating & Union Society, claims to be the largest independent student society in Durham, and hosts weekly debates and addresses from invited guests.[306] The Durham University History Society is the oldest academic society at the university, founded in 1926.[307]
BAME (Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic) students made up 32.6% of full-time Durham students in 2019/20, although students who classified themselves as 'black' numbered only 382 out of 18,430 full-time students (2.07%).[311] A 2018 article for The Tab said that the low representation of black students meant that support structures for many young, vulnerable, black students were non-existent.[312]
Incidents of racism, sexism and social elitism have been reported at Durham University.[313][314][315][316] The university has stated that they condemn all racism and hate crime.[317] The university established an independent commission, the Durham Commission on Respect, Values and Behaviours, in October 2018. The report of this commission was published in July 2020, highlighting that there were multiple problems with bullying, discrimination and a lack of diversity, and that many students came to the university with a "sense of entitlement". The report also found that the lack of diversity was "at the root of a number of discriminatory and exclusionary behaviours", including racism, sexism, and disrespect of working class students. The commission made 20 recommendations, all of which were accepted by the university's management.[318]
Durham University Student Volunteering and Outreach (DUSVO; formally Student Community Action – SCA), was formed in 1989 and, As of 2020,[update] oversaw over 80 volunteer projects in Durham and the surrounding area, (including over 50 student-run projects),[319] involving more than 2,000 students yearly. DUSVO runs projects through online portals for Staff and Students respectively. Staff at the university are permitted to spend up to 5 days (35 hours) volunteering during working time.[320] It was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service – the UK's highest honour for volunteer groups – in 2020.[321] The annual Durham University Volunteering Awards recognise individuals, teams, colleges and projects across several categories.[322]
Durham University Charity Kommittee (or DUCK) is the university's student rag week[323] and the fundraising arm of the Durham Students Union. Originally a week-long event, DUCK now has events raising money for local or national charities throughout the year. Activities and organisation happen both at the university level and within colleges.[324] DUCK has previously organised expeditions to the Himalayas,[325] Jordan[325] and Mount Kilimanjaro[325] and been involved in the university-run 'Project Sri Lanka'[326] and 'Project Thailand'.[327]
Team Durham Community Outreach is a sports community programme aimed at giving support and opportunities through the use of sport.[323] The programme runs projects such as summer camps for children from the Youth Engagement Service and fostered backgrounds along with providing coaching at local schools as well as participating in sports in action.[328]
Town and gown relations
The relationship between the university and the wider city has not always been free of tension.[329][330] University plans for expansion have also faced local opposition,[331][332] and there were claims when the 2017–2027 strategy was launched that the university had ignored concerns raised about its expansion at the Durham University Residents' Forum.[333]
The university formed a Community Response Team in 2020 to support Durham Constabulary during Covid-19. This now responds to complaints of anti-social noise at student properties between 9:30pm and 3:30am, via the Police 101 non-emergency contact number, and also has patrols in student areas.[334] The university also has two Student Community Wardens, intended to provide guidance to students living out of college, to represent students on the Durham University Residents' Forum, and to liaise with college common rooms, Durham Students' Union, Police University Liaison and council Neighbourhood Wardens.[335]
Durham University and Durham County Council are both members of the International Town & Gown Association.[336]
Purple Radio is Durham's student radio station. It broadcasts live from the DSU 24 hours a day during term time. The station has existed since the 1980s and is a recognised DSU society. Two daily news bulletins are broadcast every weekday, as well as a Breakfast Show and an Evening Show.[342]
The Bubble, founded in 2010, is an online magazine based at the university covering various subjects, including student and university news.[343]
The Tab established a Durham edition in 2012, as part of its initial launch as a national student paper.[344]
Sport at Durham is a key aspect of student life with the vast majority of students regularly taking part at both a university and college level. It has twice been named Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year, in 2015 and 2023.[345][346][347] As of 2018, the university caters for more than 50 different sports, organised under the umbrella of Team Durham, with extensive sports facilities at the Maiden Castle sports centre and the Racecourse.[348][349][350]
Durham has been in the top three across all sports in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) table since 2011/12. In 2023/24, it won 13 BUCS national championships across 11 sports.[355]
The Racecourse is one of the university's main sites for sporting facilities
Durham colleges compete with colleges from the University of York in the annual College Varsity tournament held since 2014.[359] Durham won this tournament in 2014 (in York) and 2015 (in Durham) before York recorded their first victory in 2016 (in York). Durham's BUCS matches against Loughborough University have been described as the 'BUCS Varsity', and a varsity competition between Durham colleges and Loughborough halls of residence has been held since 2015/16.[360]
Palatinates (named after the colour associated with the university) are the university's sporting colours, given to athletes who demonstrate a very high standard (such as international representation) in their sport. Earning a full palatinate has been described by the university as a 'notoriously difficult' achievement.[361] In 2022 just 12 student athletes received the full award, with a further 53 earning a half-palatinate.[362]
Esports are included in Team Durham through Durham University Esports and Gaming (DUEG) as part of Team Durham. DUEG participates in 12 games, across National Student Esports (NSE) and National University Esports League (NUEL) tournaments.[363]
The central body for theatre at the university is Durham Student Theatre (DST), with 33 student-run theatre societies as of 2024[update], including university-wide companies, college-based companies and two Durham Students' Union theatre societies. These perform in the university's Assembly Rooms Theatre, in college venues, and in other venues around Durham, as well as at the Durham Drama Festival, the Durham Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[364][365]
Since 1975, the university has played host to the Durham Drama Festival which celebrates new theatrical and dramatic material written by Durham students.[366]
The Durham Revue is the university's sketch comedy group. Tracing its roots back to the early 1950s, and known under its current name since 1988, the group consists of six writer-performers (auditioned, interviewed and chosen each Michaelmas Term) and produces a series of shows each year. The group performs annually with Cambridge University's Footlights and Oxford University's The Oxford Revue, as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[367]
The Durham Cathedral Choir offers choral scholarships to male and female students, and several of the colleges (University, Hatfield, Hild Bede, St John's, St Chad's, St Cuthbert's, Grey and St Mary's) also offer organ and/or choral scholarships, as does the Catholic Chaplaincy.[368] Northern Lights, Durham's student a cappella group, won the UK finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in 2023 and 2024, going on to compete in the world finals.[369]
Durham is also home to the oldest Gamelanslendro set in the UK with an active community group and an artist in residence. The instruments are currently housed in the Grade II listed Durham University Observatory.[370] Recently a set tuned to peloghas been added meaning that Durham now has a complete Gamelan orchestra. In recent years, the Durham Gamelan Society has performed at several major public events such as the Gong Festivals 2011 & 2012[371] and at the Gamelan Lokananta all night wayang kulit in celebration of York University's Gamelan Sekar Petak 30th anniversary in 2012.[372]
Leadership & Personal Development
Students can participate in several personal development courses offered by the university. The Durham Leadership framework aims to develop student leaders and includes online resources, an Emerging Leadership Program and a year-long Leadership Academy.[373] The Laidlaw Research and Leadership Program, which is provided at multiple universities as part of the Laidlaw Foundation,[374] provides funding for 25 Durham Undergraduates. The program comprises a 6-week summer research project, a leadership training retreat, a 6-week summer 'leadership-in-action experience' and ethical masterclass.[375] The university also offers the Durham Inspired Award for skills and experience gained outside of formal academic programmes.[376]
Alumni
Societies
Durham alumni are active through organisations and events such as the annual reunions, dinners and balls. By 2024 there were over 230,000 Durham graduates in the Durham alumni community.[377] Every November, "Dunelm Days" events are held by alumni groups around the world.[378]
The umbrella organisation for Durham University alumni is Dunelm, which offers a range of events and dedicated alumni services.[379] Dunelm can trace its roots to the Durham University Society, formed in 1921, the Society of Dunelmians in 1905 and the Durham University Association in 1866.[380] Dunelm USA, formerly the North American Foundation for the University of Durham or NAFUD, is a philanthropic body in the United States that hosts alumni events and fundraises for Durham-related projects.[381]
↑ It has ranked in the Times top ten since the 2004 tables, the Complete University Guide top ten since it was founded in 2007 (2008 tables) and the Guardian top ten since the 2012 tables. "Domestic Ranking of British Universities over a 10-Year Period". The University Buzz. Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
↑ Offer rate difference is the difference between the actual offer rate and the expected offer rate if predicted grades and subject choice were the only factors.
↑ Significant? indicates whether the offer rate difference is statistically significant. All statistics refer to 18 year old, UK domiciled applicants.
↑ full-time young UK-domiciled undergraduate entrants
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↑ "Durham University". Complete University Guide. Retrieved 4 October 2015. Colleges are not teaching bodies and are not linked to any particular academic department; all teaching is delivered through the various departments.
↑ "How the University is run". Durham University. Retrieved 2 March 2016. In his role as Warden, the Vice-Chancellor and Warden also has overall responsibility for fourteen of the University's Colleges – the Heads of College are directly responsible to the Vice-Chancellor through the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Warden of the Colleges. The two recognised Colleges, St John's and St Chad's, are independent foundations with separate Governing Councils.
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