The Big 'Recommend Me A College' Thread

Oh wow....Thanks for the insight. Fully catered is really costly and I don't think I can stomach western style food 3 meals everyday in the long term (being bought up in Asia) I feel sorry for your experience and really, thank you for letting us know....

I believe most PG stayed in Ustinov, but I am a bit hesitant about it considering the distance from dorm to market. What do you think about St Cuth's in Parson Field? ( Thinking of putting it as my first choice.)

Hi, I'm an international MSc Marketing offer holder. Most of my lectures will be at Ushaw college (and the remaining few at Business School). I only care about the distance and the accommodation. Which college would you suggest?

Can anyone recommend a college for a postgrad student, I'm doing my Masters in Social Work and have no idea which college is for me?

Hi! I'm doing a masters in IR and got allocated to St Mary's - from what I've heard its a very friendly and scenic college with a great postgrad atmosphere. Have you been allocated yet?

Hi, looking for college recommendations.
Looked at Grey and preferred it to St Chad's but I have social anxiety so the concept of sharing vs the pressure of sharing puts me off any colleges that have a high percentage shared.
I'm studying Modern Languages and Cultures, so the Hill is a bit of way. What would you guys recommend?

What colleges are close to the English department/majority of their buildings?

Hey all,


I'm a 21-year-old blind EU student and willl be applying to durham for 2017 to study English with foundation. I've applied there before and got an offer for the standard BA English course, but I had to turn it down for various reasons. I've been trying and trying to take a level 3 qualification (either an A-level or an IB exam) in English literature, but Hungary isn't the easiest of places to take either the A-level or the IB - only two schools offer them and neither of them will accept private candidates. I have just discovered this 4-year English with foundation and well, it would be the ideal course for me - even better than an Oxbridge offer would have been!

When I applied in February, I made an open application. This time I want to choose a college that is
- relatively close both to the foundation centre and the English department.
- has a good support system (I will obviously need someone to tae me to classes and back, at least or the first few months!)
- 3 meals a day, 7 days a week
- relatively accessible accommodation

Hild Bede may well be the best for you! It's close to both Elvet Riverside for English and the education centre, where I believe foundation years are held, is pretty much within the college itself. No Durham colleges offer 3 meals a day every day of the week as far as I know; weekends are brunch and dinner instead, but you'll get that at Hild Bede. The only thing I'm not sure about is how accessible the accommodation is, but they have so many students and therefore so many rooms that I would be very surprised were they not able to find you somewhere that suits you.

The English department operates mostly from Elvet or Hallgarth House (on Hallgarth Street), so the Bailey colleges and Mary's would generally be the closest. Hatfield and Cuth's Parsons Field site are the two which are the closest closest, but it's at most 15/20 minutes from any college.

Hey everyone

I understand that you must be a member of a college, even if you are staying at home or in private accomodation. However, there's 72 pages and I mean, come on!

I was hoping there would be a list that would weigh up the pro's and con's of each college, as in their approximate location to certain spots, sports, gym, social events (and theme), etc. Have I missed it, or does it not exist?

Thanks.