Durham Postgraduates 2012-2013

Hi All!

I need some advise.

I think I may have inadvertently been allocated to Ustinov but with no effort on my part. Apparently, somehow the college dependent didn’t get the info that I had accepted my offer and so they have yet to send me anything about college/accommodation signup. I emailed them about this and they said they (the college dept) needed to check with my department to confirm my acceptance. Once that happened they got back into contact with me and told me they were finalizing my acceptance into Ustinov….…….…….What? I don’t even know what just happened. I never picked a college preference (or no preference even) other than on my original med anth application and then I didn’t even pick Ustinov.

I’m SO confused!

So, it would be great if any of you guys could just tell me step by step how you accepted your offer and then applied for accommodation. I am trying to find out where the mix up happened and I really cannot figure it out. I’m sure I did everything I was supposed to on my part. I know this is a confusing message but that’s because I am very confused. From the emails I have gotten on Durhams end I can tell they are just as confused as I am.

I honestly don’t really want Ustinov only because of how far away it is.

what are you confused about??? You did not ask for a specific college and they put you in Ustinov. Why is this weird???

It’s strange because I was told I would be sent more info about accommodation and college signup and I was also told I would then need to fill out an online form about picking a preference at all, or to pick an open application. Then they suddenly put me in Ustinov. They also told me where I would be staying on campus without me saying if I even wanted to live on campus.

All of my other friends who are going to Durham and others on this board were given the choice to at least pick two preferences, catering vs self catering etc. I wasn’t given an potion at all or even the illusion of one.


I wasnt given a chance to ask for a specific college. I inquired about it, they said they would send me the form then they skipped that and put me in a college. I think my paperwork may have gotten messed up.

when I applied, through the on line application system, I was asked to put down a college as a preference. Didn't this happen to you?

No, that info was never requested of me. I asked them about it too and they told me I would get to apply soon but then it never happend. That's why I am starting to think things got mixed up somewhere.


It's not the end of the world though. Ustinov is not bad and if worse comes to worse I got into UCL too. I just wish I know what happened.

hm yeah...try calling them maybe.

Is Durham your first choice?

Durham is my first choice. The professors I have gotten into contact with have been amazing so far and that’s the most important thing to me regardless of accommodation.

But, I am definitely calling them tomorrow!

Program: MA in International Relations (Middle East)
Department: School of Government & International Affairs
Age: Will be 25 when my program starts

Which colleges are within close distance of where my classes will be and also have great social activities? I will be an international student coming from a big city so social life is very important to me.

Yeah the map makes it look even bigger. After hearing from people who are already over there, I found that even the farthest off distances in the University map would be easily walkable

guys, please, can someone tell me if they got emails about their offers or if it was updated at the online application system??

Ustinov isn't that far away, everything in Durham is so close, it just seems far... If you want to make postgraduate friends its the best place to be.

If you're still worried, ring the uni and ask them