[undergradstudent]

(Original post by vijetJS)
Does anyone have an opinion on IR at Durham compared to similar courses at Cambridge, Nottingham or Bath?

Reckon it makes a difference that it is a relatively new course? Just a bit worried about employability and reputation of the department.

It's not really new, basically before 2009 they offered IR modules to people doing a politics degree, and then after 2009 if you take mainly IR modules you can get a degree in IR rather than "politics".

So the department isn't new at all.

It's just the same as if an English department decided to let students who did mainly medieval English modules get a degree in "Medieval studies" or something rather than "English" - same modules, same department but the degree name is just a bit clearer.

[beemie]

Hey-

This really depends on whether you want to live in a catered college of if you prefer self-catering.It also depends on whether you prefer modern or historical-old buildings to live in, and whether you want to experience to share a room in your first year or not.

Hill-colleges are usually newer, more modern, often self-catered (not all), and bigger (apart from Cuths).
Bailey colleges are very central- mostly catered, much closer to shops, and the cathedral which is lovely and closer to clubs, and the river (if you consider rowing) :-)

I would definitely recommend a Bailey college- formals are amazing, you get to wear a gown, they are very traditional and people within the college are VERY close, especially in the smaller colleges, like Chad's, Johns, or Hatfield. Catered in your first year is a great way to meet MANY people all throughout the year. In self-catered colleges you will be more likely to stick with the one group of people that you share a common area for the whole year.
The smaller the college, the more people you can get to know. Chad's is the smallest, so it's easy to know about 300 people. But with colleges that go up to a 1000 people, you will end up sticking to only a couple.

I generally loved Chad's. This is my final year now and I cannot say I regretted my choice. It also has an amazing choir, which does yearly tours to all over the world, and great music facilities and sports clubs.

Hope it helps!

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by beemie)
...

I was going to say "Gosh, this thread is still going?", then looked at the datestamps, and realise you just resurrected a thread that's been dead for over a year...

[astro67]

(Original post by beemie)

<snip>Hill-colleges are usually newer, more modern, often self-catered (not all), and bigger (apart from Cuths).

While thi is largely accurate, only one of the Hill colleges (Josephine Butler) admitting undergraduates is self-catering so I think that aspect of the statement is potentially misleading. Also whatever Cuth's is it certainly isn't a Hill College - it has a presence on the Bailey and another site at Parson's field, near the racecourse and the river. Neither are anywhere near the hill

(Original post by beemie)

<snip> Chad's is the smallest, so it's easy to know about 300 people. But with colleges that go up to a 1000 people, you will end up sticking to only a couple.

This strikes me as surprising logic - the more people there are in the College, the less likely you are to get to know anyone? That's certainly not what happens in practice. Members of small communities would be expected to get to know a higher fraction of their community but it makes no sense to portray larger communities as large collections of hermits. For some people, of course, there are great attractions in a small community where you can feel you know everyone and nobody is a stranger. For others, large communities, with their greater range of activities and larger groups of people (imagine the football socials alone in a college with 9 football teams!) may appeal more. Even the thought that not everyone knows your business can add to the appeal - it's a personal choice.

[elina_]

hey everyone!
i've got an offer for a MSc Management program this year and would love to get an advice on what college to choose
i'm 22 and come from outside the uk

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by elina_)
hey everyone!
i've got an offer for a MSc Management program this year and would love to get an advice on what college to choose
i'm 22 and come from outside the uk

So... what kinda things are you thinking of as criteria?

[elina_]

well I would like to be a part of a friendly college that is located close to the business school
I'd prefer a self-catered one
I would also like to live in a single room
if the swimming pool is gonna be close to it that would be awesome

[pipsi]

(Original post by elina_)
well I would like to be a part of a friendly college that is located close to the business school
I'd prefer a self-catered one
I would also like to live in a single room
if the swimming pool is gonna be close to it that would be awesome

Are you a post graduate? If you are an undergraduate you will be based at Stockton campus so only have two choices, Stevenson and Snow, I can't really say much about the Stockton colleges, but from what I gather there isn't much difference between them.

If you're a postgrad then you'll be based in Durham. Currently the business school is at a different location because the building at Mill Hill Lane is being refurbished. It is currently based at Ushaw College, the old seminary a few miles out of Durham. A free bus runs once an hour up to Ushaw College from the bus station, it will be based up there for at least another year. The closest colleges to the Mill Hill Lane site are St Aidans and Van Mildert. Slightly further away but still quite close are Trevs, Mary's, Jo Butler, Ustinov and Collingwood. Grey is also on the hill but probably furthest away from Mill Hill Lane, but even then it's only a ten min walk at most.

If you'll be coming this October while the Business School is still based at Ushaw College, you'd be closer to the bus station at one of the Bailey colleges.

I hope this helps

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by elina_)
well I would like to be a part of a friendly college that is located close to the business school
I'd prefer a self-catered one
I would also like to live in a single room
if the swimming pool is gonna be close to it that would be awesome

To add to Pipsi's response;
- if you want self-catered and single room guaranteed, then Josephine Butler is really your only option
- none of the colleges are close to the swimming pool! And more to the point, the swimming pool is on the opposite side of town to the Business School.

[pipsi]

(Original post by Awoodrow2)
To add to Pipsi's response;
- if you want self-catered and single room guaranteed, then Josephine Butler is really your only option
- none of the colleges are close to the swimming pool! And more to the point, the swimming pool is on the opposite side of town to the Business School.

I suppose the Bailey colleges would be closer the the swimming pool (ie Freemans Quay) than the hill colleges though, but yes it is a trade off. You can't be close to both.

[astro67]

(Original post by Awoodrow2)
To add to Pipsi's response;
- if you want self-catered and single room guaranteed, then Josephine Butler is really your only option

Ustinov has be an option as well - elina states in an earlier post that she has an offer for an MSc.

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by astro67)
Ustinov has be an option as well - elina states in an earlier post that she has an offer for an MSc.

Aha, I always forget about Ustinov unless postdocs are mentioned...

[pipsi]

(Original post by astro67)
Ustinov has be an option as well - elina states in an earlier post that she has an offer for an MSc.

It is an MSc as in a postgraduate degree or a four year undergraduate degree resulting in a MSc? If it's a four year undergrad course Ustinov isn't an option, if it's a post grad course it is.

[astro67]

(Original post by pipsi)
It is an MSc as in a postgraduate degree or a four year undergraduate degree resulting in a MSc? If it's a four year undergrad course Ustinov isn't an option, if it's a post grad course it is.

None of the undergraduate integrated master's degrees end in an MSc. Many generate an MSci but the last letter is crucial.

[LETSJaM]

What do you people think on hatfield vs castle?

<3 x

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by LETSJaM)
What do you people think on hatfield vs castle?

<3 x

I think Castle generally sounds like more fun than Hatfield.

[pipsi]

(Original post by Awoodrow2)
I think Castle generally sounds like more fun than Hatfield.

That's because it is!

[zequisha]

Hi Everyone,

I have an unconditional offfer to study at Durham. However, I would like to change my college from St Chad to Van Mildert. Is this possible?

[canŵio]

(Original post by zequisha)
Hi Everyone,

I have an unconditional offfer to study at Durham. However, I would like to change my college from St Chad to Van Mildert. Is this possible?

it says on my letter that you're not allowed to change colleges.
and on their website too.

Once the academic department's decision on an application has been processed to UCAS our policy is not to accept requests for a change to an applicant's college preference except where an applicant has a disability or health issue that cannot reasonably be met by the college to which they are allocated. In such cases applicants should contact the college to which they have been allocated. Making such an enquiry can never put your UCAS offer from Durham at risk and will not affect the warmth of your welcome at any college.

[Awoodrow2]

Definitely need to add this one to my FAQ.