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Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
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The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

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Original post by Durham Students
Hey there

According to the website,

Following on from 2022/23, Hild Bede will continue to provide a blended model for college accommodation for the academic year 2023/24. This will include around 250 rooms at Hild Bede Riverside, offered on a catered basis and 250 rooms at Ernest Place, offered on a self-catered basis. This will help to ensure that we are able to continue to offer all our first year students college managed accommodation, within easy reach of the city centre.

Additional rooms (supplementary to the 250 provided for Hild Bede students) at Ernest Place will also be available for students from other colleges, including an allocation for returning and Postgraduate students.

-Himieka


Thank you
Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
Visit website
Original post by Anonymous
Just wondered if anyone knows about the college allocation process… do people who have firmed Durham get priority over those who have it as their insurance? I have firmed my offer. But my friend wants to hear what college they’ve been allocated before firming. Is that even possible to do? Anyone know?


Your friend can wait - you don't have to have made decisions on your offers to get a college allocation.
There's no advantage to having firmed Durham within the initial allocation process - however in previous years they have only guaranteed the college choice being kept after results day for those who have both firmed and met their offer on results day. Anyone who either had it as an insurance choice or missed their offer but was accepted anyway could be moved after results day.
On the topic of allocation, does anyone know if you find out as soon as you've been allocated or will everyone hear on the same day?
Original post by GiftedDipstick
On the topic of allocation, does anyone know if you find out as soon as you've been allocated or will everyone hear on the same day?

I believe email, but it could be the portal (wasn't around back when I applied!)
No, not everyone will hearing the same day, will take them a couple of weeks to work through everyone judging by previous years so I'd expect similar timescale this year :smile:
Original post by GiftedDipstick
On the topic of allocation, does anyone know if you find out as soon as you've been allocated or will everyone hear on the same day?


Original post by Lemur14
I believe email, but it could be the portal (wasn't around back when I applied!)
No, not everyone will hearing the same day, will take them a couple of weeks to work through everyone judging by previous years so I'd expect similar timescale this year :smile:

I applied during the first college allocation cycle and we got an emailed about our college
Original post by XanaXoid
I applied during the first college allocation cycle and we got an emailed about our college


Original post by Lemur14
I believe email, but it could be the portal (wasn't around back when I applied!)
No, not everyone will hearing the same day, will take them a couple of weeks to work through everyone judging by previous years so I'd expect similar timescale this year :smile:


That’s great, thank you!
Why do so many people seem to dislike st hild and st bede? Whats bad about it
Original post by Squiggles1238
Why do so many people seem to dislike st hild and st bede? Whats bad about it


For me and from what I’ve hear from others it’s just the location. Every college is around at least 3 other colleges whereas hild bede is a stand alone. People consider it “far away” but overall the college is really nice.
is it known how cuths chooses the accommodation for its students between baileys and parsons field? i'm looking to do full catering so given the distance from parsons (which i understand is self/semi catered), would this influence their decision? on another note, whats the split between no. students in baileys and no. students in parsons? and is the social life different between the parsons and baileys locations
Original post by Squiggles1238
Why do so many people seem to dislike st hild and st bede? Whats bad about it

Its a great college with a gorgeous main building, located near the river about 10 mins from the Bailey and about 25 mins from science site. It has no other colleges nearby so its seen as being a bit isolated. It is also in the process of being redeveloped over next year or so and that puts people off.
Original post by Ender_Cups
is it known how cuths chooses the accommodation for its students between baileys and parsons field? i'm looking to do full catering so given the distance from parsons (which i understand is self/semi catered), would this influence their decision? on another note, whats the split between no. students in baileys and no. students in parsons? and is the social life different between the parsons and baileys locations

You can express a preference in August - they will do their best to allocate your preference but not everyone will get it. Off the top of my head about 75% of livers in are at parsons field. You won't get to be fully catered in parsons field, only the bailey rooms are fully catered, but they're also relatively popular so if you put cuths as a high choice I'd say you have to be prepared to be self/part catered only.
Original post by Lemur14
You can express a preference in August - they will do their best to allocate your preference but not everyone will get it. Off the top of my head about 75% of livers in are at parsons field. You won't get to be fully catered in parsons field, only the bailey rooms are fully catered, but they're also relatively popular so if you put cuths as a high choice I'd say you have to be prepared to be self/part catered only.

Just adding on to the catering situation at Parson's field, you can also opt for a 10 meals package. This gives the flexibility of being self-catered plus the convenience of having 10 prepaid meals in college per week to be taken at any time, Monday to Sunday. The cost of the 10 meal package is £1,340.59 per academic year.

-Himieka
Original post by Ender_Cups
is it known how cuths chooses the accommodation for its students between baileys and parsons field? i'm looking to do full catering so given the distance from parsons (which i understand is self/semi catered), would this influence their decision? on another note, whats the split between no. students in baileys and no. students in parsons? and is the social life different between the parsons and baileys locations


Hiya

I believe the first part of your question has already been answered but on the social aspect, I don't see why it has to be any different to the bailey site. You will be attending all the college events on the bailey site and can even dine in there if you opt for it. Plus at parson's field, you will share the kitchen with 6-10 students so that gives you plenty of people to socialise with!

-Himieka
Hatfield Bursary question.. it states that one of the things the student receives is a Hatfield Trust Donation. Anyone have any idea what this is
Original post by Anonymous
Hatfield Bursary question.. it states that one of the things the student receives is a Hatfield Trust Donation. Anyone have any idea what this is


Hiya

In this pdf they list the T&Cs of their bursaries- The Hatfield Trust donation is listed as a one-off payment of £20. I'm not entirely sure if this is the one but feel free to contact their finance office to get more details: [email protected]

-Himieka
DD is international and got St Hild and Bede. Based on the construction, the uncertainty of what it will be like for 2nd year, and the distance from her classes (Classics) she is probably going to go to UCL instead. Her thought is if life at Durham is so centered around the college and hers will be so decentralized, she is better off going to a Uni where everyone is decentralized and social situation is the same.

I am hesitant about how much of a negative impact St Hild will have on her experience--does anyone have any insights? Thanks!
Original post by brook mill
DD is international and got St Hild and Bede. Based on the construction, the uncertainty of what it will be like for 2nd year, and the distance from her classes (Classics) she is probably going to go to UCL instead. Her thought is if life at Durham is so centered around the college and hers will be so decentralized, she is better off going to a Uni where everyone is decentralized and social situation is the same.

I am hesitant about how much of a negative impact St Hild will have on her experience--does anyone have any insights? Thanks!

I know that Durham is redoing hild bede so people will not live in college but I think they are still trying to allocate everyone to 2 buildings so there still is a sense of community. For distance from classes Durham is really tiny and I honestly doubt that her commute is going to be more than 25/30 mins by walk which would still be less or similar to unis in bigger city
Original post by XanaXoid
I know that Durham is redoing hild bede so people will not live in college but I think they are still trying to allocate everyone to 2 buildings so there still is a sense of community. For distance from classes Durham is really tiny and I honestly doubt that her commute is going to be more than 25/30 mins by walk which would still be less or similar to unis in bigger city

Thank you--I think that's her thinking though--if it's going to be more similar to going to a uni in a city, she may as well be in London where everyone is in the same situation. Her concern is also that the construction may make 2nd year difficult as well and if all the other colleges are centralized, whereas as St Hild is sort of up in the air and changing, that it will not "feel" like the Durham experience. Really unfortunate--I really wanted her to go to Durham!
From my experience because most people live out in second year college become less important and I have noticed that I don’t spend much time in my college. My suggestion would be to understand which course she prefers and also if she prefers a city or a town. College is important but after first year doesn’t matter that much

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