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Durham: Pros and Cons
Any contributions would be fab! I'm going out of my mind trying to decide 
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serendipity
Any contributions would be fab! I'm going out of my mind trying to decide
Pros
Very pretty
Solid repuatation with employers
Collegiate system (if you like that)
Strong academically
Ducks!!!
Cons
Too boring for many
You have to travel to Newcastle for real nightlife
Snobby Durhamer stigma
Questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is
Leekey
Pros
Very pretty
Solid repuatation with employers
Collegiate system (if you like that)
Strong academically
Ducks!!!
Cons
Too boring for many
You have to travel to Newcastle for real nightlife
Snobby Durhamer stigma
Questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is
Very pretty
Solid repuatation with employers
Collegiate system (if you like that)
Strong academically
Ducks!!!
Cons
Too boring for many
You have to travel to Newcastle for real nightlife
Snobby Durhamer stigma
Questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is
Yay for ducks!
Thing is though, is it really boring or is that just how people see it? Would be interesting to know what people who are there think...I mean, it can't be any different from Warwick, or Cambridge, or even Exeter? What do you think?
The "questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is" is the only bit I find unsettling...the rest doesn't really matter, but if it weren't for that last point (and it's one I've only become aware of since coming to the uk learning forums) I would have made up my mind to go there ages ago...(well, i probably still am going there, but it has made making my mind up harder).
another point, theres no schemies/neds/townies/scallies in Durham. althought there's the countless number of rahs to put up with instead.
Leekey
Pros
Very pretty
Solid repuatation with employers
Collegiate system (if you like that)
Strong academically
Ducks!!!
Cons
Too boring for many
You have to travel to Newcastle for real nightlife
Snobby Durhamer stigma
Questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is
Very pretty
Solid repuatation with employers
Collegiate system (if you like that)
Strong academically
Ducks!!!
Cons
Too boring for many
You have to travel to Newcastle for real nightlife
Snobby Durhamer stigma
Questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is
I'd say this is a good list... but I'd like to add a nightlife comment
Don't worry too much about the nightlife in Durham...yes it's small, and you have to go to newcastle for a 'big' night out...but there are plenty of bars, the 2 cheesy cheesy clubs, the college bars and the SU.
Going to Newcastle costs about 3 quid with a railcard! And when you do go to Newcastle (15 mins away) you are going to have a great time!
Try and think positively...yes, there isn't quite so much available every day of the week...but if you plan ahead you can balance regular great nights out with academic work... i reckon if i went somewhere where the neon lights shine I could get too distracted by the lure of social events anyway!
Leekey
Do you think there is a correlation between the uni's being stuck up and them being dull?!? 
St. Andrew's is ample proof of that
Pencil Queen
Are you at Durham?
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
Having walked it on Monday, the train station is about twenty-five minutes' walk from the hill colleges (Van Mildert, at least). Apparently there's a bus, though.
Pencil Queen
Are you at Durham?
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Hi- ok, no i'm not at Durham....i'm going next year, but i've been there enough/ know enough about it to answer your questions, i reckon
Firstly, everything in Durham is close...nothing is particulary difficult to get to. In regards to the train station, it took about 10 mins to get to the Bailey colleges on foot... and if you consider that the Hill colleges are about a 15 minute walk from the Bailey, it'd take about 20-25 min walk.
The last train is at 2, so i'm told
Can't really answer the last question pencil queen...sorry about that, can anybody else help? The bars in Newcastle are widespread though...you can work from one end to the centre
Pencil Queen
Are you at Durham?
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
basically it's hard to walk further than for 20 mins in durham.
Hill colleges are about 20 mins and bailey are about 10 mins away from the train station.
shilling
The "questions about how founded in reality its reputation really is" is the only bit I find unsettling...the rest doesn't really matter, but if it weren't for that last point (and it's one I've only become aware of since coming to the uk learning forums) I would have made up my mind to go there ages ago...(well, i probably still am going there, but it has made making my mind up harder).
But doesn't the fact that you've only heard about that on this forum tell you something?
Emplyers and people in general are still impressed by the mention of Durham, which is what really matters.
I don't think reputation should be a worry.
I'd like to add to the cons sharing a room.
And to the pros getting to live in thrid year.
I went to the open day for psychology last week and thought that Durham was brilliant. I stayed at St Chad's and had the best time ever! Bearing in mind that I have forced myself to attend many open days all throughout the year (including Bristol, Nottingham, Bath, York) I was most impressed by Durham overall. These are my personal reasons why;
Everything had been so well organised, unlike other days where many candidates were left feeling that all their travelling had been a waste of time
We were genuinely taken care of
The students were so welcoming and always asking if we needed help
The psychology department actually made the effort to give a PROPER sample lecture and the lecturer answered all my questions afterwards with much enthusiasm (I most certainly did not enjoy the psych days at Bristol and York)
I have accepted my unconditional offer at Durham.
Everything had been so well organised, unlike other days where many candidates were left feeling that all their travelling had been a waste of time
We were genuinely taken care of
The students were so welcoming and always asking if we needed help
The psychology department actually made the effort to give a PROPER sample lecture and the lecturer answered all my questions afterwards with much enthusiasm (I most certainly did not enjoy the psych days at Bristol and York)
I have accepted my unconditional offer at Durham.
Sparkly
I went to the open day for psychology last week and thought that Durham was brilliant. I stayed at St Chad's and had the best time ever! Bearing in mind that I have forced myself to attend many open days all throughout the year (including Bristol, Nottingham, Bath, York) I was most impressed by Durham overall. These are my personal reasons why;
Everything had been so well organised, unlike other days where many candidates were left feeling that all their travelling had been a waste of time
We were genuinely taken care of
The students were so welcoming and always asking if we needed help
The psychology department actually made the effort to give a PROPER sample lecture and the lecturer answered all my questions afterwards with much enthusiasm (I most certainly did not enjoy the psych days at Bristol and York)
I have accepted my unconditional offer at Durham.
Everything had been so well organised, unlike other days where many candidates were left feeling that all their travelling had been a waste of time
We were genuinely taken care of
The students were so welcoming and always asking if we needed help
The psychology department actually made the effort to give a PROPER sample lecture and the lecturer answered all my questions afterwards with much enthusiasm (I most certainly did not enjoy the psych days at Bristol and York)
I have accepted my unconditional offer at Durham.
I thought the sample lecture was a really good idea too!
I agree about some open days feeling like a waste of time - Nottingham being the worst culprits.
Pencil Queen
Are you at Durham?
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
If so could you answer a few questions?
How far is the train station from the different colleges (ie how far from the hill colleges and how far from the bailey colleges) - I'm not asking for anything detailed just general walking times.
What time is the last train back from Newcastle?
And how far is the train station at Newcastle from the main area of clubs/pubs etc? (again just rought walking time)
Thanks
Hey, i've got the exact same problem! I am really really stuck with my final decison! I've post my problem on 'Durham or Newcastle or...' so i wont go into detail again (but pls check it out and help me!) but just to let u know i'm having the same prob! Oh, and to answer your Newcastle questions - I live in Newcastle and i know it takes 13mins on the train from Durham to Newcastle and ther are bars from straight outside the train station leading down to the Quayside or to the Bigg Market where both areas are close to the station and are very good!
Ps - i've just thought of something! There are so many ppl on this forum who cannot decide whether to go 2 Durham incase its boring or full of boring ppl! But if so many ppl are worried about this and asking these questions then ther must be lots of ppl who are fun and will want to go out and have fun! I'm the biggest culprit of asking this question but this just occured to me and cheered me up! Maybe i shud choose Durham after all?!?
fit you quoted me but said nothing about it??
On the train on the way back from Newcastle after doing some work, I saw that it stopped at Durham. I have to say it is a beautiful place, especially on this clear winters day. I was prepared to accept that it wasnt going to be as exciting as Manchester, or as violent as Stockport on a Friday outside McDonalds and Superbowl.
I then went home and took another look at Durham Uni prospectus (I was just starting to think about applying for law courses at the time) and was greeted with the bold statement 'usually considered the prime alternative to Oxbridge'. Obviously this impressed me.
However, Durham is a place that begins to show a different side when you do some research. Firstly, its famous (and rightly so) for its public school boy image. However, many people are willing to overcome this if it means a good degree at the end. Secondly, and more importantly perhaps, it has an incredibly inflated sense of its own importance. It is a good place, but it is not THE alternative to Oxbridge whatsoever. It is on an equal footing with Bristol, Nottingham, UCL, Imperial, Kings, LSE, Warwick, and many others.
This was only reinforced when on my work-experience I was asking a lady who was regional manager of a large law firm how she views various universities. She described Durham students as 'distanced from real working life' and 'occasionaly stuffy and hard to get on with'.
I then went home and took another look at Durham Uni prospectus (I was just starting to think about applying for law courses at the time) and was greeted with the bold statement 'usually considered the prime alternative to Oxbridge'. Obviously this impressed me.
However, Durham is a place that begins to show a different side when you do some research. Firstly, its famous (and rightly so) for its public school boy image. However, many people are willing to overcome this if it means a good degree at the end. Secondly, and more importantly perhaps, it has an incredibly inflated sense of its own importance. It is a good place, but it is not THE alternative to Oxbridge whatsoever. It is on an equal footing with Bristol, Nottingham, UCL, Imperial, Kings, LSE, Warwick, and many others.
This was only reinforced when on my work-experience I was asking a lady who was regional manager of a large law firm how she views various universities. She described Durham students as 'distanced from real working life' and 'occasionaly stuffy and hard to get on with'.
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