The Student Room Group

Some questions about Hatfield

Iv got to send my UCAS form off on tuesday so am frantically trying to decide which college to apply to. im fairly definate about hatfield because i think it looks really pretty, it's right in the centre and by the law department, you get accommodation for 2yrs and its fully catered.

what i wanted to know was whether the accomodation is on the college site or just college-owned accommodation? also, what's the general consensus on sharing - in a way i think it'd be good because then you have an automatic buddy and if you get on well, it would be amazing. however, i like having my personal space and would probably end up really peeing the other person off and plus, what if they havve really annoying habits like watching tv at 4am?

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They try and match you up by intrests and personal "things" like when you go to bed, so its unlikely that you wont get on with your roomate and pretty much impossible youd get roomed with an insomniac.

I think sharing is a good idea too :smile:
Reply 2
Hiya, I'm soon to be a second year at Hatfield.

Firstly, apply to Hatfield, it's an amazing place that is so easy to fall in love with. Despite any initial reservations I may have had, a year on I am completely convinced that I found the right College at the right University. I'm sure you would feel the same if you came.

Most of the accomodation is on the main college site. If you are a second (unlikely) or third year living in, you are guranteed to be on site, whereas around 2/3 - 3/4 of freshers live on site. The accomodation which isn't in Hatfield is around 2 minutes walk away, literally just over the river across Kingsgate Bridge, in a building called Palmer's Garth. I preferred the idea of living in main college and put this down on my accommodation form, and this is what happened, be it by coincidence or due to my wishes!

You seem fairly open to the idea of sharing, in which case I would suggest you will cope absolutely fine with it. The vast majority of people get on well with their roommate, and in the unusual case of a clash of personalities, the College will always do its best to find alternative arrangements.

If you have any other questions, dont hesitate to ask! Hope this helps. :smile:
which other colleges have only the majority live on the college site? which ones are a definite certainty that you will live within the college?
Reply 4
I would guess the Hill colleges are the ones which can provide on-site accomodation, purely because their sites are larger.
how many 2nd yrs live in and are you guaranteed accommodation for all 3yrs if you want it?
Reply 6
Not many second years live in, most tend to share rented houses with friends. I don't think it is guaranteed, but I imagine if you really wanted to you could live in for all three years.
is Palmer's Garth just like a mini college with exactly the same facilities as Hatfield
Reply 8
In some ways, yes. It has a TV room, laundry facilities and some kitchens. However, meals are eaten in main college, all college offices and officers are found there, the porters lodge is there etc etc. Palmer's Garth is really only a hundred yards away though, don't worry about it! Like I said, supposing you held an offer for Hatfield and didn't want to live there, I imagine if yoou put this on your accommodation form, this request would be, ahem, accommodated.
alison_141288
is Palmer's Garth just like a mini college with exactly the same facilities as Hatfield

It's still very much part of main college - anyone living over there still comes to the dining room for dinner, drinks in the bar and uses the library. They have their own TV room and laundry facilities (so they don't have to carry dirty sheets over Kingsgate) but apart from that it's just another accomodation block.
ahh...hatfield seems so perfect now. im actually quite excited about all things durham, having done so much research
alison_141288
ahh...hatfield seems so perfect now. im actually quite excited about all things durham, having done so much research

Hatfield is awesome! Course, it's not perfect. The only way it could be perfect would be if there was some kind of bubble around the college keeping out rain/snow/general bad weather. :p:
kind of a shallow question but how pretty is hatfield because iv never been to durham so am just going by the picture in the prospectus
It can be very pretty, parts of it are less so, as is the same with Durham as a whole.

I actually like the changing weather Kathryn. Example - LIWB 2006; I think you would be hard-pushed to argue against gentle snowfall in March adding a certain magical quality to the whole affair.
alison_141288
kind of a shallow question but how pretty is hatfield because iv never been to durham so am just going by the picture in the prospectus

Mostly lovely - rectory, A, B, C, D, Kitchen, Gatehouse, the dining hall and chapel are all lovely. Oh, so are E, F, G and H. It's just the bar, J, K, L, M and Bailey House that are more modern (ie a bit concretey), as well as Palmer's Garth (also looks a bit like a modern block of flats). However, college is green, leafy and full of flowers, and you can see the cathedral from large chunks of it. Plus it's bang in the middle of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

So that's nice.
ChrisH2107
It can be very pretty, parts of it are less so, as is the same with Durham as a whole.

I actually like the changing weather Kathryn. Example - LIWB 2006; I think you would be hard-pushed to argue against gentle snowfall in March adding a certain magical quality to the whole affair.

OK, so the snow looked good. I wasn't so happy when I fell over on the slippery drive in my stupid heels and grazed my knee. I wasn't even drunk at the time! Too bloody cold in a dress as well, it's fine for you guys in your suits... *wanders away grumbling like a crazy old bag lady*
Plus I'm there. I can wear pink hats to make me look pretty.
ChrisH2107
Plus I'm there. I can wear pink hats to make me look pretty.

And he does an excellent snake impression. Seriously, you'd be impressed.

(I'll be gone by the time you come, so my currently Very Large Hair should have no bearing on your choice of college. If Chris ever grows his again, even if you don't end up at Hatfield you should make sure to come and gawp at it. Tis a sight to behold indeed.)
Now there's a character assassaination.
ChrisH2107
Now there's a character assassination.

Yep. I am a trained character assassin. I shoot people down by telling other people stuff they already know.

Sorry, I am in a slightly odd mood. I've also just realised that my weirdness may in fact put people off Hatfield. Honestly, I promise I'll be gone by the time any potential applicants start. I'll take my hair with me.