Avoid Durham, it is dreadful.
Firstly, you are deceived once you apply. They stated a third term option of a "business placement" which was then taken away once studies commenced. They also claim that their Finance Masters course contains 70% of the CFA. This is comical, the figure is more like 40%. Relevant CFA material is not covered in the course that should cover it, Corporate Finance. Instead, students are treated to an abundance of academic journals on issues that are solved based on so many assumptions that the practicality of the solution is useless. Perhaps 70% of the CFA is covered if you take ALL courses on offer, however that is not an option and hence it is deceitful to say otherwise.
The lecturing is awful. There has not been a single English lecturer, making it difficult in class when lecturers struggle with English as their second language. Often lecturers will simply read off the lecture slides (this includes simply reading mathematical derivations and not writing them on the board or explaining the steps).
The step from lecturing quality to examination standard is incredible. It is like you are being taught by a year 7 Mathematics teacher for an A-level exam.
The usefulness of the material taught is questionable. Not once are we taught DCF or FCF analysis, despite how vital it is in valuing a firm.
The career opportunities in Finance following DUBS are almost nonexistent. The degree is not competitive enough against other schools (and I can now see why). The careers service are equally useless and completely out-of-date with their methods. They often refer to their contacts in a number of companies, although I doubt they even exist.
For £21,450 save your money.
A number of us are frustrated by Durham University Business School and have pledge to warn others to avoid this university.
Not to mention there are swarms of Chinese students and you are made to feel like a minority in tutorial classes. Being forced to work with these students in a group is a pain in the backside. N
Also, the town is dull. There are probably more shops in a remote Alaskan village than there are in Durham. The weather is also always cold. Avoid.