The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Heyy, I'm most probably coming to Durham this year to read maths, and I'll be in Hild-Bede college. Are there any current maths students who can tell me what the maths course is like? For example, how much freedom there is, lecture-wise.
Also are there any cricketers at Durham who can explain how I would apply for the MCCU? Is this something I would need to do before I get up there (i.e. trial), or is this sorted in Freshers' week? Likewise university-level rugby? And university big band?
Lots of questions, but hopefully someone can answer a few. Thanks

Hey I need some advice (obviously!) and I'm hoping someone here can help.

I will be joining Durham (Dept. of Archaeology) this October as a Postgrad, and have been accepted offered a place at Ustinov. I'm really interested in the clubs and societies, and from what I can tell Ustinov is not the liveliest place for things like theatre and music. It also seems very isolated and not as social.

Anybody here know what its really like? Should I try and move to another college? Any recommendations, in terms of the best college for theatre?

Thanks!

Almost all clubs and societies are affiliated to the students' union rather than a college, so they are attended by everyone and your college isn't important. There are also a few college specific societies at most (probably all) colleges, including Ustinov.

You can find a list of SU societies at http://www.dsu.org.uk/ .

Hey, I dont know much about languages dept but i think its nice collingwood is AWWWWEEEESOME, its a massive college with loads of people and loads of things to do. you're bound to find people with similar interests etc etc

also, got the best boat club by far, you should definately join rowing

Are you allowed to have friends over to stay in your accomdation who are not part of durham university of any of the colleges?

I have a specific question here... On average how much would the Collingwood ski trip be? Or any college for matter.

Thanks!

x

Hi I know it's ages since I mentioned it to you, but I did email about the extended let issue - they never emailed me back. Either the email address off the website isn't being used anymore, which is possible, or they just decided to be rude and ignore me. I think it might be the latter, although I think my email was polite. The information on the website seems to have changed back though. Have they postponed the extended let idea?

It's so long ago we talked about this that you've probably forgotten all about it haha. Feel free to ignore me of none of that made sense.

Edit: this ski trip sounds exciting. Makes me sad that I can't ski and would probably fall flat on my face :/ or get stuck on the ski lift.

There was a big university wide one this year, where all the colleges went to the same place (but still as college groups). I think it was £349 for the basic trip (coach, accommodation, lift pass etc) but then you'd need to buy food, equipment etc on top of that. But about the same price as most other uni trips I think.

Extended lets have been cancelled for 2011 entrants So you can definitely have a 33 week let, if your college tries to promote the 38 week let to you as the 'standard' let then tell them you want a 33 week one!

And I know the ski trip is open to people who've never even seen a ski before so I wouldn't worry about that.

On the St. Aidan's website it's still only got a price for a 38 week let. Is it all the colleges that are reverting to 33 weeks, and if so, how much less does that cost?
Thanks!

The costs of all options are given at http://www.dur.ac.uk/study/accommodation/costs/ - these apply equally to all Colleges that offer the relevant options.

That doesn't really help. It gives prices for both 33 and 38 weeks and says not all options are available at all colleges. St Aidan's is still showing as 38 which seems to be a change on last year, which is what I thought the university had backed away from. Is it just out of date?