The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

So, uh, I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but I figured maybe current students could help.

After receiving my ucas confirmation letter, I emailed the admissions department (or something) to officially accept my place, just as the letter asked me to do. I just stated name, course and ucas ID and said I was accepting.

I haven't received any sort of confirmation or correspondence of any kind-- is that normal?
I admit I am panicking a little!

I wouldn't worry too much, I didn't get a reply! :P I don't think everyone I know here actually even sent that email! If you want to put your mind at rest though, by all means give them a quick ring, but I wouldn't worry yourself too much.

Hi,

Sorry if this has already been asked but I was just wondering whether postgraduates really get all that involved in Freshers Week and college activities? I've been accepted into University College and I know that postgraduates live quite far away from the actual college, so I was wondering if that had an effect on their involvement in college life- like attending formals and going clubbing and all? I know there's a lot more work involved in a Masters so I wont be able to go out every night, but I'm only 22 so I'm not quite ready to spend my evenings knitting and watching countdown just yet!

Also I was wondering if many people stay over the Christmas break and if the university makes any arrangements for them? My parents live too far away to visit over Christmas, but at my last university they organised a Christmas dinner and a room with an Xbox and Sky tv for everyone who had to stay and I was wondering if Durham did anything similar?

Hiyo,

On PG involvement in Freshers Week, I think it really depends on the college, and people around. This year I spent some time with the Trevs postgrads during Freshers Week (as most of my finalist friends weren't allowed back yet), and they had a considerable group going to most of the events through the week - costumes and all. And at all Joint Formals (JCR, MCR, SCR), there's a table specifically reserved for the MCR, which is normally pretty full. Plus they're involved in quite a number of college societies, though particularly the students who were undergraduates here too.

So yeah, they can be pretty involved in college life. :P

On the Christmas break, think a large proportion of the MCR stay over most of the holiday, but there's a two-week period in the middle where most colleges completely close down - I think Castle stay open, so I don't really know how things work there. But I imagine it'd be even more awkward than normal to have people visiting during that period.

Heh, I missed my chance to answer that question then! Ah well, this is a good idea for a thread, hopefully people will use it. I'm going into my 4th year at Castle studying French and Italian (and I've done Spanish as well) if people have any specific questions.

Hi, i wanted to know if studying Spanish and Italian at the same time was difficult-i'll be doing both next year and i'm scared of getting sooo mixed up with two languages that are pretty similar...

If I study History, and I wish to take modules in English Studies - Can I choose any module or is there a specific list of optional modules I can take?

You will choose six modules from a list of around 12

Where can I find the course-specific admissions statistics? More specifically, I'm looking for the statistics related to chemistry. How competitive is it to get in? What percentage of applicants are accepted?

You should be able to find all the data here:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/ug.admissions/admindocuments/

In particular, I think you want to look at the following documents:
2-1-1 Departmental Summary - Applications
2-1-2 Departmental Summary - Offers
2-1-3 Departmental Summary – Applicant Replies
2-1-4 Departmental Summary – University Confirmation Decisions
2-1-5 Departmental Summary – Final (AS12 Replies)

Thanks a lot.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/ug.admissions/admindocuments/admincycle1112/2-1-2DepartmentalSummary-Offers.pdf

What does "U or C"/"R or W" stand for?

Not sure when or how to do this, or if i have missed anything.

how or when can i apply for my room at durham?! thanks!

Where does the teaching for undergraduate history students occur?