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Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham

The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

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i am an internatinal student and have been admitted in Durham university for post graduate program. i would love to stay in campus, but i have to be sure that it's cheaper then private accomodation (outside univeristy). can anyone guide me, which accomodation is more economical and better to live. i have good experience of living in flats. Any advise will be appreciated.
regards;
umair
Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
HI there
what are the prospects of getting a part time job in Durham.
Original post by umairjamal
HI there
what are the prospects of getting a part time job in Durham.


Not brilliant as it's a small place and has loads of uni and college students, although some people get jobs with college bars or coffee shops etc. I don't know what the hours or money is like with those kinds of jobs though.

I currently work in Newcastle, far more job opportunities there and it's only a 15-20 minute train ride away.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by umairjamal
i am an internatinal student and have been admitted in Durham university for post graduate program. i would love to stay in campus, but i have to be sure that it's cheaper then private accomodation (outside univeristy). can anyone guide me, which accomodation is more economical and better to live. i have good experience of living in flats. Any advise will be appreciated.
regards;
umair


Durham college accommodation is expensive! A lot of people find that living out in private houses is far cheaper, but this depends on where you choose to live, as the closer to the Science Site you are, the higher the rent is.

I live in Claypath, which is around a 20-30 minute walk to the Science Site, and pay £65 per week for rent, excluding bills. I know people living a lot closer to the Science Site who pay £100+ per week.
Original post by dfid
Hi!

Im going to do my master degree in management at Durham University, so I have a few questions. As I am a Norwegian, I have no idea how the collegiate system works, whats the point of it, and which is "the best one".

I have been accepted as a member at University College. But since I am a postgraduate student, I have been placed at Brackenbury.
Is Brackenbury far away from the city centre, and is it far away from the Business School campus? And is there a specific college that most business students attend to?

Thanks in advance!

David


The website gives a pretty good explanation of the system. Basically, your college is where you live. There is no "best" college, as each one offers a different environment and feel, with some being more traditional, while others are more modern. University college is very much a traditional college.

There are no specific colleges that people of each subject will go to, as each college just takes a certain quota of people from each subject and no more, so people will be more or less evenly spread depending on the size of the college. Nothing in Durham is very far from anything else as it's a small place; you could always get the postcodes of these places and use Google Maps' directions feature to give you an estimate of walking times.
how should i apply for part time Job. can i find it in Necastle, if its not far away from Durham. as you sid, its only 20 minutes ride and offer more opportunities then Durham.
Original post by umairjamal
Hi there;
i am an internatinal student and have been admitted in Durham university for post graduate program. i would love to stay in campus, but i have to be sure that it's cheaper then private accomodation (outside univeristy). can anyone guide me, which accomodation is more economical and better to live. i have good experience of living in flats. Any advise will be appreciated.
regards;
umair


Hiya,

I believe it's universally agreed that it's cheaper to live in private accommodation rather than university accommodation. This is taking housing, food, and utility (water/electricity/gas/internet) bills into account.

The University claims that college accommodation, while not overall cheaper, represents good value for money with the extras that come with it - such as common rooms, social areas, sports facilities, and the like. This claim is currently being investigated by the Durham Student Union - hopefully a report on it will be published before long.
How are the cinemas in durham? Is there any variety? How large are they?
Activities to do besides drinking?
Original post by dr.noname
How are the cinemas in durham? Is there any variety? How large are they?


Cinemas are even fewer in number than clubs, and that's saying something.

There's the Gala Theatre, which does have a cinema screen, and will show some of the latest releases, but not many.

I thought there was a larger one at the Arnison Centre, a shopping centre on the edge of Durham (outside the city centre) but can't seem to find anything about it so II probably imagined it or it's closed down.

There used to be a very small cinema in Gilesgate Moor, years ago, which is now a coffee shop and launderette. I'm only mentioning this because if you're interested in old cinemas it may interest you. It does play host to some live music.

Apart from that, there are film societies and activities within the university and Hild Bede has its own cinema/projector screen and film events.

As for activities to do besides drinking (and presumably clubbing) then there are plenty. It's arguably clubbing that Durham doesn't do well in, so there will be other things. It depends on what your interests are. Student journalism, student radio, volunteering, local conservation, hillwalking, visiting the region, sport (very big), some live music, gaming....

Just take a look at the large number of Societies.
Reply 4870
Avatar for Sehru
Sehru
Hi, does anyone know the class sizes in the Anthropology department? I' am a post graduate taught student starting in September!
Original post by dr.noname
How are the cinemas in durham? Is there any variety? How large are they?


Go to Newcastle for cinemas!
Original post by dr.noname
How are the cinemas in durham? Is there any variety? How large are they?

Activities to do besides drinking?


For cinemas, while the Gala in the middle of town shows a few, your most reliable bet is probably the cinema at the Metrocentre outside Newcastle - train is fast and cheap, so it makes for part of a good day out. :smile:

On activities to do besides drinking, have a look at my FAQ posts on the subject!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2047014&p=38553391#post38553391
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2047014&p=38591521#post38591521
Hello,
I'm stuck between choosing universities to apply to, and I'd like help from anybody who has seen Durham or studied there or has any idea about it or the Psychology course there. I'm interested in going there to study it and have an open day there for September but I'd like to just know general ideas ie what do you think are the good and bad things about the uni and/or the course.

Thanks in advance!
Reply 4874
Avatar for Prudy
Prudy
15
Great uni, strong reputation, beautiful part of the country, good social life.

Go to the open day - will put a lot of that into context for you.
Reply 4875
Avatar for Cerdic
Cerdic
18
Only 56% of students at Durham are happy with the DSU according to the national student survey.
What is wrong with it? Is it because it's small? Is it the atmosphere? At open day it didn't seem bad at all.
Thanks.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by adi19956
Only 56% of students at Durham are happy with the DSU according to the national student survey.
What is wrong with it? Is it because it's small? Is it the atmosphere? At open day it didn't seem bad at all.
Thanks.

Posted from TSR Mobile


In my experience, it's because it doesn't really do anything. Most things it has are provided at college level- there are the college bars and events, JCRs for student representation and getting your views heard, etc etc. It's just a bit pointless. From what I've heard, the SU is a really important part of student life in other universities, but it isn't at all in Durham.
Reply 4877
Avatar for Cerdic
Cerdic
18
Original post by Aleeece123
In my experience, it's because it doesn't really do anything. Most things it has are provided at college level- there are the college bars and events, JCRs for student representation and getting your views heard, etc etc. It's just a bit pointless. From what I've heard, the SU is a really important part of student life in other universities, but it isn't at all in Durham.


So would you say most students are happy with other activities at the college level etc?
Original post by adi19956
So would you say most students are happy with other activities at the college level etc?


Yes I think so :smile:
Original post by adi19956
Only 56% of students at Durham are happy with the DSU according to the national student survey.
What is wrong with it? Is it because it's small? Is it the atmosphere? At open day it didn't seem bad at all.
Thanks.

Posted from TSR Mobile


The DSU, as a place to socialise,is largely redundant at Durham. People have so much to do socialising in their colleges and with countless societies that they just don't tend to look to it for entertainment.

However, the DSU isn't just a building and a place to socialise. It does provide a range of support services and is a way for students to be represented to the university through elected positions. Could it be that it is in this capacity that students are dissatisfied? Even in this capacity, Durham students are probably quite well supported through their college and with reps for their course.

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