The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Thanks for replying! (: Mm what do you guys do during your free time? And how is the cost of living like over in Durham? And the student life- is it a very bonded environment? Part of the reason why I would really like to go to Durham is admittedly because of the collegiate system- it's really unique and I'd love to have an experience like that.
And one more thing (Sorry for the barrage of questions!) what is Durham's 'actual' ranking like? Is it considered quite a prestigious uni in the UK? I'm quite confused because I went onto thecompleteuniversityguide and QS rankings to check out Durham's ranking, and it's very very different. I applied for Biomedical science; would you say that Durham is good for its sciences? Thanks so much! (:

Let's see what I can help with.

Mm what do you guys do during your free time?

Had a look at my FAQ?
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/durham_university_faqs#Is_The_Social_Life_In_Durham_Really_Bad.3F
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/durham_university_faqs#What_Sports.2FClubs.2FSocieties_Can_I_Join.3F

When I wasn't playing video games in my room, I'd be hanging out with friends living with me, relaxing at the college bar, playing board games or RPGs with GamesSoc, doing crazy **** with the Assassins, planting (or cutting down trees) with ConSoc, going to LARP events written and run by friends, or singing with one of my college choirs. Just a few examples.

And how is the cost of living like over in Durham?

Again, I refer you to my FAQ:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/durham_university_faqs#Is_It_Worth_Living_In_College.3F_.28or_.27Why_Is_Accommodation_So_Expensive.3F.27.29

Living in college, we're talking £6,000 for the year, including rent, food, bills, and other facilities. It's generally claimed that living in privately rented accommodation is considerably cheaper, but this is disputed by the university.

Then miscellaneous expenses, for entertainment, stationery, etc, varies wildly depending on what you do and how you live. But tends to be a small fraction of the above.

And the student life- is it a very bonded environment?

This is one of those ones that's difficult to compare unless you've done undergraduate degrees in two different universities, but yes, we think so. The college experience really does seem to be unique. It lets you meet such a wide range of people, and encounter things you never otherwise would.

I'd normally have more to say on the matter, but I'm getting very sleepy, sorry.

what is Durham's 'actual' ranking like? Is it considered quite a prestigious uni in the UK?

Don't worry, Durham is a good university, with a good reputation for producing strong graduates.

The reason Durham comes out badly in some league tables is that we're a small university, so not hugely well-off, and as a result we're not so big on the international research scene (with a few exceptions).

Or to put it another way, it's not the quality of teaching that brings us down in the rankings.

Thanks, that was really comprehensive and helpful! I just got an offer from Durham today Oh one more thing, what would you say are the 'bad' points(If any, haha) about studying at Durham?

Thanks, that was really comprehensive and helpful! I just got an offer from Durham today Oh one more thing, what would you say are the 'bad' points(If any, haha) about studying at Durham?

Can anyone tell me anything about the transport links, if any, from the uni to Chester Lee Street CC? Hoping to watch some matches up there!

Can anyone tell me anything about the transport links, if any, from the uni to Chester Lee Street CC? Hoping to watch some matches up there!

Congratulations on the offer!

Well, some of that bad points from my own experience are pretty unhelpful things like "That second year maths lecturer was awful", or "I detested those guys I had to live near", but yeah, that's got nothing to do with Durham specifically.

The only one I can think of is "It's not London". Not a problem for some, like me, but after a while it really gets to people who are used to having a whole city at their fingertips to explore.

In the same vein as Helioghost, I think it is a feeling that does come from almost anyone who moves to Durham from a larger town/city can find it a little claustraphobic at times. I've certainly felt it on numerous occasions, even in my first term, but it really is a beautiful place to live and to study in also. I imagine it's something most people get used to, and if you need a little escape, there's not far to go on the train to Newcastle, and often colleges organise trips to other places as well - we did one to the Edinburgh Christmas Market a few weeks ago

How small is Durham actually? I do keep reading comments that Durham is small, etc. but I'm not sure if it really is that small, or just small to people who are used to big cities. I'm not from the UK, so I'm not sure what its like(: Still, I don't think that would be a big problem for me especially if the colleges do plan a lot of events!

I also heard that only Freshmen get to stay in college- afterwards from the second year onwards you'll have to move out- is that true? Will it be very difficult to get a room at college for the subsequent years, like do you have to fulfill certain criteria and so on? Just curious, which colleges do you guys belong to?(:

Is there much to do in Durham besides clubbing and stuff like that?

What do you mean by stuff to do? Honestly there are so many awesome societies and sports clubs to get involved in, if that's the kind of tging you're talking about. And whatever there isn't, you can probably do it in Newcastle, which is 15 minutes away.

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Like in terms of cultural things like Museums and that ?

Nice to know Newcastle isn't far then.

Like in terms of cultural things like Museums and that ? .

Like in terms of cultural things like Museums and that ?

Nice to know Newcastle isn't far then.

There's the Oriental Museum by the hill colleges, and The Old Fuling Mill (Museum of Archaeology) by the river. Both are owned by the university and will be free to students.

There's also Palace Green, which was a library in my time but now has been coverted into a Visitor Centre to show off the university's collections and historic works.

The Botanic Gardens, again owned by the university, if that interests you.

There's Durham Heritage Centre on the Bailey. Small and worth a quick visit but nothing spectactular.

Durham Light Infantry Museum (with an art gallery inside) is quite good. It's just outside the city centre on the other side of the train station.

Beamish is outside Durham, near Stanley, and is the largest open air museum in Europe (or at least was). It's a living museum with a focus on the coal mining history of the region and local life during the late Victorian/Edwardian era. It's easy enough to get to by bus.

Otherwise there's, poetry readings at a place on the Bailey I've completely forgotten and the usual public lectures you'd expect at universities and museums.

Not a great deal, but a reasonable amount for a place of its size.

If you want to travel further afield then in and around Newcastle there's the usual large museums like Great North Museum, Baltic, Laing Art Gallery, Disocvery Museum, Roman forts and museums along Hadrian's Wall (Segedunum, Housesteads, Arbeia), the Biscuit Factory (UK's largest design and craft gallery) and more.

Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art is surprisingly good, considering it's in Middlesbrough. It's only an hour or so by bus so for a one off trip is worth it.

In terms of art and culture, off the top of my head, I came up with:

* The Palace Green area of Durham, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

* The Cathedral, where St Bede and St Cuthbert are buried, contains a small museum but is an important historical site in its own right, being widely considered as the greatest Norman building in the UK (possibly even Europe) and one of the best and earliest examples of Romanesque architecture.

* Many University buildings are listed and considered of historical and/or national importance, including Durham Castle (University College).

* Palace Green Library, also listed, played host to the Lindisfarne Gospels and exhibition this year and there is a heritage centre on the Bailey.

* The University itself has two museums, the Oriental Museum and the Archaeology Museum and has Botanic Gardens.

* The City has the DLI museum and Art Gallery and two theatres (one of which is part of the University).

* The University also has one of the largest art collections of any university in the UK. Some colleges will host an artist in residence (including writers and painters) who will run seminars or events for students, staff and members of the public.


Nearby, in County Durham, there is the multi-award winning Beamish Museum at Chester-le-Street and, if you have transport, Washington Old Hall (ancestral home of George Washington), Binchester Roman Fort, the Bowes Museum, Raby Castle and the ruins of Barnard Castle at Barnard Castle and Escomb Church (the oldest complete Saxon church in the UK). Some or all of these may be accessible by public transport as well.

A short train journey (15/20 minutes) and the Sage Concert Hall at Gateshead and theatres and museums of Newcastle are all accessible. Durham is also well connected on the East Coast mainline for a day visit to York, Edinburgh, Harrogate and other major cities (including London!).

Hope that helps!

How small is Durham actually? I do keep reading comments that Durham is small, etc. but I'm not sure if it really is that small, or just small to people who are used to big cities. I'm not from the UK, so I'm not sure what its like(: Still, I don't think that would be a big problem for me especially if the colleges do plan a lot of events!

I also heard that only Freshmen get to stay in college- afterwards from the second year onwards you'll have to move out- is that true? Will it be very difficult to get a room at college for the subsequent years, like do you have to fulfill certain criteria and so on? Just curious, which colleges do you guys belong to?(:

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Is there much to do in Durham besides clubbing and stuff like that?

Can we go to visit other colleges that is not ours? Because I've applied to St Mary's and I would love to go and have a look at the Castle


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Course you can! Hell, you can even go to other colleges' formals, providing that someone from that college gets you in.