The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Haha, it's definitely not a multicultural university!

I haven't personally encountered too much overt and direct racism here, but there is a lot of the 'I have black friends so i'm not racist' kind unfortunately.

Hey there soo im an international student and I've got an offer for biomedical sciences with a year in industry
I am so lost right now you guys, you have no idea! First of all can someone please explain to me how the college system there works? I just don't understand! I didn't choose any college while applying through ucas. On their website theyve said that the college offers usually come in at the end of feb/ first week of march. I haven't received one yet should I be worried? Btw, Im yet to send in firm choice, im thinking of insuring durham.
Also just how good is the course there? I have no way of knowing.ive never even been to the uk!

I hope i made sense there! Im on phone right now, excuse me if I didnt :P thank you!

Hi, I'm an international student too Well done on your offer! I'm only a prospective student, but I hope this helps!

The college system, from what I understand it's modelled after the Oxbridge colleges a bit in that we're members of those colleges for life, and most live there 1st year and 3rd year of their uni life.

The Durham website has this to say about colleges:
"As well as belonging to an academic department, you will also belong to one of our 15 undergraduate colleges throughout your time at Durham University
While all your teaching will take place within your academic department, colleges offer small, supportive scholarly communities, full of opportunities for you to make the most of your time here and develop skills for the future."

But it's actually a lot cooler than that because most of your close friends will be your college mates and stuff like that (: Each college is different in terms of size, location, reputation etc. Some also have formals regularly where you dress up, maybe put on the academic gown, depending on whether it's college tradition, and go have a formal meal.

As for when you'll find out what college you are... If you received your offer before 31st Jan then you should know by now. Try going to this page https://www.dur.ac.uk/conference.booking/restriction/?app=1&event=265 and log in, and fill out the form until you reach the bit where it says what college you'll be staying at (: If that doesn't work then maybe try checking your offer letter to see if they mention when you can expect to hear from a college by? (:

Oh alright. So basically its just the university accommodation for students, right? Then how is it different to any other university accommodation?
Yeah I checked the offer letter again. I should hear soon from them.
Thanks for your help! Btw, where are you from? And what course are you going in for?

Yes I suppose some would say that the colleges are just glorified halls of residences. But each has it's own quirks an personality so it's up to you how you see it (:

I'm an offer holder for law and I'm from Malaysia. How about you?

Oh thats amazing! I did 2 months of my kindergarten in malaysia
Im from india, though. Going in for biomed have you firmed durham yet?

Oh alright. So basically its just the university accommodation for students, right? Then how is it different to any other university accommodation?
Yeah I checked the offer letter again. I should hear soon from them.
Thanks for your help! Btw, where are you from? And what course are you going in for?

I'd ask you how you like Malaysia, but you probably don't remember, seeing as it was kindergarten years

I haven't firmed durham yet as I'm tossing up between it and UCL... I already have my results so it's just a matter of choosing now. Have you firmed yet? Do you have your results yet?

The difference between colleges and halls is that you're still a member of the college community when you don't live there. Of course, you could choose to ignore college completely once you start living out, but most people still take part in college events, elections, societies etc during second and third year (plus a lot of people choose to live in again in 3rd year) Other uni halls are pretty much just where you live- although they often organise freshers' events, there's nothing really for students who don't live there any more

Oh, alright. Good luck with your decision!
No and no. I will though, once I've heard back from all my choices (read damn you king's, just get back to me already). And my results are out next month

Hey.

I'm going to Hatfield in September and was wondering if anyone could tell me about college/university dance.

I do a lot of ballet, modern and tap and would really like to continue at university, but I can't find any information about it. It's technically not a sport so dance isn't included in the list of sports you can do at Durham, but I can't believe that there isn't provision for it.

Can anyone help? Maybe a website link? I've had a look online but can't find any information at all. Really want some reassurance that I'm not going to have to take up a proper sport to keep fit. :P

I'm not sure about Hatfield in terms of college dance, but on a university-wide level, there's loads you can do! Instep Dance Society offer classes and put on performances for a huge variety of different things, and there are also separate societies if you want to try something also a bit different. There's BALADS (Ballroom and Latin American), DUPDS (Pole dance), DUSS (Swing dance), Argentine Tango, and I'm sure others that I've missed out!