Durham University
Durham
The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)
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Hey, I've recently got an offer to do Applied Psychology at Durham and I love the course but its at the Queens Campus... I am really worried to firm it because I don't know if I will like it at Queens. Could someone please tell me a bit about it?
Durham University
Durham
Original post by lottie1996sg
Hey, I've recently got an offer to do Applied Psychology at Durham and I love the course but its at the Queens Campus... I am really worried to firm it because I don't know if I will like it at Queens. Could someone please tell me a bit about it?
I'm in a similar boat in that I'm thinking of doing a Business & Management BA/MBa, located at Queen's Campus... I'd like to hear the personal of a student who lives in at the Stockton location, as opposed to someone who's never been there or lives at the other campus
So,
1) How many people actually live in halls at Queen's? (I can't seem to find this figure)
2) Is the typical "uni halls" feel present?
Thanks!
I loved Durham [especially Josephine Butler] when I went to the post-app open day earlier this week, but I've realised I now have questions.. quite a few of them in fact, apologies, I've tried to group them into sections-
Is there generally a mixed social life going on? I'm not one for a lot of clubbing, although I would like to go out occasionally, but neither am I entirely introverted to the point of not wanting to socialise... I'm happy going out for a coffee, or sitting around in a bar chatting, or doing organised things like film nights or whatever- does a lot of that go on? Are there numbers of students who are somewhat of a middle between hardcore partying a lot, and never really going out?
Where do you do the majority of your work? In your room, in college, in libraries?
I loved Josephine Butler- does the bar [etc] work well when all the students are there in term time? I'm guessing it's a little different when all the students are in, as opposed to just the open day lot?
Does anyone do Combined Honours? If you're studying 3/4 subjects, do you find you're able to get to know staff & other students in specific departments, or are you kind of shut out a little because you're not doing all of the modules? As a Combined Honours student, do you fit in well to the subjects you take, or are you a bit alienated? OH and do you find it easy to make links between modules and keep up with workloads? Are you disadvantaged in individual subjects because your study of the subject is narrower, or are you at an advantage because you can apply expertise from slightly different subject areas?
Does anyone have any experience of the Theology department? They came across as somewhat less friendly than other departments I've visited, but my perceptions were limited because as a Combined Honours applicant I was trying to cram in many talks- would you say they're a friendly department? How have you found your time there? [this is one of my main worries about Durham, because I've fallen in love with a lot, but the Theology department doesn't feel quite right]
Is there generally a mixed social life going on? I'm not one for a lot of clubbing, although I would like to go out occasionally, but neither am I entirely introverted to the point of not wanting to socialise... I'm happy going out for a coffee, or sitting around in a bar chatting, or doing organised things like film nights or whatever- does a lot of that go on? Are there numbers of students who are somewhat of a middle between hardcore partying a lot, and never really going out?
Where do you do the majority of your work? In your room, in college, in libraries?
I loved Josephine Butler- does the bar [etc] work well when all the students are there in term time? I'm guessing it's a little different when all the students are in, as opposed to just the open day lot?
Does anyone do Combined Honours? If you're studying 3/4 subjects, do you find you're able to get to know staff & other students in specific departments, or are you kind of shut out a little because you're not doing all of the modules? As a Combined Honours student, do you fit in well to the subjects you take, or are you a bit alienated? OH and do you find it easy to make links between modules and keep up with workloads? Are you disadvantaged in individual subjects because your study of the subject is narrower, or are you at an advantage because you can apply expertise from slightly different subject areas?
Does anyone have any experience of the Theology department? They came across as somewhat less friendly than other departments I've visited, but my perceptions were limited because as a Combined Honours applicant I was trying to cram in many talks- would you say they're a friendly department? How have you found your time there? [this is one of my main worries about Durham, because I've fallen in love with a lot, but the Theology department doesn't feel quite right]
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Anny Smiles
I loved Durham [especially Josephine Butler] when I went to the post-app open day earlier this week, but I've realised I now have questions.. quite a few of them in fact, apologies, I've tried to group them into sections-
Is there generally a mixed social life going on? I'm not one for a lot of clubbing, although I would like to go out occasionally, but neither am I entirely introverted to the point of not wanting to socialise... I'm happy going out for a coffee, or sitting around in a bar chatting, or doing organised things like film nights or whatever- does a lot of that go on? Are there numbers of students who are somewhat of a middle between hardcore partying a lot, and never really going out?
Where do you do the majority of your work? In your room, in college, in libraries?
I loved Josephine Butler- does the bar [etc] work well when all the students are there in term time? I'm guessing it's a little different when all the students are in, as opposed to just the open day lot?
Does anyone do Combined Honours? If you're studying 3/4 subjects, do you find you're able to get to know staff & other students in specific departments, or are you kind of shut out a little because you're not doing all of the modules? As a Combined Honours student, do you fit in well to the subjects you take, or are you a bit alienated? OH and do you find it easy to make links between modules and keep up with workloads? Are you disadvantaged in individual subjects because your study of the subject is narrower, or are you at an advantage because you can apply expertise from slightly different subject areas?
Does anyone have any experience of the Theology department? They came across as somewhat less friendly than other departments I've visited, but my perceptions were limited because as a Combined Honours applicant I was trying to cram in many talks- would you say they're a friendly department? How have you found your time there? [this is one of my main worries about Durham, because I've fallen in love with a lot, but the Theology department doesn't feel quite right]
Is there generally a mixed social life going on? I'm not one for a lot of clubbing, although I would like to go out occasionally, but neither am I entirely introverted to the point of not wanting to socialise... I'm happy going out for a coffee, or sitting around in a bar chatting, or doing organised things like film nights or whatever- does a lot of that go on? Are there numbers of students who are somewhat of a middle between hardcore partying a lot, and never really going out?
Where do you do the majority of your work? In your room, in college, in libraries?
I loved Josephine Butler- does the bar [etc] work well when all the students are there in term time? I'm guessing it's a little different when all the students are in, as opposed to just the open day lot?
Does anyone do Combined Honours? If you're studying 3/4 subjects, do you find you're able to get to know staff & other students in specific departments, or are you kind of shut out a little because you're not doing all of the modules? As a Combined Honours student, do you fit in well to the subjects you take, or are you a bit alienated? OH and do you find it easy to make links between modules and keep up with workloads? Are you disadvantaged in individual subjects because your study of the subject is narrower, or are you at an advantage because you can apply expertise from slightly different subject areas?
Does anyone have any experience of the Theology department? They came across as somewhat less friendly than other departments I've visited, but my perceptions were limited because as a Combined Honours applicant I was trying to cram in many talks- would you say they're a friendly department? How have you found your time there? [this is one of my main worries about Durham, because I've fallen in love with a lot, but the Theology department doesn't feel quite right]
Okay, lots of questions here, so I shall answer as many of them as best I can. First of all, I'm a first year Butler student myself (Anthropology and Sociology) so while I'm not the best help with your questions about Combined Honours, I'll give as much information as possible
First of all, about the social life. You mentioned watching films and things, and at Butler, we have both a Film soc and a Disney soc, which each meet every week to sit down (usually in the JCR lounge, but occasionally at a livers-out house) to enjoy a film together. There's also the Gala theatre for if you want to go out with friends, as well as Hild Bede film soc, which, while about as far from Butler as you can get in Durham, isn't too bad a walk (I can do it in just over 20 minutes if I really try!) and shows a lot of very recent releases for £3 as a non-member! There are also loads of cafés in Durham to get coffee and cake and things like that if you want to do so, and the college bars are pretty social places also.
As far as where people do the majority of work, it varies between everyone. I tend to prefer working in my room, where it's my own space and I don't feel intimidated. Some of my flatmates work in the kitchen, and I've found at Butler that the bar is a very popular working space during the day for both people who live in and live out. The library is popular as well. As part of the exam booklet the welfare team are organising, we're making a list of "the best places to work in Durham" also, so that will probably bring up some other, less-explored options once we compile them!
The Butler bar has somewhat of a reputation for being empty, though it's the most open of spaces from all the college bars that I've visited (and I've done every one now except Ustinov) - the others have far more of a "pub" atmosphere, while Butler's is much more of a multi-purpose space. It's where we host JCR meetings, concerts, performances, post-formal ents, is our library, coffee shop also, screens sports matches and is our venue for pub sports like pool and darts, which are always occupied in the evening! It takes a lot more people to make the bar seem full, but it works well as a space and as a bar in itself, and has loads of different uses. It might not always be full-seeming, but it does everything you want it to, and well.
I hope that's cleared up any questions you had originally, but let me know if you want to know anything else. Hopefully I'll be seeing you at Butler come September!
Original post by clonedmemories
Okay, lots of questions here, so I shall answer as many of them as best I can.
[...I've cut this for length!...]
I hope that's cleared up any questions you had originally, but let me know if you want to know anything else. Hopefully I'll be seeing you at Butler come September!
[...I've cut this for length!...]
I hope that's cleared up any questions you had originally, but let me know if you want to know anything else. Hopefully I'll be seeing you at Butler come September!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all of those questions
The societies at Butler were something which seemed really cool, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a huge divide between "extroverted party animal" and "introverted shy wallflower" because I fit pretty snugly in the middle of those 2 stereotypes!
It's interesting to hear about the bar, that's something I didn't really hear that much about when I visited but I like the idea of having that bigger open space where you can work and use in a number of ways!
Thanks again
Original post by Anny Smiles
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all of those questions
The societies at Butler were something which seemed really cool, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a huge divide between "extroverted party animal" and "introverted shy wallflower" because I fit pretty snugly in the middle of those 2 stereotypes!
It's interesting to hear about the bar, that's something I didn't really hear that much about when I visited but I like the idea of having that bigger open space where you can work and use in a number of ways!
Thanks again
The societies at Butler were something which seemed really cool, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a huge divide between "extroverted party animal" and "introverted shy wallflower" because I fit pretty snugly in the middle of those 2 stereotypes!
It's interesting to hear about the bar, that's something I didn't really hear that much about when I visited but I like the idea of having that bigger open space where you can work and use in a number of ways!
Thanks again
Yeah, I tend to fit between the two as well, and I've never had any issues in doing something I want to do when I want to do it!
And the societies really are awesome. I believe we have the most of all colleges, and there really is something for everyone. Or you do what I do, and take on everything you have time for, and multiple other things you don't! But it's worth it
Original post by clonedmemories
Yeah, I tend to fit between the two as well, and I've never had any issues in doing something I want to do when I want to do it!
And the societies really are awesome. I believe we have the most of all colleges, and there really is something for everyone. Or you do what I do, and take on everything you have time for, and multiple other things you don't! But it's worth it
And the societies really are awesome. I believe we have the most of all colleges, and there really is something for everyone. Or you do what I do, and take on everything you have time for, and multiple other things you don't! But it's worth it
That's really good to hear, thank you!
I would like to seek advice from you guys on the following:
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
Original post by lukbetty123
I would like to seek advice from you guys on the following:
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
1. Induction week begins on the 29th of September, a Monday. If you're not an international student, you'll be expected to arrive on either the Saturday or Sunday - which day exactly varies from college to college, but you'll receive information about this in due course. If you're an international student, I believe you are expected to arrive up to a week before - though again, exactly when will be specified later.
2. Durham is small, and although there are places to stay, they can be quite expensive. You might be best off looking for somewhere else nearby. Perhaps Newcastle? I'm sure you can do some bargain hunting online, if money's an issue that is.
3. Before term? Apart from in a hotel room, not really. Whether your college would allow you to store things there before the start of term is something you'll have to ask them about.
4. Looking at the St. Aidan's College Fees & Finances page, it looks like the only let for first years is 39 weeks long. This, I think, will include all 3 terms and the Christmas and Easter holidays - but certainly, you will need to move your belongings out during the summer.
Thanks, NJam. Your advice is really helpful
Original post by lukbetty123
I would like to seek advice from you guys on the following:
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
1. Do you know the earliest date for moving into the Aidan’s College for the start of the 2014/15 academic year?
2. Is there any short stay accommodation (say, two weeks) in Durham that you will recommend?
3. Is there any place in Durham that we can store our luggage for a short period of time?
4. I understand that there are three breaks per academic year: Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Do the students need to move out (including their belongings) for all these three periods, or just the Summer break?
Many thanks.
Just to add to the previous response - some colleges will let you stay in college short term outside the normal term time for a fee. It might be worth asking Aidan's. You don't tend to get fed outside of term time or the eating arrangements are very basic.
The arrangement at Aidan's tends to be that students pack up their stuff and put it in large lockable storage boxes under their bed. You need to pay for the longer let if you want to stay in your room and even then you might not be able to stay for both Easter and Christmas. You can only stay over the summer if you're a post-grad. Freshers move out at the end of June.
Aidan's have store rooms where things that won't fit under your bed can be stored in the Easter and Christmas holidays but they're only available to Internationals. If you only have a small amount and you know any internationals, you can ask them to store it for you or you can sometimes find someone who is staying over the holidays and they might be kind enough to let you put things in their room.
I've never looked into it myself but most university towns have companies that will take away student stuff and store it over the holidays for a fee. Try google.
My information may be a bit out of date - it's a couple of years since I was a fresher and things have changed. You will however find Aidan's very helpful if you just email them your questions.
(edited 9 years ago)
Can anyone advise which are the best mobile phone networks for reception. Will be based at Van Mildert and the science area. Thanks
I am on EE and that is fine, but probably most networks are okay.
Most websites for networks have coverage maps, so you should probably check some of those out for more information.
Most websites for networks have coverage maps, so you should probably check some of those out for more information.
Heya, if you're going to be at Mildert then O2 is by far the best network- I get good signal and 3G all the time. 3 mobile gets zero signal at Mildert and people on EE have said that they don't always get 3G
Original post by hismum
Can anyone advise which are the best mobile phone networks for reception. Will be based at Van Mildert and the science area. Thanks
To add to the above, giffgaff is a great option (it's got the same coverage as O2)
Can any student tell me a bit about st cuthbert's: I got reallocated there. I heard it has a reputation as a drinking college... is it really like that or is it only a few people who give that reputation?
1. My conditional offer is A*AA. If I get A*A*B, what are the chances of being accepted?
2. How easy is it to find a job in Durham?
3. What is the workload like for English? Will I have time for a job?
4. Are there any left-wing organisations/activism I can get involved in?
2. How easy is it to find a job in Durham?
3. What is the workload like for English? Will I have time for a job?
4. Are there any left-wing organisations/activism I can get involved in?
Original post by qwertyuiopg
Can any student tell me a bit about st cuthbert's: I got reallocated there. I heard it has a reputation as a drinking college... is it really like that or is it only a few people who give that reputation?
I'm at Cuth's, it's a good college, we have a mix of people. Some people are drinkers, some aren't, there's no pressure to be either if that's not what you want to do. Cuth's has a serious, academic side too, with a range of activities that happen during the year from Academic fora to Social Comm's events like Oktoberfest.
Original post by qwertyuiopg
Can any student tell me a bit about st cuthbert's: I got reallocated there. I heard it has a reputation as a drinking college... is it really like that or is it only a few people who give that reputation?
Almost all the colleges have people in them who like to drink a lot. This is fairly typical of students in all universities. However, students at Durham seem to have more work to do than many students so don't by any means spend the whole time drinking. There are also lots of people who don't drink at all and this is not in any way a problem. Cuth's is a great college. I'm sure you will love it.
Original post by W. H. Auden
1. My conditional offer is A*AA. If I get A*A*B, what are the chances of being accepted?
2. How easy is it to find a job in Durham?
3. What is the workload like for English? Will I have time for a job?
4. Are there any left-wing organisations/activism I can get involved in?
2. How easy is it to find a job in Durham?
3. What is the workload like for English? Will I have time for a job?
4. Are there any left-wing organisations/activism I can get involved in?
1. I had the same dilemma when I applied (luckily met my offer). The truth is that no one can answer that question. It depends entirely on what results other offer holders get and also what subject the B is in. If they have enough people who meet their offer to fill the course, they won't give you a place. However, if they can't fill the course with offer holders who met their offer, you are pretty much top of the list for a place and would certainly come before anyone they could find in clearing.
2. Not easy at all. There is a lot of unemployment in the north east and locals take most of the jobs there are in town because they are here all year. There are some jobs in college - shop/bar work etc. but they're hard to get and often don't offer many hours. Some people try Newcastle because it's not that far on the train.
3 & 4. Sorry, don't know.
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