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Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham

The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

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Original post by Shreyans
Hello, I am from Mumbai (Bombay), India and I will be coming to durham university in September 2014. I have accepted my conditional offer and I am sure of completing the condition which means I am sure of coming to the university. My course is a postgraduate taught course MA Philosophy.
I have a few questions and it would be very kind of someone can answer them.
1) I haven't applied to any college yet, I am planning on doing so once I arrive ( 15days early) is this a good idea?
2) on student pad I searched for a few private accommodations and they looked pretty neat, plus the rent goes for about 50-60 pounds a week, which is definitely cheaper than college accommodation, the private accommodations may be a little far but then we do have free university buses running right? So is it a good option to stay in a private accommodation?
3) the university recommends 6hrs per week of part time job for postgraduate students, my visa allows me for 20hrs per week. Will it be ok if I work for more than 6 hrs since this will help me a lot on saving up for next year's course. Or will the college take action against me? I definitely won't do anything stupid to jeopardise my education.
4) I've tried to look everywhere but I haven't been able to understand the 'term' concept. Actually I haven't been able to understand the structure itself. The university says that I'll understand when I start, but I think it's better to understand things before hand.

Please accept my apologies for bombarding this thread with so many questions.

Thank you in advance :smile:



Hi there,

I'm not a current student, I'm also going to be studying at Durham for a postgrad course from October.

There is a durham Postgrad thread where you may find more people to help answer your questions. I can't help you with the living and renting stuff sorry...

I think most people apply to a college as soon as they can - I have my college started already.

I'm not sure what you mean by your "term" question. A "term" is like a "semester" if that's what you mean?
Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
Has anyone here taken either Self, Identity and Society or Children, Young People and Families? I'm trying to choose between them both for next year and really can't decide between them, so if anyone has any comments about either module, they would be very much appreciated :h:
Original post by Blou17
Hi there,

I'm not a current student, I'm also going to be studying at Durham for a postgrad course from October.

There is a durham Postgrad thread where you may find more people to help answer your questions. I can't help you with the living and renting stuff sorry...

I think most people apply to a college as soon as they can - I have my college started already.

I'm not sure what you mean by your "term" question. A "term" is like a "semester" if that's what you mean?


Thank you so much :smile:
I think by term they mean semester. But generally there are two semesters in a year right?? This university seems to have three. That was the confusing part.
Anyways thank you so much for your help. I shall post this query in the postgraduate thread.
Original post by Shreyans
Thank you so much :smile:
I think by term they mean semester. But generally there are two semesters in a year right?? This university seems to have three. That was the confusing part.
Anyways thank you so much for your help. I shall post this query in the postgraduate thread.


There are 4 terms in a year (three months -more or less- in each), but a school year only contains three terms, the last one being summer holidays ! :smile:
How's the careers service?
Hello can anyone tell me what and what to pack for college rooms, for example, mattress, etc.
Reply 5746
Avatar for Kavv
Kavv
How good is the Queen's Campus? Honest review of it. I'm looking to do Marketing there and all I've heard is criticism of the student union and small village.
Original post by Shreyans
Hello, I am from Mumbai (Bombay), India and I will be coming to durham university in September 2014. I have accepted my conditional offer and I am sure of completing the condition which means I am sure of coming to the university. My course is a postgraduate taught course MA Philosophy.
I have a few questions and it would be very kind of someone can answer them.
1) I haven't applied to any college yet, I am planning on doing so once I arrive ( 15days early) is this a good idea?
2) on student pad I searched for a few private accommodations and they looked pretty neat, plus the rent goes for about 50-60 pounds a week, which is definitely cheaper than college accommodation, the private accommodations may be a little far but then we do have free university buses running right? So is it a good option to stay in a private accommodation?
3) the university recommends 6hrs per week of part time job for postgraduate students, my visa allows me for 20hrs per week. Will it be ok if I work for more than 6 hrs since this will help me a lot on saving up for next year's course. Or will the college take action against me? I definitely won't do anything stupid to jeopardise my education.
4) I've tried to look everywhere but I haven't been able to understand the 'term' concept. Actually I haven't been able to understand the structure itself. The university says that I'll understand when I start, but I think it's better to understand things before hand.

Please accept my apologies for bombarding this thread with so many questions.

Thank you in advance :smile:


Im pretty sure you have missed the deadline for college postgrad accommodation now, so make sure you get some private sorted.

The free bus is from Durham to Stockton, it will get you up the hill to the library if you live in the viaduct sort of area, but otherwise it's not that useful within Durham itself. Everything is walking distance within Durham though.

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Reply 5748
Avatar for NJam
NJam
2
Original post by dionettarose
Hello can anyone tell me what and what to pack for college rooms, for example, mattress, etc.


Rooms usually come with stuff like a mattress, desk, lamp, drawers etc. as standard. You'll probably also get a duvet and pillow or two, though you can bring your own if you like. You'll need bed sheets. If you're self catered, you'll obviously need all the various utensils and such, if not, you'll still want to bring some cutlery and plates/mugs. A drying rack for your clothes is a good bet. That's all I can think of right now, but don't worry about this stuff too much. You'll get a fresher's pack from your college in early september which will tell you everything you need to know :smile:
Original post by Kavv
How good is the Queen's Campus? Honest review of it. I'm looking to do Marketing there and all I've heard is criticism of the student union and small village.


The people that are there, seem to like it. However all the students who are based in actual Durham just sneer at it. It's a 40 minute free bus from the actual city of Durham. Queen's Campus is based in Stockton which is a grim town. While Durham itself is a city university, Queen's is a campus uni.
Can anyone who does Chemistry tell me what the textbooks are for first year? I would like to see if I can get them cheaper while abroad, rather than shell out tonnes for it back in the UK. I tried searching on Durham's chemistry pages, but could only find reading list for NatSci chemistry (Does it make a difference). I have Atkins Physical Chem, and Morrison Boyd Organic already, though in any case if they are used.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by NJam

x


Is the information from the Fresher's pack available online? I'm an international, and packages rarely arrive at their destination here in Brazil unless it's through FEDEX/DHL courier, so I'm worried that I might to miss important information.

Van Mildert by the way.
Is there anyone here studying or studied General Engineering at Durham?

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Original post by Fango_Jett
Can anyone who does Chemistry tell me what the textbooks are for first year? I would like to see if I can get them cheaper while abroad, rather than shell out tonnes for it back in the UK. I tried searching on Durham's chemistry pages, but could only find reading list for NatSci chemistry (Does it make a difference). I have Atkins Physical Chem, and Morrison Boyd Organic already, though in any case if they are used.


It's not usually a good idea to buy books before you arrive. Required books can change depending on who is teaching the module. Also, many books you may only need a chapter of and you can use the books in the libraries. Books are not that hard to get hold of in the libraries as you have the main one plus college libraries and if it's not in, you can request it. You will also find a lot of 2nd/3rd/postgrads selling their books when you get here. For many subjects (especially the research-based ones), you won't use many books, but will rely on the journal/research articles that are available online.

For a subject like Chemistry, there are probably some core books, used year after year but again, buying them new is not the only option. If you really want them, you could email your department and ask. They're usually very helpful.
Original post by Fango_Jett
Is the information from the Fresher's pack available online? I'm an international, and packages rarely arrive at their destination here in Brazil unless it's through FEDEX/DHL courier, so I'm worried that I might to miss important information.

Van Mildert by the way.


I don't think it's generally available online. There are a lot of forms to fill in, some of them not for the university (doctor registration etc). Every year people panic about getting the pack early but it really doesn't matter. There are around 6 weeks between results day and you arriving in Durham so there is plenty of time. People worry about the rooms being allocated on a first-come-first-served basis but it isn't true. They wait a period of time to enable people to return the forms before they do any allocation. There is no need to panic and all international students will be in the same position.
Reply 5755
Avatar for NJam
NJam
2
Original post by Fango_Jett
Is the information from the Fresher's pack available online? I'm an international, and packages rarely arrive at their destination here in Brazil unless it's through FEDEX/DHL courier, so I'm worried that I might to miss important information.

Van Mildert by the way.


Not sure for Mildert, for my college, there was a 'Fresher's handbook' available on the online JCR page. You should be able to find Mildert's online one by searching the college pages on the durham site. Also, since you're international, I'd worry even less about buying things and bringing them over - whilst there aren't too many shops in and around Durham, there are enough to get everything you need. You will arrive earlier than most freshers, and there will be a handful of people dedicated to making sure you're comfortable over here, so you can just ask them what you need to get :smile:.
Original post by Arieisit
Is there anyone here studying or studied General Engineering at Durham?

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*waves enthusiastically* I do, just finished first year :smile:

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Reply 5757
Avatar for newway
newway
How far is Economics department from Hild Bede college?
Hi, fellow Durham students!

I applied very late (July 1st) to the Trade Law LL.M. and got an unconditional offer on Friday, which I accepted. I am supposed to pick a college in the next days, I really want to go to Butler, but is there any chance to get a room there that late?

I also had another somewhat related question: As Butler is 1.5 miles away from the Law School, I wondered how much a used bike would cost me to buy.

Thank you for your answers and see you at the end of September!
Original post by Fango_Jett
Can anyone who does Chemistry tell me what the textbooks are for first year? I would like to see if I can get them cheaper while abroad, rather than shell out tonnes for it back in the UK. I tried searching on Durham's chemistry pages, but could only find reading list for NatSci chemistry (Does it make a difference). I have Atkins Physical Chem, and Morrison Boyd Organic already, though in any case if they are used.


Atkins physical, Housecroft Chemistry, Clayden organic and Shrivers Inorganic are the 4 core textbooks for chemistry

But yeah wait until you get there really. The bookshops in Durham sell them in discounted bundles and the library will have them all too.

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