Is durham as bad as everyone says?

HI, yeah man I'm also concerned about the same thing like I want to go to Durham as my first choice for Accounting and Finance but I heard there is not diversity and everyone has an attitude lollll

Reply 4

Original post by omgwha

I got an offer to study at this university but I've heard a lot of bad things when it comes to making friends and socialising with people at Durham. Many say that it's full of privately educated students with odd attitudes. I have my concerns coming from a state school and having a background that's not particularly wealthy.

However i've heard great things about Durham's Computer Science department and how its well funded etc.

ngl i heard bad things ab it too but ibr everyone has bad things to say ab any uni so im like let me just see for myself. tbh you could just attend an open day and see how people are and ngl i thought durham would be cheaper for accom but its so expensive so im looking at accom near newcastle lolll. Bro i swear everything is just mad expensive so i prob have to firm travelling 30 mins to uni

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post by omgwha

I got an offer to study at this university but I've heard a lot of bad things when it comes to making friends and socialising with people at Durham. Many say that it's full of privately educated students with odd attitudes. I have my concerns coming from a state school and having a background that's not particularly wealthy.

However i've heard great things about Durham's Computer Science department and how its well funded etc.

hi, i’m feeling the same way :frown:

i recently received an offer to study english literature but i'm really concerned about meeting new people based on the horror stories (especially being from the north east) and don’t think i’d fit in with the rich private school culture :frown:

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Anonymous #1

hi, i’m feeling the same way :frown:

i recently received an offer to study english literature but i'm really concerned about meeting new people based on the horror stories (especially being from the north east) and don’t think i’d fit in with the rich private school culture :frown:

sameee its so hard because aside from that durham seems great

Reply 7

OP

Original post by haykub

ngl i heard bad things ab it too but ibr everyone has bad things to say ab any uni so im like let me just see for myself. tbh you could just attend an open day and see how people are and ngl i thought durham would be cheaper for accom but its so expensive so im looking at accom near newcastle lolll. Bro i swear everything is just mad expensive so i prob have to firm travelling 30 mins to uni

travelling 30 mins isn't too bad but if i were to commute the shortest would be 1 hour. theres no wayyyy im doing that 😭. also I feel like having flatmates and being close to the university is part of the experience I dont rlly see myself having a great social life otherwise because im not that outgoing.

Reply 8

Anonymous #2

Hi everyone, I'm in my first year at Durham at the moment and honestly there are posh people here and lots of people I know come from private schools and richer families. But there are also plenty of people from state school like me and the uni is doing a lot to try and make it a more welcoming environment. There is also a grant that lots of people from backgrounds like mine get - I think next year it's anyone who's eligible for the student loan gets it to help with costs. Some people are a bit posh yeah but most of them are really nice and there are some from state schools. Sometimes you have to have a bit of a thick skin but generally it's alright.

Reply 9

Picnicl

15

Durham is old but nowhere near Oxbridge or ancient Scottish universities old. Durham is closer in age to the University of London, 1830s. Durham is like a hybrid of college and campus universities. It is not much like the civic universities (at Durham, there's no Gothic architecture, no redbrick, no big marble buildings). Think Georgian townhouses and 60s campuses mainly. Whilst it has old colleges, they're sometimes not particularly large (St Hild and St Bede and Hatfield stand out) and many of its colleges only date to the 1960s, its union is 1960s. It ranks very well in some subjects, although by no means outstanding in others. Its age in English terms, its old colleges, including the Castle (University College, opposite the cathedral) and its city's perceived beauty have arguably aided its standing as a university. It also has some museums of its own. Newcastle's not far from Durham for a larger place and brighter lights. Still, Durham has got to be livelier on a daily basis than St Andrews - that place feels like a monastery.

(edited 3 months ago)

Original post by omgwha

I got an offer to study at this university but I've heard a lot of bad things when it comes to making friends and socialising with people at Durham. Many say that it's full of privately educated students with odd attitudes. I have my concerns coming from a state school and having a background that's not particularly wealthy.

However i've heard great things about Durham's Computer Science department and how its well funded etc.

Hiya

Congratulations on your offer!

I completely understand your concerns about the university and tbf, I had similar ones as a POC student and not coming from a particularly wealthy background. In all honesty, you will find students like that in Durham. And many of them come from wealthy backgrounds so it's easy to think that you might not fit in but I can assure you that there are people from diverse backgrounds here. The student population at Durham gets easily generalized because of the rude people but that's not the case in reality. I have met so many people in all the time that I've spent here (I'm in my 3rd year now) and a majority of them have been nice and friendly. Plus just because somebody comes from a rich background doesn't mean they'll have a poor attitude towards others. You just have to put yourself out there and try to find 'your people' which is definitely possible. Personally, if I encounter somebody rude, I just ignore them for my peace. And I don't think this is something peculiar to Durham either as you can find rude people at most unis.

Ofcourse there is lots of support available too. There's a 93% club which aims to build a social community for state-school students at Durham, including social events and collaborations with students who went to non-state schools to encourage inclusivity. I would say this is a great place to start if you feel concerned. I'm sure they'd be happy to answer any of your questions regarding life at Durham if you text them on Instagram. Additionally, all colleges have welfare support where you can book 1-1 sessions and talk about any concerns in a confidential and safe space. Reporting measures are also in place if you face any discriminatory behaviour including the welfare support in colleges as well as the Report + Support Service.

I hope at least some of this helped quell your concerns but please feel free to follow up on this if you wish :smile:

-Himieka

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 11

Original post by omgwha

travelling 30 mins isn't too bad but if i were to commute the shortest would be 1 hour. theres no wayyyy im doing that 😭. also I feel like having flatmates and being close to the university is part of the experience I dont rlly see myself having a great social life otherwise because im not that outgoing.

heyy, yeah I know it’s not too bad but I’m thinking I want to save as much as possible like if I’m spending £5 everyday on train fees or whatever travel expenses I’m using I might as well just get an accom near the uni cuz it might end up being cheaper for me in the long term. Def you should have flatmates and be close to get the experience ngl I’m not that outgoing either esp in such a new environment but I’ll try talk to people ig. But anywayyyy what course r u doinggg maybe we could be friends if I do end up going

Reply 12

OP

Original post by haykub

heyy, yeah I know it’s not too bad but I’m thinking I want to save as much as possible like if I’m spending £5 everyday on train fees or whatever travel expenses I’m using I might as well just get an accom near the uni cuz it might end up being cheaper for me in the long term. Def you should have flatmates and be close to get the experience ngl I’m not that outgoing either esp in such a new environment but I’ll try talk to people ig. But anywayyyy what course r u doinggg maybe we could be friends if I do end up going

comp sci

Reply 13

Anonymous #3

Original post by omgwha

comp sci

Oh cool that’s nice man

Reply 14

Anonymous #4

Original post by Anonymous #3

Oh cool that’s nice man

its scary you know because I keep hearing about it being so hard to find a job in tech nowadays

Reply 15

Original post by Anonymous #4

its scary you know because I keep hearing about it being so hard to find a job in tech nowadays

wait really?? I thought it would be easy since tech is growing like a lot so more need for employees in that area ygm, but yeah I think maybe it’s different for everyone like u might end up getting a really good job

Reply 16

harry1coombs

I've applied to Durham for Economics, and waiting on an offer. Is the nightlife as terrible as its reputation says?

Reply 17

OP