Any experience regarding the Durham college system?

How social is the college system at Durham and how many people have got their choice! The cheapest is 7000 and I am worried I may be allocated an expensive one

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

Have you not been allocated a college yet?

Reply 2

saluuuuu

Original post

by Anonymous

Have you not been allocated a college yet?

I have a firm for Bristol but am thinking about reapplying to Durham just not sure about accommodation as everyone I know got some of their last choices

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

Yes, it's an annoying system. I don't know why they don't just do it arbitrarily, you can spend ages visiting colleges and working out your list... and they just ignore it! But everyone says you end up liking your college. Bristol is also an expensive city, too, isn't it?

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Original post

by saluuuuu

I have a firm for Bristol but am thinking about reapplying to Durham just not sure about accommodation as everyone I know got some of their last choices

I got my first choice college and have heard of a fair amount also getting their first. It is random though and depends how many are applying to that college that take your subject.

Reply 5

DurhamRep Mia

Official Rep

Original post

by saluuuuu

How social is the college system at Durham and how many people have got their choice! The cheapest is 7000 and I am worried I may be allocated an expensive one

Hey!! The college system at Durham is really social. It’s one of the best things about the uni. Your college is like a built-in community within the wider university, with its own formals, sports teams, events, and societies. Most people make their first friends through their college, and it gives you a sense of belonging straight away. Even if you’re not allocated your first choice, students usually find that their college becomes “home” really quickly. They all have strong identities and social scenes.
On allocations: not everyone gets their first choice, but a lot of students do, and those who don’t usually end up loving where they are. Durham makes an effort to balance things so no college is disadvantaged.

Good luck with everything 🤗

Durham Rep, Mia

Reply 6

saluuuuu

Thanks! The college system seems like a postive for me, so students retain this college feeling once they move out for second and third year? And what are some of the events like? Thanks for all the help, I will be applying for Durham for 2026!

Reply 7

Physician

Original post

by saluuuuu

The real question is, can you actually see yourself being at Durham? The uni is small, as is the city. There isn't really anywhere to go other than your college (hall of residence in all but name). The pretentious formal college dinners are just going to remind everyone that they ought to have been at Oxbridge right now, after working so hard to get top grades.

Bristol has a better international reputation than Durham, and there is more to see and do in the city. I personally prefer the beautiful buildings of Bristol. BTW the cathedral at Durham doesn't belong to the university, and the very small castle also predates the university by centuries. So there isn't much at Durham that started off when the uni did.

(edited 2 months ago)

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