Durham University College Choice 2026

As covered elsewhere on here. Your ability to actually choose your college is very limited. What happens it that you simply rank the colleges 1-17 in order of preference.
I was eventually allocated to my 10th choice college. Many others similar. Some people are even believed to have been given their 16th or 17th preference.
Durham University uses the prospect of staying in a bailey college close to the cathedral as a way of attracting students. The reality is that the best are hugely over-subscribed and many students will have to settle for being housed in the hill colleges. Many of which are unfortunately drab 1960s modernist carbuncles more akin to a borstal than a romantic candle-lit medieval masterpiece.
Accommodation is extremely tight at UK universities now and throughout the country there's a very serious and worsening housing shortage. We're really not in a position to be too fussy in regards to accommodation predilections.

You misread their post, as they were deferred because of a remark they said they get first-choice of whichever college they want so there is no risk of reallocation.
My advice would be to take College btw.

Hi all.
I am a student who was deferred after a successful remark, meaning I met my offer but there wasn't enough space in my course to begin in 2025. I've received an email from Durham where they are offering me my preferred college for 2026 which is pretty cool. I'm now trying to make the decision of which college to choose, with my main choices being between Castle, St Chad's, St Mary's and St John's. I've been told that the Bailey colleges & Castle have a better location and traditions (gowned formals, events, etc) and that these are the best colleges to attend.
One of my main worries is the possibility of shared rooms in first year, especially at Castle, Chad’s and John’s, I’d strongly prefer to have my own room if possible which wouldn't be an issue at St Mary's. I'm just wondering if the risk of a shared room is worth the better formals, events etc. I’ve also heard that Castle because of its larger size can feel a little less tight-knit compared to smaller colleges like Chad’s or John’s, and I’m wondering how true that feels in practice.
If any current students who have experience with these colleges could offer some advice or insiders it would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently leaning towards choosing Castle so if there's anything I should know then please let me know!
Thanks.

As others have said, don't use up too much energy on this as the chances are you won't end up where you want to be. It's pretty much pot luck. But everyone always says you end up liking your college. Mine looks like a care home on the outskirts of Slough.

Yeah just to clarify for people that didn't read my post properly, because I'm a deferred student and they couldn't find space for me this year, they are offering me first choice at whatever my preferred college is, I don't do the ranking system again.