Durham or Bristol law?

Hey guys, I got accepted to Durham, Bristol, York, and Leeds. My ranking would probably be in that order but I'm unsure when it's between firm and insurance choices. My conditions, in IB points:

- Durham: 37, with 666 HL
- Bristol: 38, with 18 HL
- York: 36
- Leeds: 35, with 655 HL

I'm currently at 36 with 774 HL. I'm leaning towards Durham as it seems to be more prestigious. However, I'm worried I won't get a 6 in Econ and will be rejected. I think I can get 37 points; would they still let me in with 775 HL? I'm trying my best but don't wanna put my eggs in the basket of 6.

On the other hand, I already have 18 HL; for Bristol I would need to move up 2 points instead of 1 but I feel like that may be feasible. Anyway, if I get that 6 in Econ for Durham, I would also get the 38 needed for Bristol. Bristol to me seems safer as it's just 18 overall. I want to know if the prestige difference between Durham and Bristol is real or if it doesn't matter. And which uni is more likely to let me in if i'm off by 1 point. Also worth noting that I am a brown woman, apparently Durham has issues with racism, and is a small town; I live in a big city so I may not like that. But the prestige and opportunities is really pulling me there.

Also, would it be dumb to put the other as insurance instead of York, which is safe? I'd rather go to the other if I get rejected from either Durham/Bristol, but I also don't want to not get into any uni. It would be really annoying if I meet a requirement for one of my top two but have to go to York instead. What do you guys think? Are the differences between Durham really non-existent? I like Bristol's community and city much better.

Reply 1

DurhamRep Rosie

Official Rep

Original post

by DubaiChoco

Hey guys, I got accepted to Durham, Bristol, York, and Leeds. My ranking would probably be in that order but I'm unsure when it's between firm and insurance choices. My conditions, in IB points:
- Durham: 37, with 666 HL
- Bristol: 38, with 18 HL
- York: 36
- Leeds: 35, with 655 HL
I'm currently at 36 with 774 HL. I'm leaning towards Durham as it seems to be more prestigious. However, I'm worried I won't get a 6 in Econ and will be rejected. I think I can get 37 points; would they still let me in with 775 HL? I'm trying my best but don't wanna put my eggs in the basket of 6.
On the other hand, I already have 18 HL; for Bristol I would need to move up 2 points instead of 1 but I feel like that may be feasible. Anyway, if I get that 6 in Econ for Durham, I would also get the 38 needed for Bristol. Bristol to me seems safer as it's just 18 overall. I want to know if the prestige difference between Durham and Bristol is real or if it doesn't matter. And which uni is more likely to let me in if i'm off by 1 point. Also worth noting that I am a brown woman, apparently Durham has issues with racism, and is a small town; I live in a big city so I may not like that. But the prestige and opportunities is really pulling me there.
Also, would it be dumb to put the other as insurance instead of York, which is safe? I'd rather go to the other if I get rejected from either Durham/Bristol, but I also don't want to not get into any uni. It would be really annoying if I meet a requirement for one of my top two but have to go to York instead. What do you guys think? Are the differences between Durham really non-existent? I like Bristol's community and city much better.

Hi there!

This sounds like a tricky decision, and as somebody who is in second year of study at Durham, I'll try to give you some information.

There are a range of factors which could influence your admission to Durham, including your grades:
Key factors affecting your admission include:

•

Academic Grades: High A-Level grades (or equivalent) are paramount, with specific subject requirements.

•

Contextual Data: Durham University considers your background (school, postcode, care experience) to make contextual offers.

•

Personal Statement: A strong, academic-focused statement demonstrating passion for the subject, independent reading, and thinking skills.

•

Subject-Specific Requirements: Certain courses require entrance tests, interviews, or specific subject combinations (e.g., Maths for Economics).

•

GCSE Performance: Generally, applicants are expected to have at least a grade 4 or 5 (C) in English and Mathematics.

In terms of having slightly lower grades than asked for, your admission will likely depend on the course vacancy situation after admitting all the offer holders meeting the required grades. It is possible, but difficult for me to say how likely it would be.

As for the comments you made about Durham, I completely understand the worry about the stereotypes you hear from Durham students. I'm a working class student with a regional accent, and the reputation of Durham did cause me some worry too; fortunately, I've had a really positive experience here and found everyone to be incredibly friendly. There are continuing plans from the university to support inclusivity and diversity, which you can read a bit about here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2025/02/access-and-participation-plan/#:~:text=Removing%20financial%20barriers,students%20from%20North%20East%20England. 😊 Durham is a small town, but there's a lot to do - there are so many cafes, study spots, walks, parks, activities and more, and we have great transport routes meaning it's very easy to go somewhere new.

It's difficult to say which university you should firm and insure. I think it's a good idea to put down an aspirational choice, so that if you do meet the requirements, you have that in place and don't have to compromise - then, make sure that you'd still be happy to go to your insurance choice if things turn out that way. I'd take the time to weigh up all your options and choices, maybe go to an offer holder day & keep working hard! 🙂

I hope that this has been helpful, let me know if you have any questions,
-Rosie (DU Representative)

Reply 2

YorkRepFaculties

Official Rep

Original post

by DubaiChoco

Hey guys, I got accepted to Durham, Bristol, York, and Leeds. My ranking would probably be in that order but I'm unsure when it's between firm and insurance choices. My conditions, in IB points:
- Durham: 37, with 666 HL
- Bristol: 38, with 18 HL
- York: 36
- Leeds: 35, with 655 HL
I'm currently at 36 with 774 HL. I'm leaning towards Durham as it seems to be more prestigious. However, I'm worried I won't get a 6 in Econ and will be rejected. I think I can get 37 points; would they still let me in with 775 HL? I'm trying my best but don't wanna put my eggs in the basket of 6.
On the other hand, I already have 18 HL; for Bristol I would need to move up 2 points instead of 1 but I feel like that may be feasible. Anyway, if I get that 6 in Econ for Durham, I would also get the 38 needed for Bristol. Bristol to me seems safer as it's just 18 overall. I want to know if the prestige difference between Durham and Bristol is real or if it doesn't matter. And which uni is more likely to let me in if i'm off by 1 point. Also worth noting that I am a brown woman, apparently Durham has issues with racism, and is a small town; I live in a big city so I may not like that. But the prestige and opportunities is really pulling me there.
Also, would it be dumb to put the other as insurance instead of York, which is safe? I'd rather go to the other if I get rejected from either Durham/Bristol, but I also don't want to not get into any uni. It would be really annoying if I meet a requirement for one of my top two but have to go to York instead. What do you guys think? Are the differences between Durham really non-existent? I like Bristol's community and city much better.

Hello @DubaiChoco

Congratulations on your offers!

I thought I might try and give a bit more information about Law at York, to see if that maybe helps your decision on firm and insurance. But firstly, something I definitely would recommend is coming along to one of our Post-Offer Visit Days. If you've received an offer you should be contacted about booking onto one of these. It's a great opportunity to visit the campus, explore our accommodation and also hear from your potential lecturers. It's probably the best way to figure out if a university is right for you.

The Law LLB at York is quite different to the LLBs offered at other universities. We use a problem-based learning approach, where you'll be separated into student law firms. In these student law firms you'll work together to analyse and break down complex legal scenarios. These legal scenarios not only mirror the complicated overlapping nature of real life legal cases, but also allow you to approach these scenarios like real practicing lawyers might. Ultimately, through this approach you'll not only graduate with an in-depth knowledge of the law but also a practical skill set that will set you apart.

As a recent York graduate, I can confirm York as a city has plenty to offer no matter what you're interested in. There are a selection of bars on campus run by the student union, but also just so so many bars in the city centre. There are also quite a few different clubs that each run their own student nights. York is consistently voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK, check out more on our city guide.

In regards to careers, York Law School offers a lot to help you get ahead after you graduate. You'll have the opportunity to engage with the Careers and Employability Programme which offers a range of events and support services during term-time. I recommend checking out our website for more details, but these opportunities include skills workshops, networking events and even opportunities to gain actual experience working in law firms.

I hope that helps! Everything at York Law School has been engineered to help you stand out when you graduate. If you've got any specific questions, I'll do my best to answer, or you can get in touch at [email protected]
Thanks,
Sam