Overview
Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate public research university in Durham, North East England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charter in 1837. It was one of the first universities to commence tuition in England for more than 600 years, after Oxford and Cambridge, and is one of the institutions (along with University College London, King’s College London, and the University of London) to be described as the third-oldest university in England. As a collegiate university its main functions are divided between the academic departments of the university and its 16 colleges. In general, the departments perform research and provide teaching to students, while the colleges are responsible for their domestic arrangements and welfare.
The university is a member of the Russell Group of British research universities after previously being a member of the 1994 Group. Durham is also affiliated with the regional N8 Research Partnership and international university groups including the Matariki Network of Universities and the Coimbra Group. The university estate includes 63 listed buildings, ranging from the 11th-century Durham Castle to a 1930s Art Deco chapel. The university also owns and manages the Durham World Heritage site in partnership with Durham Cathedral. The university’s ownership of the World Heritage Site includes Durham Castle, Palace Green, and the surrounding buildings including the historic Cosin’s Library.
Among British universities, it had the eighth highest average UCAS Tariff for new entrants in 2016 and the third lowest proportion of state-school educated students starting courses in 2016, at 62.9 per cent (fifth lowest compared to its benchmark). The university is currently ranked 5th to 7th by recent national league tables of the British universities, 74th to 114th in three of the four major global tables and in the 201–300 range in the fourth (see below). It was Sunday Times University of the Year for 2005, and the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year for 2015, and was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2018.
The chancellor of the university is Sir Thomas Allen, who succeeded Bill Bryson in 2012. Current and emeritus academics include 14 Fellows of the Royal Society, 17 Fellows of the British Academy, 14 Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences, 5 Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2 Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts and 2 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Durham graduates have long used the Latin post-nominal letters Dunelm after their degree, from Dunelmensis (of, belonging to, or from Durham).
18,385 Students
Location
Learning
TEF Rating
Courses Available
- Accounting, Business, Management and Marketing
- Biology and Biomedical Sciences
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Engineering
- Foreign Studies (Language, Literature and Linguistics)
- Health Professions
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Law and Legal Studies
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Natural Sciences
- Recreation, Sports and Fitness Studies
- Theology
- Visual and Performing Arts
Applying
How to Apply?
For International Students
(in lieu of IELTS)
Deadlines and Important Dates
Cost and Scholarships
(For International Students)
Types of Scholarships Available
Scholarships
Robert Young Scholarship
| Total Worth | £10,000 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and Requirements | Educated at a state-maintained County Durham school, college or other secondary education provider for two of the most recent four years of their education Have a household income below £42,875 (17/18 rates) based on an assessment carried out by Student Finance England. Preference will be given to applicants with a household income below £25,000. Resident in County Durham at the point of submitting an academic application through UCAS for a place at Durham University. |
| Available for International Students | No |
| Application Deadline | March 2 |
| Other Details | This scholarship is available thanks to an historic £1 million donation by local entrepreneur and former Councillor Robert Young. This is the largest ever scholarship donation in the history of Durham University, an incredible gift that will enable Durham University to award at least one £10,000 scholarship every year for the forseeable future. |
Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships for Sport, Music and the Arts
| Total Worth | £2,000 per academic year |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and Requirements | All incoming undergraduates |
| Available for International Students | Yes |
| Application Deadline | January 15 |
| Other Details | At Durham University we believe in creating an environment in which academic excellence can be combined with opportunities for personal development. One of the most important ways our students further their personal development is by taking part in the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer here. Our students are amongst the most active in the country in the fields of sport, music and the arts and therefore we are pleased to confirm that we will be offering Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships for Sport, Music and the Arts worth £2,000 per academic year to students who plan to commence their studies at Durham. Applications are particularly welcome from Ethnic Minority groups and candidates who come from neighbourhoods with low overall progression to higher education or high levels of socio economic deprivation. |
Brian Cooper Scholarship
| Total Worth | £13,000 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and Requirements | The Brian Cooper Scholarship Fund will provide an annual scholarship to a local student in need of financial assistance Applicants should be resident in County Durham, at the point of submitting an academic application through UCAS for a place at Durham University, with preference being given to residents of the East of Durham Educated at a state-maintained school, college or other secondary education provider |
| Available for International Students | No |
| Application Deadline | March 2 |
| Other Details | The Brian Cooper Scholarship Fund will provide an annual scholarship to a local student in need of financial assistance. This scholarship is available thanks to a very generous donation by the family of Brian Cooper and will enable Durham University to award at least one £13,000 scholarship for several years. This Scholarship complements the existing work that the University is undertaking to attract talented students from the region to study at Durham. |