FAQs from @thedurhamstudent

Lizzie English

Hi everyone! I’m Lizzie, I was the admin of @thedurhamstudent Instagram when I was at Durham. I asked prospective students to send in their questions about Durham University life. With four years of experience as a student at Durham, I hope my answers will give you an insight into what it’s really like to live and study here.

Do you have any tips for starting university?

Check out my two-part blog for lots of my tips for starting university. The posts include information about moving in, freshers’ fairs, matriculation, formals and more! Overall, my advice would be to enjoy meeting new people and getting involved with new things, but also make sure to take time for yourself to settle in if you need it.

What should I bring?

Check out Ruby’s blog about What to pack and what not to pack!

I’d say the essentials are bedding, clothing, stationery and home comforts. There are lots of shops in Durham, and of course, the option to online shop, so don’t worry about packing absolutely everything you might need.

Does the university offer scholarships?

All scholarship information can be found on our website

Is there any new information about my college?

As well as the university webpages about colleges, you can also look at your college’s official social media accounts (links from the individual college webpages), most are on Instagram and/or Facebook and their student common room accounts (JCR and MCR) for up-to-date photos and events information.

How far is my college from everything else?

Online and smartphone maps, as well as the university map site, show the relative location of your college to other places in the city. These virtual maps can tell you how long it takes to walk to the city centre, other colleges, your department, and public transport links. Everything is within walking distance around Durham, but there are also buses and taxis available. The train station is very accessible for travelling home, or for fun trips, for example to Newcastle or the seaside.

Can I join college sports teams if I’m a complete beginner?

Absolutely! It’s encouraged that anyone who wants to get involved in new sports or societies does so, especially at a college level. In the colleges with larger cohorts, there are often several different levels within each sport to account for the number of students. For example, at Collingwood, there are nearly as many football teams as letters in the alphabet! Whereas in smaller colleges, there are usually fewer teams per sport, and most of these welcome completely new starters. College sports and societies offer an amazing chance to try something new throughout your time at university!

Are there university-wide societies or only college ones?

There are so many! There are University, Student Union AND College societies to choose from. Check out @thedurhamstudent ‘Societies’ Instagram story highlight for more information about just some of these societies at Durham.

Also, if you have interests that aren’t currently catered for, you have the chance to set up your own sports and societies at college or university level whilst at Durham! For instance, I loved having the chance to set up Dance-Fit and Dance Troupe societies for my college. I even created a Danceathon fundraising event through these societies and invited all interested students from across the university to come along- a great way to meet new people, have fun and raise money for an important local cause!

Are the nightclubs any good?

Although the Durham nightclub scene is smaller than bigger cities, there are still many Durham clubs where you can have a fun night. These include Lloyds, Wiff Waff, Jimmy Allen’s, Klute, Players, Fabio’s, and Osbournes. For bigger nights out, Newcastle is only 15 minutes away on the train!

Are there any non-alcoholic bars in Durham?

I’m not aware of any specifically non-alcoholic bars in Durham, but there are a wide range of cafes, bubble tea shops, restaurants, pubs, bars, deli’s and clubs in Durham and many of these offer great non-alcoholic options, including mocktails! It’s good to note too that in freshers’ week, many colleges have events specifically catered to non-drinkers, helping like-minded students connect.

Are there good local shops around, like independent clothes shops and cafes?

Definitely! There’s a huge variety of independent cafes and restaurants. These are great to study at and to take family and friends to when they visit. Durham also hosts independent shops for gifts, arts and crafts and vintage clothes.

How are the university libraries?

I think they’re great! A good mix of modern and traditional spaces with something to suit everyone. Independent and group study spaces are available, ranging from silent areas and private rooms, to more collaborative relaxed areas where you can talk to course-mates or friends. Several libraries have cafes and designated eating areas. There are also computer and printing facilities. The Teaching and Learning Centre was built next to the Science Site recently to increase the amount of study space available to students. Each college also has its own library, with books and study spaces for its students. Read Emily’s blog about libraries (this was written before TLC opened)

What is your favourite thing about living in Durham?

For me, it’s the amazing scenery- with a mix of traditional buildings, cobbled streets, shopping streets and woodland river walks. Durham is unlike anywhere else I’ve been to, but it will always feel like home to me!

What do you think are the unexpected things that people will love most about Durham?

I was always surprised and excited by the huge variety of events in the Durham area that students can get involved in. From Diwali celebrations at the Oriental Museum to the annual Fire and Ice Festival with ice sculptures and demonstrations. One of my favourite events has to be the Lumiere Festival which happens in Durham every two years, with beautiful artworks incorporating light dotted around the city centre. Watch Carina’s video to get a flavour of the festival when she got to have a sneak peek around in 2019. And watch this Instagram story from Lumiere 2021

Thank you so much for sending in your great questions to @thedurhamstudent Instagram. I hope the answers are helpful! If you have any more questions you can send these to the University via our Ask Us page, or chat with our students studying your subject, from the UK and/or from your home country.

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Lizzie English

Hi! I’ve recently graduated with an Integrated Masters in Biosciences. I'm a proud member of St John's College and loved running @thedurhamstudent Instagram account when I was at Durham. I am now studying at Cambridge. Follow me on Instagram @imsobaesic





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