Overview
Durham University was established in 1832, making it the fourth oldest in England. Since then Durham has grown in size and stature to its current position as one of the UK's leading education institutions, regularly placed in the top 10 UK universities by national newspaper league tables.

Recent independent research exercises have put twenty of Durham's thirty-three subject areas into the top grade 5 and 5* categories. Durham sets high standards for entry, the result of which is high levels of achievement from graduates. Indeed, 98 per cent of students complete their period of study and gain a degree, 93 per cent at first or second class honours level, which makes its graduates very attractive to employers.

Durham University opened its Queen's Campus at Stockton in October 1992. This enabled the University to grow in size and offer a number of new vocationally focused degrees, including Business Finance and Biomedical Sciences.

Durham is a collegiate university, there being fourteen colleges in Durham city and two at the Queen's campus in Stockton. Ustinov College is exclusively for postgraduates. The colleges provide an excellent social and academic environment.

Academic strengths
The University has a broad portfolio of academic strengths. In science these include the Department of Physics and the Department of Chemistry, which are among the very best in the country and have world-class laboratory facilities and highly specialised equipment. Similarly the Department of History, the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and the Department of English Studies have international reputations for the excellence of their teaching and research.

Among the social sciences, the Department of Geography, considered the best in the country, is internationally leading in its research. The Business School has particular strengths in Finance, SMEs and Executive Education. The Department of Law is known for its expertise in areas as diverse as Human Rights Law, European Law and Commercial Law. The School of Engineering combines excellence in research with teaching that provides a strong foundation in all the main branches of engineering before specialisation.

Facilities
The University has excellent academic and social facilities. Most students have network points in their rooms, but for those who do not have their own laptops, there is ample access in the library, colleges, departments and the 24 hour access IT Centre.

In addition to the main University Library, the School of Education, the Business School and the Law Department all have specialist libraries and colleges maintain a library of the most frequently used course texts.

Durham is especially strong in sport, there being 60 acres of sports fields and a purpose-built sports centre. It is possible to play competitively at all levels.

Student life
All students at Durham become members of one of the colleges. No teaching takes place in the colleges; every full-time student is a member of an academic department, and also a member of one of the colleges. These are mixed residential communities of undergraduates, postgraduates and academic members of staff. Ustinov College admits postgraduates only.

Many of the University’s colleges provide food and they all provide social facilities, with most events organised by the students themselves, ranging from inter-collegiate sports to concerts, discos, plays and spectacular college balls.

Once tired of the events taking place in the colleges, students are well-served by a theatre and cinema in the town as well as excellent shopping and eating venues.