I am currently a student in Canada. I have recently been applying to postgraduate programs (in both Canada and the UK), and the University of Durham is one of the places that I applied to. I don’t know much about the University, and the only information that I can find (besides Durham’s own website) is numerical data (such as the recent RAE rankings).
I would be curious to hear what the popular conception of Durham is. What kind of reputation does it have in general among UK residents?
I have a friend who went to the university, and she loved it. I think it’s a “redbrick” - below Oxbridge in standing - but still respectable (someone correct me if I’m wrong). The weather’s bound to be atrocious though.
Durham is an excellent university with a reputation for housing Oxford and Cambridge rejects. It’s a sort-of “just below Oxbridge” university and is regarded as a very good university. Occasionally thought of as a bit posh and housing the Barber and Wellies Brigade, but if you get in I’d definitely recommend it.
The city of Durham is also very beautiful with its cathedrals and so on, if a bit hilly.
well, a student took my tour group around some of the campus. She was obviously delighted with the place.
A very good friend of mine did her master’s (in counseling) at Durham and she was very happy with it. I spent a weekend visiting her there and it seemed a decent enough town - small, but pretty and near enough Newcastle for when you start to miss the city life.
I come from County Durham and go to Sunderland University which is very close to durham. I would have loved to be able to go to durham but sadly I was rather lazy at college and didn’t get the grades. The accademic reputation of the Universiy is almost un matched, I would be proud to have it on my CV.
I have friends there and they all love it, the city itself is a mixture of Historical and modern. The Castle and Cathederdal are both buitiful and intereststing. Not to mention there are some very nice pubs in the town there is a place called the ‘…something Tavern’ just off the market square that is really nice.
You would be within easy reach of Newcastle and the bustling mega-motropolis that is sunderland (Only trying to get a bit civic pride into the 3rd city of the North East :))
If you have anymore questions or specific things you would like to know I would be happy to answer them for you:D
As other Dopers have said, Durham is an excellent university.
You don’t mention what you are intending to study, but it has a good all round reputation.
It is a collegiate system, which is probably good for an overseas student.
(BTW JJimm - don’t think it’s considered a redbrick, it was founded fairy early 19th century. It’s the third oldest English uni, IIRC)
It is certainly is bloody cold there. I still remember reaching out of the train window and putting my hand on the door handle on arrival. :eek:
I stayed in halls for a few days at a conference. It was only September and we needed jumpers and coats. And the window to my room was jammed open. The catering was excellent btw, Collingwood college, I think.