Durham University Reviews

I have really enjoyed my time at Durham uni- irregardless of the reputation we are sometimes given. The facilities are good, the college system is a lovely way of getting people to meet new people, and the events are amazing. I’ve loved my course, the lecturers are very good and thorough, and always available for drop in sessions. I’ve felt very well supported throughout my time here- there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

I have recently graduated from Durham University and I did not enjoy my time there. It is elitist in every aspect of its being. The facilities are shockingly outdated and filthy. The lecturers are unqualified and poor at teaching. The tutors are condescending and unhelpful. Of the three years I was there, two years had strikes for weeks on end. The staff is unorganised and unhelpful. I am leaving the university feeling significantly less confident in my academic abilities, and my mental health has gotten tremendously worse. As an international student, I cannot recommend Durham University as the university is useless when it comes to anything having to do with issues international students may face. It is very clear that the university is marketed toward a very specific demographic and everyone who falls outside of that demographic is unimportant. Not to mention that the university has a horrible reputation for enabling sexual assault, and in my experience I have yet to see otherwise.

The scenery of the university is beautiful. Good learning atmosphere. The equipment in places like libraries is of good quality. Every teacher and staff is very helpful. I am very lucky to study here.

It's a university care about how students feel.

Probably not as good as you expect it, more clique than you want, but good with mental health if you as for it.

The best British University in my mind. It is decent and elegant. Everything here is in great order, students can study in the best academic and physical environment. I believe that the experience at Durham University will be my best memory.

I have hated my time at Durham University. The embedded elitism extends from the students right up to lecturers, college principles and governing figures. The lectures are of an immensely poor quality and honestly feel as though my degree has been a waste of time and money. I was getting a better quality of teaching and producing better work at school. The college I was a member of felt like boarding school and the facilities were horrendous. The quality of the food was shocking, the bathrooms were in a consistently vulgar state and the shared kitchen had a mouse infestation. If you want an enjoyable university experience, Durham is not the place.

Super experience. Professors are really looking for make you understand their lectures.

LOVE DURHAM!!! A lovely university with good facilities and great courses. The staffs and lecturers are very helpful. Also, lots of formals every semester which is UNIQUE in DU.

I have loved being in Durham so much so that I have chose to stay on another year to complete my PGCE.

A good university with a lot of student societies and very helpful staff. Also the scenery is very good

It's a city based university, so no campus. The city is gorgeous. Tonnes of clubs and societies, in my experience the music societies are particularly good/ friendly but depends what you're into. Careers service is pretty good but can only speak for my department who are quite hot on it.

Durham has a great reputation but honestly has very poor teaching quality and bad course management. The content is complex, rarely reviewed, and the assignments are significantly above what you are taught. A 2.1 requires a lot of wider reading and it is almost impossible to get a first in some subjects. Mark schemes/Marking criteria is rarely referenced to in feedback, and feedback is often wrong. Students correct lecturers, and lecturers don’t help students. It’s a not an education.

Enjoyed my experience at Durham

As a postgrad who did an undergraduate elsewhere, I feel as though Durham clings on to its reputation without providing a service which merits this

The SU is good but isn’t used too much as we have our owns colleges and rooms there to hang out in. Lovely University in a very pretty city.

OK university, wifi is little slow on uni areas

Great university, great staff when they aren’t on strike

The accommodation depends on which college you are put in. Overall though the university is good and provides everything you need.

Great city but found the university very unorganised

If you're an international student, dont bother. You will receive a worthless degree that will not assist you in attaining your goals in your home country, because no one has heard of this University outside of the UK.

really great uni. The student union always put on good events

campus facilities are decent and are constantly under improvement. The Wifi is quick and electronics connect without an issue.

everything is good and durham is a nice little town.

University located in a lovely small town with good view and nice person

Academic staffs are all excellent.

everything is good except the student union support some irresponsible views on other countries on Instagram.

Good university, good staff, good environment and always a good place to study

The school has a great atmosphere for learning, while some activities can be better informed, such as through campus mobile software

It’s really convenient. My classes are in school of education, this studio is not far and near city center. I love this place so much.

The school is surrounding with ancient buildings like castle, it is really beautiful. The teachers are quite good. Only the wifi is a bit slow

It's a good university. The curriculum is reasonable and the teachers' teaching quality is very high. The city of Durham is also very comfortable and suitable for studying.

I am not sure about this part. But I love my university .

The bar in ever College is perfect

You can explore a lot in this university according to your demands. Or, maybe you just enjoy learning life.

My time here in Durham has been great :)

Uni has a main campus with several offshoots around town, depending on your subject. Some of the buildings are very old and need modernising, but there are also newer facilities which students can use for their own study, such as the TLC. Generally you can walk between sites if needed but can be pushed for time. An assortment of eating places on campus although they are not student-friendly prices. Careers service is excellent and lots of information and friendly staff available, you can make appointments to discuss options. Quality of teaching could be improved greatly, including giving us staff who are actually qualified in their subject area! and not finishing the sessions earlier than scheduled. Can be hard to know who to approach for guidance and can be slow to receive feedback for work. Seems to be a variety of socials and societies to become involved in, heavy sports presence on campus which comes with the usual drinking culture - seems that most clubs' socials revolve around it

Durham University is a good place to study.

Good support overall. Although career service can be improved.

Durham university has top-level teaching faculty and modern teaching facilities.

Awesome year abroad at Durham University. It's my first time to the UK but I'm loving it already. For a small town, Durham actually caters really well to students and there is student WiFi pretty much everywhere around town. There are tons of societies to join, there is lots to do!

Good, but experience is very much like a southern city which can be quite a shock at first. University is great, people that attend less so.

Student union not needed due to colleges, but fantastic social clubs/societies. All are friendly here.

Maybe something are useful, but I don’t know that.

I'm only here for the business school. It is enough value for that.

the internet is monitored and a lot of websites are blocked with sometimes unreasonable explanations (e.g.: Chrome doesn't work on your phone but on your laptop, all blogs and magazines are blocked)

Wifi on campus (basically, most of durham centre/ the science site), is amazing. I have never had any problems connecting, and the signal is always strong. If you take a STEM subject, or happen to be mostly on the science site, the facilities are great. They're new and well looked after, with modern features. The new Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC/Tilly C), has a nice atmosphere, and the 2nd floor is a really nice place to study. However, if you take a Humanities course you will probably spend most of your time in the Elvet Riverside buildings. Whilst some money has been spent on them recently, they're still subpar, and need some serious renovations. If you are considering coming to Durham one other thing you should really know is don't join the Uni health centre, there are better GP's in the area.

I believe that the department of physics, Durham University is an ideal place — with the right expertise, guidance, resource and environment — for me to pursue PhD research.

Durham University has everything I could want and more from college experience. Plenty of spaces to study and eat in between classes so that I always feel like I’m a part of the university. The student body is full of people from all over the world.

The city is great with lots to do

I love the Bill Bryson Library. Abundant reading resources and excellent service.

Wi-fi is accessible in all the sections of Durhan Uni, the society I'm part of is absolutely amazing in that it's really relaxing and you can meet tons of people, play some casual games. The lectures rooms are generally quite nice and Encore is a great system in place in pretty much all of my modules, so you can always review past lectures.

Durham University along with the colleges and numerous societies creates a very unique atmosphere and opportunity to challenge yourself and try things you never even thought of!

Really great Uni, not just in terms of the academics but also about all the new facilities, sports and societies!

Proud of being here and will do my master degree in Durham University as well. The level of teaching and overall environment are excellent

I love Durham University for sure!

Hope can have more careers opportunities for education students

Great university overall, love the collegiate system.

Beautiful place to live and study

Departments all fine but university library is severely lacking in space, students union is majorly lacking in influence

Durham university has high-level teaching facilities and qualified teachers.

A university I would recommend primarily for its academic standing.

Collegiate system makes it all worth it

There are a lot of societies you can take part in

Students union is very good place to socialise and to find out information and join groups and clubs

Durham University is located in a small city, which is more of a town really than a city, so not the best if you are looking for more of a stereotypical bustling space. Overall, the architecture is very nice, but a lot of the buildings could use updates.

I got extremely fit by the end of my first year as I had to walk on average 2-3 hours a day. Depending on your choice of modules, you end up walking or running up and down hills between lectures from one end of town to the other.

Very little going on. Isolating.

Wi-fi is horrible. Don't go for the accommodation if you want stable connection.

Really nice town, and obviously great teaching and facilities

A thoroughly wonderful university that put a lot of care and dedication to not only students but academics

Accomodation absolute rip-off. Only for private schools

I love Durham. Everyone I’ve met have been nice, kind and caring people. I have definitely met friends for lives. I would recommend anyone to come here. Especially if they love academics. Only downside is nightlife. But societies and Newcastle make up for that! Love this uni and love the people.

Amazing! Honestly had the best time ever at Durham. Wouldn’t change it for the world.

It is impossible not to be involved in something at Durham - it engages everyone academically, socially (with the collegiate system) and physically with a wide range of sports and societies on offer. The best 3 years of my life, I've made friends that are like family to me now!

Best Uni in the world, the college system makes it

Historic and beautiful Colleges - regardless of whether they were built 12 years ago or 120 years ago. However, the university this year specifically has been plagued by unfortunate publicity events and lower than standard WiFi.

Excellent uni! The academic prowess and the incredible collegiate system make for such a great uni experience.

I love this uni, the college system is great

Could not imagine a better place to study and live. Such a wonderful city to be in with endless opportunities and communities. Feel incredibly lucky to be in Durham and will always feel connected to this amazing university.

Amazing university, great community feel with the collegiate system and beautiful setting! Would highly recommend to anyone, absolutely love it! However, needs HUGE improvement on tackling mental health and wellbeing as seems to brush people under the rug and even give them orders to leave Durham if they mention mental health issues! Shocking!

Durham has been a transformative experience. I think it’s collegiate experience is unparalleled. A place where you work hard play hard!

Academics are great, societies are great, facilities are great BUT the administration are soulless corporate types that shouldn’t belong in a university

A fantastic blend of history and new innovation makes Durham a unique place.

A really unique experience living with wonderful people in beautiful colleges and surroundings. Always busy, taught well and challenged to achieve our best while having so many activities and societies ti pick from. Work hard, play hard

DURHAM IS THE BEST UNI! As I graduate today I am sad to leave my home of 3 years. But I will take all the wonderful memories with me forward into the future and cherish them dearly.

Great collegiate system, which each have their own great clubs and societies, something for everyone. So academic, great sports, nice science campus, good WiFi coverage across most the city!

Beautiful city with so much to get involved with! Societies are so friendly and can get involved with everything, don’t be afraid to try things you’ve never done before. Professors are so supportive and helpful, facilities are excellent. Overall the best place to be

The problem with Durham City— over-populated, bureaucracy, and a lack of resources for students (I.e. books, during term time the library is always packed with people).

One of the best in the UK and the world. Its high academics are on par with Oxbridge, and in some cases higher. My course is top 3 in the world, above Cambridge, Yale, and Princeton. We wear robes and have a castle! We have leading academics in the field and get the feeling the future is bright. Durham is true British education and just as good as Ixbridge, just less elitism and snobbery.

They don't care about you, just your money. Which is fine, but not for a charity.

Great university experience, with a strong support system.

The Business School facilities are brand new. The librarians are helpful and the internet is good.

Loved my time at Durham University. It's a small town with a big personality.

If you want a collegiate, fun, social experience in a small but ancient city with incredibly scenery all around and a first class education, then this is for you. Durham is the only other collegiate university in the UK outside Oxford and Cambridge. It's not for slackers and they expect you to be a self-starter so don't expect to be spoon-fed but if you are dedicated to your subject(s) and you want to have fun then it would be hard to find a better place. Durham graduates are highly employable, well-prepared and engaged in a very diverse and international range of professions.

Mint connection speeds (100 mbps down, 90 up) but most ports are blocked

Campus: Castle smells a bit, everywhere else quite nice Clubs and Societies: DULT is great Students Union: 60's architecture deceptively pretty at first but staff are very friendly, should push for NUS disaffiliation Careers: Staff very patient and friendly Internet / Wifi: STOP USING OUTLOOK

IF you want to party hard or work hard, this is the place for both.

Where quality education meets fun social life, Durham Uni is simply the best!

I love Durham as a place and university, although I wish the students union was a bigger part of student life. I don't know much about the careers service as I am in first year but it seems pretty good. There are tons of societies so there is something for everyone.

The students union is quite separated from college activities and is under used.

Terrible SU, but with college common rooms it's not really needed.

Very good university and facilities are awesome.

Traditional, social and unforgettable

A very good university with loads of societies to choose. Good facilities close together

Amazing small city. Everything you need and you can walk everywhere. Great facilities all over town making best use of the city

Top uni, could do with sports facility improvements

I'm very happy with Durham University. My faculty is excellent and the university's services are second-to-none.

Wifi all over campus is great! Good facilities, especially good science buildings!

Amazing university with great academic, sporting and social scenes

Durham University, and particularly Trevelyan College, is a fantastic place both for academia and societies. The social side is fab and you'll love it.

Very good, clean, tidy and useful facilities!

Students Union doesn't play an active role, but college JCRs do. Internet can be tempremental but is available in numerous locations. Careers service isn't great but has improved over the years, but clubs and societies are great

Yea, pretty top. Very pretty. Good value.

Bleed palatinate #notquitedurha,

I study at Durham Queen's campus and student satisfaction is extremely low. The campus sucks. There are limited facilities and there is not much stores or restaurants or other palces of leisure activity. Can say that there is simply nothing to do in Stockton. Also all the social activities including socieities are in Durham which is 1 hour bus ride from Stockton. This makes it extremely difficult for many Stockton students to join societies.

Awesome students union, internet available basically everywhere, the careers service have been really helpful in finding me an internship

Durham has plenty of opportunities and societies to get involved in. It caters for all needs and has a really friendly vibe.

Durham uni has provided a lot of support and guidance throughtout my first few weeks

A great place to Study! Especially on Queen's Campus :)