WHY DURHAM UNIVERSITY?

DURHAM CATHEDRAL

Durham University – The Third Oldest University In England After Oxford And Cambridge, cements its position amongst the world’s top universities.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL - HISTORICAL CONNECTION WITH DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Just as there would be no Cathedral in Durham without St Cuthbert, so there would be no University in Durham without the Cathedral. In 1832 the Bishop of Durham, Bishop Van Mildert, and the Cathedral Chapter provided the endowments that enabled the foundation of Durham University.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL - INTERNAL VIEW

This historical connection is retained to this day, expressed most visibly in the fact that all university degree ceremonies are held in the Cathedral.

University Office, Old Elvet, Durham.

The Birth Place of English Scholarship – Durham is the burial place of Venerable Bede and a home of scholarship for 1,000 years.

DURHAM CASTLE IS THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Bishop Van Mildert gave the university his Durham residence, The Castle, which is on the north side of Palace Green and formed the first college of the new university.

DURHAM CASTLE IS A NORMAN CASTLE IN THE CITY OF DURHAM, ENGLAND, WHICH HAS BEEN WHOLLY OCCUPIED BY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DURHAM.

Durham Castle is the hub of University College. It is part of the Durham World Heritage Site and a Grade 1 Listed Building. No other college in the British Isles can have a more ancient or impressive home. The Castle was previously the chief residence of the Bishops of Durham and as such played a significant role in the history of the United Kingdom. 

DURHAM CASTLE & UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Following its move into the top 100 in the 2010 QS World University League Rankings, announced on September 9, Durham University was confirmed at number 85 in a new world universities league table produced by Times Higher Education (THE) on Thursday, September 16.

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

The THE World University Rankings 2010-11 recognised Durham’s strengths in research, placing the University in the World’s Top 40 for the citations of its research by global academics and ranking our performance and reputation in Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences subject areas in the world’s top 50.

MAIN ENTRANCE TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE / CASTLE

University College, or Castle as it is affectionately known, is the oldest college of Durham University, founded in 1832, and located in a Norman fortress. With the Cathedral, it is still very much an icon of the City and County of Durham.

MAIN ENTRANCE - UNIVERSITY COLLEGE & CASTLE

The QS rankings placed Durham in the top 25 globally for employer reputation (1) after 5,000 blue-chip organisations across the world ranked the quality and demand for Durham’s graduates ahead of leading institutions in the UK and major international universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Toronto and Sydney, as well as a number of Ivy League institutions in the US, including Princeton.

Old And Prestigious

In 2010, Durham achieved its highest ever-rankings in the Complete University Guide (4^th), Good University Guide (6^th) and Sunday Times University Guide (6^th) securing its position as the North of England’s finest university and the UK’s best university outside the powerful ‘Golden Triangle’ of Oxford, Cambridge and London.

Durham University Library - Traditional Academic Pursuits

Even outside the traditional academic pursuits, Durham’s pedigree in performing arts and sport were seen to contribute to its standing, rivalled only by Oxford and Cambridge, as a broad-subject, multi-disciplinary university which boasts the toughest entry standards and lowest drop-out rates in the country.

Durham University Estate - Good To Enjoy!

“Durham University has long been recognised internationally for its distinctive dual-education delivered by our colleges and departments and our heritage and culture, including our beautiful University estate and World Heritage Site foundations, sets us apart from so many other international universities. Breaking into the top 100 is a good step forward but our strategy is to break into the world’s top 50 by 2020″ – Professor Chris Higgins, Durham University Vice-Chancellor”.