Durham University

About

Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charter in 1837. It was the first recognised university to open in England for more than 600 years, after Oxford and Cambridge, and is thus the third-oldest university in England.

Motto / Slogan	Her foundations are upon the holy hills
Colour	Palatinate
Mascot	Oswald
Founded	1832
Undergraduate Programmes
Postgraduate Programmes	134
Departments	27
Location	Durham, England, United Kingdom
Address	The Palatine Centre Durham University Stockton Road Durham DH1 3LE

Objectives

To provide World-leading and world-changing research and engagement across all core academic departments

Main Academic Divisions (Faculties)

• Faculty of Arts and Humanities 
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences 
• Business School

Reasons to Study at Durham University

1. An inclusive and inspiring environment

   At Durham, they welcome students from all backgrounds and encourage everyone who has the merit and potential to succeed to take a look at what they have to offer. They are committed to widening access and participation, and their undergraduate student body has significantly diversified in recent years.

2. A UK top 10 and a World top 100 University

   They were ranked 3rd in the UK in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, and 5th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2026 and the Complete University Guide 2026.

3. The Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 (TEF)

   Their Student Outcomes rating is gold; this means that student outcomes at Durham are typically outstanding. The TEF panel determined that all the features for student outcomes at Durham – the proportion of their students continuing in and completing their degrees and progressing to highly skilled employment or further study – were outstanding.

Fees

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

All courses have their own entry requirements, which you can review on a course-by-course basis by visiting the course pages and information about qualification equivalences can be found on the country information pages. 

Supporting Documents

• Qualifications
• Personal statement
• A reference

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

All courses have their own entry requirements, which you can review on a course-by-course basis by visiting the course pages and information about qualification equivalences can be found on the country information pages. 

 

Supporting Documents

• Transcripts of your qualifications 
• English language test certificates if taken
• Personal statement (if not written directly into the portal)
• Scholarship documentation (if applying)

How To Apply For Admission

• For Postgraduate: You make an application through the Application Portal.   
• For Undergraduate: Applications are made through UCAS.

Admission Contacts

Phone : +44 191 300 4557

Apply For Admission

Gallery

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  Matriculation Ceremony

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  Sports Team

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  University Library

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  Lecture Session

Campus Tour

Facilities

• Library: Durham has four library and study space sites within their department. In Durham city you'll find Bill Bryson Library, Barker Research Library at Palace Green and study spaces on Level 2 of the Teaching and Learning Centre. At Queen's Campus, Stockton, you'll find the ISC Library.
• Laboratory: The laboratories are equipped to conduct a wide range of analyses.
• Research Center: They support over 80 research centres across their four faculties. 
• Accommodation: Durham's Colleges host a variety of accommodation options, which include rooms within Colleges and at purpose-built student accommodation in the city and catered and self-catered options. Undergraduates, postgraduates, and returning students can apply for University accommodation. For students that do not live in University accommodation, there are also rooms available privately throughout the city and you can find helpful resources for private accommodation on the Housing Hub.
• Sports: Sport is at the core of Durham student life, and a huge range of sporting opportunities is available. From joining college teams to competing at University level and beyond, we offer exceptional opportunities to get involved. 
• Gym: Experience the new gym for yourself with brand new, state of the art equipment, bespoke personal training and a fantastic exercise class timetable! 

 

 

 

Accreditations

• AACSB, AMBA and EFMD/EQUIS

Vice Chancellor

Academic Staff

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  Professor Mike Shipman

  Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Mike joined Durham in August 2023 from the University of Warwick where he held senior leadership positions including as Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), Chair of the Faculty of ... read more

  Science, Engineering and Medicine, and Head of Chemistry. He led Warwick's Race Equality Bronze Charter Mark Award (2022) and a number of major STEM capital programmes. He has also held academic positions at Colorado State, Exeter and Loughborough Universities.
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  Professor Amir Michael

  Head of Department and Professor of Accounting Professor Amir Michael is a Professor of Accounting and Head of Accounting Department at Durham University Business School, Durham University, UK whose research and teaching interests have been foster... read more

  ed by several years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and mentoring. Amir was the former Associate Dean for MBA/DBA and the Director of the Durham MBA (Full Time) programme.
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  Professor Anna Tilba

  Professor Professor Anna Tilba is a Professor in Strategy and Governance in Durham University Business School. She joined Durham University in 2018 having previously spent five years in Newcastle University Bus... read more

  iness School where she was a researcher in Strategy and Corporate Governance and a Director of Corporate Engagement. She holds a PhD in Corporate Governance from the University of Liverpool Management School.
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  Dr Andis Sofianos

  Professor Andis Sofianos is a Professor in the Economics Department. He joined the department in September 2022 as Associate Professor. He was previously a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the chair of Economic Theory I... read more

  I (Jörg Oechssler) in the Economics Department of the Alfred-Weber Institute at the University of Heidelberg. Andis completed his PhD in Economics at the University of Warwick where he also obtained an MSc in Economics and Psychological Science and a BSc in Economics.
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  Professor Andrew Parker

  Professor in Leadership Andrew Parker is Professor in Leadership at Durham University Business School. He received his PhD (2011) in Sociology from Stanford University, USA. He held posts at the University of Exeter and Gren... read more

  oble Ecole de Management as well as visiting positions at the University of Kentucky and the University of Melbourne before joining Durham University Business School in 2021.

View More Staff

Notable Alumni

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  Timothy Laurence Military officer
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  Steve Easterbrook Business Executive
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  Heidi Alexander Politician
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  Jill Black Judge

View More Alumni

History

Durham Castle is home to University College, the oldest college of Durham University. Bishop Van Mildert and the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral founded the University of Durham in 1832.