Durham University

Durham University is an internationally leading university that consistently places high in university rankings. It has been rated as the 8th best university in the UK according to the Complete University Guide 2024. 

As a member of the renowned Russell Group of UK institutions, Durham continues to build upon a legacy of achievement and hundreds of years of academic tradition. Its students are valued in employment markets worldwide, and it achieves the highest graduate employment rate of any UK university (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education 2016/17). 

Located in the historic town of Durham, the university is structured in a unique collegiate system which allows students to immerse themselves in an academic community and be part of a family long after they graduate. With period architecture like University College and Durham Castle, miles of coastline and a variety of independent eateries and arts spaces, Durham is a popular student city. 

Students at Durham get to enjoy historical settings while making use of modern facilities, equipped with technology that allows them to practice at the forefront of their fields. Expert staff deliver a wide range of degrees that are informed by the latest research. 

With notable alumni ranging from literary figures like Anne Brontë to BBC presenters like George Alagiah and Gabby Logan, along with a swathe of influential scientists, entertainers and thinkers, Durham University offers students the chance to gain a prestigious degree and join a world-renowned alumni network. 

Durham is a leading provider of postgraduate level education in the UK. It offers students the choice of postgraduate study options ranging from three-month postgraduate certificates to three-year doctoral degrees, and everything in between. 

The university is partnered with a range of public and private sector organisations through various doctoral training partnerships and research centres, opening up new opportunities in applied, impactful research for postgraduate students at Durham. In addition to this, students can explore traditional doctoral and post-doctoral research opportunities through the university’s academic departments. 

The university places a focus on in-person learning to ensure that students are able to make the most out of Durham’s academic and research facilities, as well as benefit from close training with expert staff. However, a small number of short courses are available online which may be relevant for students looking to explore new areas or refresh their knowledge. 

Durham University consistently ranks well when it comes to teaching quality and has received a Gold Award under the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2018). The university prides itself on cultivating a faculty that is made up of skilled researchers, sector leaders and active practitioners who contribute to their development of their field.  

Students wishing to apply for postgraduate study at Durham University should be aware of the different entry requirements they will need to satisfy before they can successfully enrol. 

Each course at Durham will have specific criteria for entry, which students can find details of on the university’s website. 

In general, students will need to demonstrate achievement of an undergraduate honours degree at an upper second class (2:1) level or above. They will also need to provide two academic references in their application. 

Applicants who don’t speak English as their first language will need to provide evidence of their English language proficiency, usually through test scores. 

Students applying for the Sustainability, Energy and Development MSc, for example, will need a 2:1 degree or higher at undergraduate level, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject area. References are an important consideration for this course. 

Applicants for the Music MA pursuing a composition pathway will need a composition portfolio at a 2:1 degree level or demonstrate an equivalent standard. Applicants for the performance pathway will need a 2:1 degree level final year recital performance or demonstrate an equivalent standard.  

Master of Business Administration MBA applicants will need one of: a 2:1 bachelor’s degree and three years’ postgraduate work experience, demonstration of significant managerial experience, or a GMAT score of 600 or more. 

Durham University provides its students with a range of services that help them prepare for professional or academic success after they graduate. Durham is also unusual in that it offers its graduates career support for their whole lives, no matter what career stage they are at. 

Available services include signposting to internships, work placements and other experience opportunities, support around applying and interviewing for jobs, and general career guidance. Students can book a one-on-one appointment with a qualified guidance counsellor to discuss their options, next steps and available opportunities. 

Durham’s careers, employability and enterprise services also offer bespoke support for startup and entrepreneurial activity, helping students explore their ideas and work independently.  

Durham designs its postgraduate courses in such a way that students are able to develop various professionally relevant skills during their degree-level studies. Academic tutors at Durham engage with students on a personal basis and help them map out and achieve their academic and research objectives. 

Accommodation

Durham University offers its students a unique collegiate experience during their time there, where they will be able to live and learn in a welcoming community of like-minded individuals. 

These colleges each offer a range of accommodation options, including catered and self-catered units of varying sizes. Around a third of postgraduate students choose to live in college accommodation during their studies and are able to enjoy a busy calendar of events, such as formals, as well as regular society activities and college library facilities. 

For graduates who don’t want to live in a college, Durham is a friendly city of over 500,000 people who enjoy a blend of mediaeval architecture, cobbled streets and modern city living. Many cultural sites, pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops make Durham a great place to live as a student, especially as it is well-connected to the rest of the country by rail and road. 

There are plenty of student lets across the city, and the university has partnered with rent guarantor company Housing Hand to make renting easier. The students’ union also provides help and guidance in finding a place to live, as well as free contract checking services. 

There are a wide range of postgraduate scholarships, including: 

Postgraduate Student Support Scholarships, which provide 100 eligible taught master’s students with a £3,000 award that can be used for tuition or maintenance costs (£2,000 for MRes students). 

The Sanctuary Scholarship, offered to applicants who are certified asylum seekers to assist them in their postgraduate studies. It covers tuition fees as well as a £15,000 living costs grant. 

British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM, which seek to empower women from Asia who are pursuing master’s studies through full coverage of tuition fees, a year’s stipend, and funds for successful applicants’ visas, flights, insurance and other study costs. 

The Faculty MA bursary, for applicants to taught or research programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities offering 12 months of tuition fee coverage. 

Students will also be able to apply for a variety of external funding sources, ranging from private endowments to awards from charitable institutions. The university has a search function that students can use to identify funding they may be eligible for.