Durham University was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837. It was one of the first universities to open in England for more than 600 years, and is claimed to be England’s third oldest after Oxford and Cambridge.
Durham is a collegiate university, with its main functions divided between the central departments of the University and 16 colleges. In general, the departments perform research and provide centralised lectures to students, while the colleges are responsible for the domestic arrangements and welfare of undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral researches and some University staff. Colleges decide which students they are to admit, and appoint their own fellows (senior members). In Durham, “the university” often refers to the University as opposed to the colleges.
“Long established as a leading alternative to Oxford and Cambridge”, the University attracts “a largely middle and higher class student body” according to the Times Good University Guide. The latest University League Table 2010 published by The Complete University Guide ranked Durham 5th in the UK after Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and LSE. The University was also named Sunday Times University of the Year in 2005, having previously been shortlisted for the award in 2004.
The Chancellor of the University is Bill Bryson, appointed by the University’s Convocation on 4 April 2005. The post-nominal letters of graduates have “Dunelm” attached to indicate the university.
Durham requires its students to live in college for the first year of their undergraduate life, with students ‘living-out’ in their second year and then having the option to move back into college, usually via a ballot system. The Colleges provide a key role in the pastoral care and social centre of students with each running a college tutorial system, along with JCRs providing events and societies for undergraduate members, MCRs being a centre for postgraduate students and the SCRs for the college officers, fellows and tutors. Each college has a unique identity and a variety of facilities for students ranging from computer rooms and libraries to tennis courts and gyms. Most colleges have their own sports teams and compete in the collegiate leagues such as Durham College Rowing and have their own theatre company and orchestra which operate parallel to the university level sports teams and organizations.
Approximately 130 student clubs and organizations run on Durham’s campus. These include numerous student government, special interest, and service organizations. Durham Students’ Union (DSU) charters and provides most of the funding for these organizations, and represents students’ interests when dealing with the administration. The DSU also operates events based in Dunelm house ranging from club nights such as Planet of Sound, Revolver (alternative & indie), Twisted (underground electronic) and the Jazz café. The DSU also runs a Comedy Café, Fresher’s Ball, Silent Discos and Vintage fashion fair amongst others.
Palatinate, Durham’s independent student run fortnightly newspaper, has been continually published since 1948. Notable former editors include George Alagiah, Hunter Davies, Piers Merchant, Timothy Laurence, Jeremy Vine and Harold Evans. Purple Radio is the online radio station founded in 2005 and is the University recognised radio station. The station operates from Dunelm House and is run by student volunteers. Student views and opinions are represented by Durham21, an independent student website, founded in 2001, which has won the NUS Website of the Year Award in five of the last six years and is also the current holder. the fun and beautiful journal is a termly magazine which publishes poetry, stories, photography and artwork submitted by students. After the Palatinate it is Durham’s largest printed publication.