Durham University – what makes the collegiate system different?
Durham University – what makes the collegiate system different?
I’m Rebecca, a 3rd year Modern Languages and Cultures student at Durham University. I’m originally from Paris, and am currently on my year abroad working in Spain and Germany. If you’re considering different universities or are wondering what the collegiate system (that of Durham and Oxbridge) is and what it can offer you, then this blog post is for you!
As you may know, Durham University, is a collegiate university, meaning that all students are members of a college. Durham currently has 16 colleges, with a new 17th one being built to welcome new students arriving in 2020.
So what exactly is a college?
College is where you eat, sleep, work, and meet friends. In that sense, it is similar to halls at any other university. However, college is also so much more than that. By joining a college, you become part of an entire community. Each college has its own identity, with its own sports teams, clubs, societies, staff, library, dining hall, gym, and most other things that you would find in a university.
From the get-go, you have the chance to meet everyone else in your college, as each college organizes their own fresher’s week with a range of activities, games and socials on every day. From my experience, this makes it a lot easier to meet new people and make friends at university, because you are not limited to meeting the people in your flat.
Most colleges are catered, meaning that you eat with everyone else in your college dining hall. Not only does this save time (no cooking or washing up!), but it’s also a great opportunity to get to know new people.
What makes a college special?
By becoming a member of a college, you have access to all their clubs, teams and societies, as well as their welfare system. Each college has its own sports teams for anything ranging from football to rugby, rowing, lacrosse, netball or even darts. This means that if you’re keen on sport but don’t want to get involved at university level - maybe because you don’t have the time, want to focus on your studies, or just want to try out a new sport - you can join your college team. You can also play at any level, which means everyone can be included, and it makes trying something new much less daunting. All college teams have regular training, and the competitive element remains, as matches or competitions against other college teams are a regular occurrence.
However, sport is far from the only thing that makes colleges such an incredible feature. Each college also has their own clubs and societies, so again, if you don’t want to get involved at a university level, join one within your college. If it’s welfare, drama, tech, beekeeping, arts & crafts, or conservation that you’re into, there’s a society for it, and if there isn’t, all you have to do is set one up! Having college-led clubs and societies provides easy access to a range of leadership positions and enables you to work closely with your friends on something you’re passionate about.
From a welfare point of view, being part of a college can also be a huge advantage. Because each college has its own community, its own welfare system and its own staff, there is always someone to turn to no matter your situation. Whether you want to talk to a peer or a trained professional, there is always someone there to help you or listen.
Although the list of benefits that colleges offer is endless, one last thing that stands out for me are the balls and formals regularly hosted by each college. Whilst formals are a more regular occurrence and usually involve a three-course meal with a drink or two, balls often go on until the early hours of the morning and offer a variety of events, ranging from live bands and shows to bumper cars, cotton candy, chocolate fountains and fair ground rides. These are all organized by students, and are of course black tie or cocktail dress - depending on your college you might even have to wear a gown!
Do you leave your college after 1st year?
Whilst everyone lives in college in first year, many people choose to move out in 2nd and 3rd year, which usually means renting a shared house or flat with friends. However, all students also have the possibility of remaining in college.
That being said, even once you have moved out, you are still part of your college. Students continue to return to their college for sports training, socials, events, support, or even just to visit the highly-subsidized college bar or gym. In other words, even if you move out you are still a part of the college community and this remains the case throughout your time at university.
Can you choose your college?
One of the main differences between colleges at Durham and at Oxford or Cambridge is that at Durham you apply directly to the university, not to a college. During your application, you will be asked to select a preference for your college, and once you have received an offer, you then will be allocated a college.
Although you can state a preference for your college, not everyone gets their first choice. Some, such as University College (aka ‘Castle’, because of its location within Durham’s prestigious castle) are highly oversubscribed, meaning that you are more likely to be allocated elsewhere.
Each college has its own identity, with buildings from different decades and in different styles, and with different facilities. One has a lake in the center of it, another has a castle and a third has rooms shaped like hexagons. Some are more central whilst others have more green space around them – some are self-catered and others have shared rooms. Before applying, I would recommend attending an open day to visit different colleges and get a sense of which one feels right for you. That being said, because all colleges are such a community, wherever you end up you will undoubtedly find people with similar interests and make friends for life.