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Durham University

Durham University: Rankings, Courses & Admissions

Durham, UK

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Overview

Durham University Campuses

Durham University Rankings 2025/26

Durham University Admission 2025

Programs and Courses

Cost of Studying at Durham University

Scholarships for the Durham University 2025

Durham University Placement

Durham University Student Life

Durham University Alumni

Durham University Vs University of St Andrews Vs University of Bristol

Admission Dates and Deadlines

About University

The Palatine Centre Durham University Stockton Road Durham DH1 3LE

Founded in 1832

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Master of Business Administration

DAmore McKim School of Business Northeastern University

    DURATION

  • Online : 11 Months
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  • Online : INR 5,25,000
  • On-campus: USD 83,536
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Master of Business Administration

Paris School Of Business

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  • Online : 6 Months
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  • Online : INR 4,50,000
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Master of Business Administration-90 ECTS

International School of Management

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  • Online : INR 4,50,000
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Popular CoursesView All

MSc in Sustainability, Energy and Development

Durham, UKCourse duration : 1 Year
  • Course Fee
    INR 23.26L/yr
  • Exam Accepted
    NA
  • Intake Session
    SEP 2025
View details

MSc in Finance (Financial Technology and Banking)

Durham, UKCourse duration : 1 Year
  • Course Fee
    INR 31.56L/yr
  • Exam Accepted
    NA
  • Intake Session
    SEP 2025
View details

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Program Fees at Durham University

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More About Durham University

Infrastructure

The Queen’s Campus is the main grounds of Durhan University, UK.

It houses the Wolfson Research Institute and Durham University International Study Centre. Situated next to the River Tees, the Queen's campus may seem small but offers endless opportunities for growth to its students.

The university is also home to 17 colleges, namely:

1. University College (Castle)

2. College of St. Hild & St. Bede

3. Hatfield College

4. St. Cuthbert’s Society

5. St. Mary’s College

6. St. Chad’s College

7. St. John’s College

8. St. Aidan’s College

9. Grey College

10. Van Mildert College

11. Ustinov College (PG only)

12. Trevelyan College

13. Collingwood College

14. John Snow College

15. Stephenson College

16. Josephine Butler College

17. South College

The Durham University, UK, boasts ten research institutes, researching in areas such as natural hazards, clean energy, mental and physical health, artificial intelligence, and more.

Let's take a look at the research institutes that allows for interdisciplinary research:

1. Biophysical Sciences Institute

2. Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing

3. Durham Energy Institute

4. Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

5. Institute for Computational Cosmology

6. Institute of Hazard, Risk, and Resilience

7. Institute for Data Science

8. Institute of Advanced Study

9. Institute for Medical Humanities

10. Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology

The University also comprises 69 research centers. It deals with some of the following research areas:

1. Banking, Institutions, and Development

2. Commercial and Corporate Law

3. Communication Systems

4. Criminal Law and Justice

5. Culture and Ecology

6. Death and Life Studies

8. Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences

9. Bioimaging Technology

10. Human Rights

11. Law and Global Justice

Additionally, having state-of-the-art facilities and research equipment, the university offers these in the following range of disciplines:

1. Anthropology

2. Archaeology

3. Biological Sciences

4. Chemistry

5. Computer Science

6. Earth Sciences

7. Engineering

8. Geography

9. Physics

10. Psychology

The medium of instruction at Durham University is English.

Academic

The general application deadline for the academic year 2022-23 was January 26, 2022. To apply for Medicine, Dentistry, Oxbridge, or Veterinary Science, the application extends till October 15, 2022.

In terms of the Durham University admission process, most undergraduate applicants are advised to apply through UCAS. But, if your school does not use UCAS, you can also apply via the Common app.

Additionally, keep the deadlines for specific programs in mind before you apply. This is especially important so that you can get your references and letter of recommendation in time.

So, register a personal account on UCAS and then go ahead and fill out your application, which comprises personal details, educational and work qualifications, course choice, personal statement, and a reference.

You are allowed to choose up to 5 courses. Make sure to use the correct institute code for Durham– D86.

Additionally, you can select your college choice out of 17 colleges offered by Durham University. Make sure to use the correct campus code. Here's a list of campus codes for your reference:

1. Collingwood– 1

2. Grey– G

3. Hatfield– 2

4. John Snow– 7

5. Josephine Butler– 9

6. South College– K

7. St. Aidan’s– A

8. St. Chad’s– 3

9. St. Cuthbert’s Society– 4

10. Stephenson– 8

11. St. Hild & St. Bede– 5

12. St. John’s– J

13. St. Mary’s– M

14. Trevelyan– T

15. University– U

16. Van Midert– V

If you have no specific college preference, use the code O.

Once the application is submitted, you need to wait for the university's reply, which may take some time.

The other way to apply for undergraduate courses, as mentioned earlier, is via Common App. In your Durham application, you must submit a personal statement instead of filling the essay questions present on the Common App. You can send your specific college preference through Durham-specific questions through the portal too.

After completing the application, directly send the evidence of academic qualification to Durham on their e-mail documents.educators@durham.ac.uk.

The admission process is pretty similar to the postgraduate taught courses and research degree!

Apply through the Postgraduate Applicant Portal offered on the University website. Fulfill all the entry requirements and English proficiency tests. You are also required to send across two academic references.

When sending an application for a research degree, send a proposal to the department you are applying for. It will help the department decide whether they can facilitate your research or not.

You can also find the University of Durham admission requirements for your degree choice on the UCAS course search or in the courses database of Durham. Generally speaking, every course demands a particular qualification grade, study prep, or pre-existing knowledge of course subjects.

The grade requirements for UK qualifications are as follows:

1. Access to HE Diploma– 60 credits, with a minimum 45 acquired at Level 3

2. A and AS Level (including International A levels)– best of three A levels (except General Studies) with the grades varying from A*A*A to BBB

3. BTEC Nationals Level 3

4. Cambridge Pre- U Diploma

5. Cambridge Level 3 Technicals

6. Extended Project Qualification

7. International Baccalaureate

8. Practical Science

9. Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

If you need guidance about your A-level subjects or their equivalents, the Russel Group guide – Informed Choices – offers advice that can help you decide.

For international students from India, these are the following entry requirements for an undergraduate degree:

1. Grade A*A*A equivalent: Best of four academic subjects in Grade XII with an average of 90% and prerequisite subjects with 87% or more.

2. Grade A*AA equivalent: Best of four academic subjects in Grade XII with an average of 87% and prerequisite subjects with 85% or more.

3. Grade AAA equivalent: Best of four academic subjects in Grade XII with an average of 85% and prerequisite subjects with 85% or more.

4. Grade AAB equivalent: Best of four academic subjects in Grade XII with an average of 84% and prerequisite subjects with 85% or more.

5. Grade ABB equivalent: Best of four academic subjects with an average of 83% and prerequisite subjects with 85% or more.

Also, keep in mind that only CBSE and ICSE boards are considered, with case-to-case exceptions of specific state boards.

For international students from India pursuing postgraduate courses, the requirement for a 3, 4, or 5-year bachelor's degree from an approved Indian university is a must. The score must be above 60-70%, depending on the grad college.

Students not belonging to an English-speaking majority country will need to display their proficiency in the English language through an acceptable test. This is primarily for undergraduate courses. If you have fulfilled a master's degree taught in English, an additional English test is not required.

If these basic entry requirements are not met, there is an option to pursue a pathway program at Durham University International Study Centre. Upon completing the pathway program, the student can progress to a chosen degree.

Some other courses require additional selection criteria like interviews and tests. For a degree in Mathematics and Law, for instance, a specific subject test like Law National Aptitude Test or Mathematics Test is required.

Durham University’s acceptance rate is 41%.

Durham University, UK, also has over 330 undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses. Some of the popular courses, ranking high at the QS World University Ranking by Subjects are:

1. Archaeology (4th rank)

2. Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies (5th rank)

3. Geography (12th rank)

4. Classics & Ancient History (15th rank)

5. Anthropology (32nd rank)

6. History (37th rank)

7. English Language and Literature (44th rank)

8. Arts and Humanities (45th rank)

9. Law and Legal Studies (50th rank)

Additionally, as prospective students, you should also keep in mind the breakdown of the credit score required to attain specific qualifications in the University:

Qualification

Minimum Credits Required

Foundation Year

120 credits (Minimum 120 credits at Level 0)
Foundation Award

60 credits (Minimum 60 credits at Level 1)

Certificate HE

120 credits (Minimum 120 credits at Level 1)
Diploma HE

240 credits (Minimum 90 credits at Level 2)

Ordinary degree

300 credits (Minim 60 credits at Level 3)
Honors degree

360 credits (Minimum 90 credits at Level 3)

Integrated Master’s degree

480 credits (Minimum 120 credits at level 4)
Graduate Certificate

40 credits (Minimum 40 credits at Level 3)

Graduate Diploma

80 credits (Minimum 80 credits at Level 3)
PG Certificate

60 credits (Minimum 40 credits at Level 4)

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

90 credits (Minimum 60 credits at Level 4)
PG Diploma

120 credits (Minimum 90 credits at level 4)

Master's degree (taught)

180 credits (Minimum 150 credits at Level 4)
Master's degree (research)

180 credits (Minimum 180 credits at Level 4)

Master in Social Work (MSW)

305 credits (Minimum 305 credits at Level 4)
MBA

180 credits (Minimum 15 credits at Level 4)

Higher Master’s degree (research)

360 credits (Minimum 360 credits at Level 4)
Professional Doctorate

540 credits (minimum 360 credits at Level 5)

Ph.D. with Integrated Studies

720 credits (minimum 540 credits at Level 5)
Doctorate (Ph.D.)

540 credits (minimum 540 credits at Level 5)

 

Furthermore, some popular programs of the university include:

1. Design

2. Arts

3. Humanities

4. Business

5. Politics

6. Social Sciences

7. Languages

8. Medicine

9. Engineering

10. Mathematics

Lastly, the calendar dates of the academic year 2022-2023 are:

1. Induction week: September 25-October 2, 2022

2. Michaelmas term: October 3-December 9, 2022

3. Christmas vacation: December 10, 2022-January 8, 2023

4. Epiphany term: January 9-March 17, 2023

5. Easter vacation: March 18-April 23, 2023

6. Easter term: April 24-June 23, 2023

7. Summer vacation: June 24-September 24, 2023

Extracurriculars & diversity

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Durham University truly stands by the proverb and offers a range of engaging activities such as sports and club societies for students to partake in.

There are over 1000 student-led societies. It comprises over 8 music societies, 27 theatre companies, 20+ visual art societies, 1 radio station, 54 sports activities, and 50 recreational, voluntary projects!

About 87% of the student population actively participates and excels in numberless extracurricular events.

Furthermore, the student enrichment activities are split into 7 themes of domains of participation:

1. Arts and Culture

2. Enterprise and employment

3. Intellectual query

4. Building communities

5. Sports and wellbeing

6. Wider community engagement

7. Active citizenship

The university also undertakes several initiatives to align itself with diversity and inclusion goals. It actively addresses gender inequality, attracts and supports students from disadvantaged groups, and includes disabled staff and students. It also eliminates any chance of discrimination and advances opportunities for growth.

The institution is a Stonewall diversity champion, has signed a race equality charter, earned the position of disability confident employer, and won the Athena SWAN Bronze award.

Most of all, the institution openly and proudly invites and embraces students from around the globe, making it a home for international students.

Career/professional

The university offers many internships and placement opportunities during and after degree completion. Some of the renowned recruiters that organize placement drives are

1. Accenture

2. Ernst & Young LLP

3. Unilever

4. Emerson Process

Besides the work placement, the university offers a variety of roles that you can perform and earn money while studying at Durham. These are:

1. Durham Student Ambassador

2. Postgraduate Ambassador

3. Durham Student Ambassador and Mentor

4. Future Me Mentor

5. Open Day Ambassador

Additionally, some of the famous names that graduated from Durham Univesity are:

1. Andrew Buchan– Actor

2. Warren Bradley– Former Footballer

3. Ed Gamble– Comedian

4. George Lazenby– Former James Bond Actor

5. Andrew Strauss– Former England Cricketer

Financial

Lastly, let’s look at some of the popular courses at Durham University and the tuition fees for the same.

Courses

Fees for International Students Per Year

Economics with Management (BA)

EUR 24,500 (~INR 21 Lakhs)
Education Studies (BA)

EUR 22,700 (~INR 19 Lakhs)

Finance (MSc)

EUR 31,000 (~INR 26 Lakhs)
Medical Anthropology (MSc)

EUR 24,200 (~INR 20 Lakhs)

Civil Engineering (MSc)

EUR 27,250 (~INR 23 Lakhs)

 

Besides tuition fees, the charges for accommodation and food are as follows:

Room Type

Total Charges (for 41 weeks)

Standard with shared bathroom

EUR 6,109 (~INR 5 Lakhs)
Ensuite

EUR 6,642 (~INR 6 Lakhs)

Studio Flat

EUR 7,667 (~INR 7 Lakhs)
Catering for a standard room with a shared bathroom

EUR 8,682 (~INR 7 Lakhs)

Catering for Ensuite

EUR 9,215 (~INR 8 Lakhs)

Disclaimer! All course fees/salaries/expenses are indicative.

Top UK Universities

University Name

Acceptance Rate

Ranking

University Type

Sheffield Hallam University

43.00%

1200

Public

London Metropolitan University

84.00%

801

Public

Aston University

50%

570

Public

Anglia Ruskin University

75%

550

Public

University of Bath

10%-20%

179

Public

University of Essex

54%

465

Public

University of Surrey

65.00%

305

Public

University of Chester

25.00%

1201-1500

Public

University of Bedfordshire

70.00%

801-1000

Public

Swansea University

14.00%

425

Public

Newcastle University

87.00%

122

Public

Lancaster University

18.69%

146

Public

Heriot Watt University

60.00%

281

Public

Durham University

41.00%

92

Public

Cranfield University

67.90%

400

Public

Loughborough University

68%

256

Public

University of Southampton

84%

78

Public

University of Sussex

92.00%

240

Public

University of Sunderland

27.00%

101-150

Public

University of Dundee

36.00%

354

Private

University of Aberdeen

78.00%

205

Public

Ulster University

81.00%

650

Public

Manchester Metropolitan University

80.00%

801-1000

Public

Cardiff Metropolitan University

64.00%

1200

Public

Bournemouth University

50%

1000

Public

University of Aberdeen

78%

13

Public

University of Chester

25%

97

Public

University of Kent

85%

375

Public

University of Salford

4.80%

1000

Public

University of Stirling

20.00%

510

Public

...Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

How has Durham's QS ranking changed over the last three years?

Durham University’s QS World University Rankings have shown some fluctuation: it was ranked 92nd in 2023, rose to 78th in 2024, and is 89th in 2025. This reflects Durham’s continued position among the world’s top 100 universities, with minor year-on-year changes common among leading institutions.

What is the student demographic breakdown for international students at Durham?

Durham hosts over 4,500 international students from more than 156 countries, making up about 21% of the total student body of approximately 21,600. This diverse community spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, contributing to a vibrant international campus environment.

What specific support does Durham offer for student entrepreneurs?

Durham’s Careers & Enterprise Centre provides a comprehensive suite of services for aspiring entrepreneurs. These include the flagship Blueprint Enterprise Challenge, a structured program. It offers workshops, expert mentoring, networking events, and a competitive pitch process with funding awards for the best student business ideas.

How does the cost of catered college accommodation compare to private rentals in Durham?

Catered college accommodation typically costs between £7,800 and £9,000 (INR 8L – INR 9L) for the academic year, often including bills and meals. This is generally comparable to or slightly higher than renting privately, where costs can range from £6,000 to £8,500 (INR 6L - INR 8.9L) per year before bills.

What are the most competitive courses for admission at Durham University?

The most competitive courses at Durham typically include Law, Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), Physics, and Economics. These programs attract high numbers of applicants and generally require top A-Level or IB scores, along with strong personal statements and, in some cases, admissions tests or interviews.

Does Durham offer part-time work opportunities for students?

Yes, Durham’s Student Employment Service helps students find part-time jobs both within the university (such as library assistants, college bar staff, and administrative roles) and in the local Durham area. International students on student visas can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, in line with UK regulations.

What is the 'Winter Pool' system, and does Durham use one for admissions?

The ‘Winter Pool’ is a process unique to Oxford and Cambridge, allowing strong applicants not initially accepted by their chosen college to be considered by other colleges. Durham does not operate a pooling system; applications are considered only by the college to which they are submitted.

What are the main research strengths of Durham University?

Durham is internationally recognized for research in Theology & Religion, Archaeology, and Space Science. The university is home to major research institutes, including the Institute for Computational Cosmology and the Durham Energy Institute. It consistently ranks among the UK’s top universities for research impact.

How accessible is Durham city for international travel?

Durham is highly accessible for international students. The city is just a 10-minute train ride from Newcastle upon Tyne, which has an international airport (NCL) with direct flights to major hubs including Dubai, Amsterdam, and Paris. London is less than three hours away by train, making international and domestic travel convenient.

What is the average graduate retention rate in the North East for Durham alumni?

While many Durham graduates move to cities like London for employment, approximately 15–20% choose to start their careers in the North East region. Local initiatives and employer partnerships are working to increase this retention rate by providing more graduate-level opportunities in the area.

Are there specific scholarships for students from India or South Asia at Durham?

Yes, Durham offers several scholarships for Indian and South Asian students, including the Durham University International Scholarships and faculty-specific awards. Indian students can also apply for external scholarships such as the GREAT Scholarships. Eligibility and application details are on the university’s scholarships page; apply early due to high competition.

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