Welcome to New Students - Durham University

Congratulations and Welcome to Physics

I am delighted that you have chosen Physics at Durham for your studies. We are dedicated to ensuring that you get the best undergraduate learning experience, providing you with an intellectually challenging environment, developing your skills and preparing you for your future career. You will learn from internationally renowned Physicists working on innovative research ranging from the smallest to the largest scale, and from the most fundamental to the most applied. I look forward to welcoming you to Durham this September.

Professor Paula Chadwick
Head of the Physics Department

Tweets by durham_uni

Welcome to Durham and congratulations on your place! We’re a lively, diverse, and welcoming department, where you can look forward to an outstanding course, taught by world-leading academics. The department is full of opportunities to explore and enrich your academic experience, and the student body has close ties to the extracurricular environment in Durham: you won’t go far without finding a Physics student! We’re constantly looking to improve the student experience in the department, so be sure to feed back to your student representatives in the academic year, and I’m excited to help facilitate change and improvement as we move into 2025. I look forward to meeting you - see you very soon!

Tom Hardy

SSCC Co-Chair, MPhys Student

After you have confirmed your place at Durham and a University IT account has been set up for you, you will gain access to induction information via SharePoint and Blackboard (the University’s Virtual Learning Environment).

Programme and module registration

Information, including advice on module choices, will become available to you via SharePoint. You will need to submit your optional module choices in advance of your arrival in Durham in the online registration system. For the time being, please do not worry about this – no action is needed until September.

What to do first

First of all, enrol online then consult the Physics Blackboard Induction and SharePoint sites.

Next step

Enrol online

This is the first and most important step you should take before you arrive. You can enrol 6 weeks before the start of your programme.

Two students studying in Teaching and Learning Centre with hot drink

Registering for your programme and specific modules (via Banner system)

From 1 September, register for your programme and specific modules after reading the departmental guidance.

Your first week in Durham – University Induction Week Events Timetable

The Timetable has been designed so College events don’t clash with any of your academic departmental events, but offer you lots of opportunities to meet your fellow Freshers, find your way around and settle into student life.

To help you keep track of where you need to be, and what you need to do during your first busy days at university, in your College and your Department, we have created a day-by-day University Induction Planner. This should help you to plan your schedule, so you don't miss anything - from being issued with your Campus Card or meeting the staff in your Department, to trying out for a sports team or joining a student society.

Your Personal Induction Planner

Students on laptop with cups of tea in Josephine Butler College café

Useful links

Matriculation

Colleges

Library

Durham Students' Union

Enrichment

Students studying in the Teaching and Learning Centre

Finding Your Way Around Durham

Learn more about the wider student experience at Durham

Student updates

Check out our student blogs to read more about life at Durham from our students. Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Highlights

What to bring to University

Read our top recommendations to add to your packing list ready for your arrival at Durham.
Welcome to Durham – and stop worrying!

Moving to University can be a daunting prospect but there’s no need to worry, you’ll feel right at home here.