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Durham Experience

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A tapestry of old and new images of students at Durham University through the years

Durham ExperienceKeep Making History purple logo

Durham’s collegiate  system is the heart of who we are, turning study into belonging and ambition into action.

Your support will expand and  enhance this unique experience by:

  • Revitalising College spaces into vibrant hubs of study and connection through upgraded study and social spaces and improved performance and sport facilities.
  • Investing in music and theatre to update equipment, increase access to performance venues and expand opportunities to learn from our acclaimed alumni.
  • Supporting participation funds for low-income students.
  • Enhancing facilities for rowing, rugby, football, and tennis.
  • Funding creative and entrepreneurial initiatives like the Hazan Venture Lab, supporting over 140 start-ups tackling social and environmental issues.

A group of students stood by Durham riverside chatting

 

Explore the Durham experience

Music, theatre and creative arts

Durham students stage over 150 performances each year, from cathedral concerts to national tours.
A large group of singers wearing black and teal holding microphones

Sport at Durham

We have been a top three British Universities and Colleges Sport university since 2012.
Students in purple and green sports clothes playing American Football

Enterprise and innovation

The Hazan Venture Lab is Durham University's first purpose-built space for entrepreneurship.
Students at the door and inside a blue tin shack with the words Taka Taka Zero Shop written on the outside

Colleges, culture and community

Durham’s Colleges offer our students a close-knit, supportive environment steeped in rich tradition.
Two students working on a sound mixing desk

Reimagining Durham Castle

Durham Castle turrets and three students walking inside a museumA symbol of Durham’s heritage and heart, Durham Castle was the first gift to Durham University. It is where Durham University’s story began. It has stood for nearly a millennium as a living space of learning and community.

Almost a century ago, the University led a successful appeal to rescue the Castle from danger. Today, the Reimagining Durham Castle project will conserve and renew this College and UNESCO World Heritage Site for future generations.

This is a rare opportunity – a century after its last major restoration  – to protect a global treasure and keep it alive as a beacon of learning. Students in Durham city Durham Castle courtyard We invite you to join us in shaping  the Castle’s next thousand years, ensuring this magnificent place  keeps making history.

Our goals:

  • Strengthen the Castle’s collegiate amenities as home to University College and a shared hub for all students.
  • Conserve and restore the Castle’s 11th century fabric, addressing the challenges of climate change.
  • Open up the Castle to alumni, visitors and researchers, so that everyone can engage with our unique heritage and story. 

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Student experience, enterprise and support

Your support can help us build a warmly welcoming Durham – one where every student feels a sense of belonging.

We want to ensure that Durham remains the university of choice for students who want to develop their talents in sport, creativity, journalism, and entrepreneurship. And we want to ensure that no student is held back by disability or disadvantage.

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Two students sat on a step in front of a blue door in a city streetDonor innovation in disability support

Around one-in-four Durham students lives with a disability or condition that can make full participation challenging.

Durham’s first donor-funded disability adviser now provides tailored support for neurodivergent students and leads research to enhance inclusive learning through Computer Science.