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Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions
Preliminary and Finalised College Allocation
Learn what a preliminary college allocation means, when your allocation is finalised, and the circumstances in which it may change.
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A preliminary college allocation is issued to all offer holders before the publication of A-level and equivalent examination results.
A preliminary allocation:
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is based on your academic offer and the college preferences you submitted;
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allows you to begin engaging with a college community at an early stage; and
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is provisional, meaning it may be subject to change once examination results are known and final student numbers are confirmed.
However, a preliminary allocation does not guarantee final college membership and may be amended in line with the University’s published allocation processes.
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A finalised college allocation is confirmed after examination results have been published, once the University has a full and accurate picture of:
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which offer holders have met the conditions of their offer;
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accommodation availability across colleges; and
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any additional accommodation or support requirements that need to be considered.
At this stage, students are contacted to confirm their finalised college allocation. This allocation relates to college membership and, once confirmed, will not be changed at a student’s request.
Finalised allocations are made in accordance with the University’s published allocation processes.
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While most students who go on to secure a place at Durham will remain with their preliminary allocated college, changes may be required in a small number of cases once examination results have been published and final student numbers are confirmed.
A preliminary college allocation may be changed ensure fairness, meet student needs, and manage accommodation capacity across the collegiate system. This may include circumstances where:
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a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met by their preliminary allocated college;
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a student is accepted to Durham through a different admissions route than originally anticipated, including as an Insurance choice or through Clearing;
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a student is accepted to the University despite not meeting the original conditions of their offer; or
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there is insufficient accommodation availability within a college to make accommodation offers to all eligible students.
Any changes to preliminary allocations are made in line with the University’s published allocation processes.
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Where reallocations are required after examination results are published, the University seeks to manage college capacity fairly while prioritising continuity of college membership wherever possible.
In these circumstances, priority is given to retaining students in their preliminary allocated college in the following order:
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Offer holders who placed Durham as their Firm choice and met or exceeded the conditions of their offer
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Offer holders who placed Durham as their Firm choice and were accepted despite not meeting the original conditions of their offer
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Offer holders who placed Durham as their Insurance choice
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Offer holders accepted through Clearing
Where it is necessary to change a student’s preliminary college allocation, previous college preferences are not taken into account. Students are allocated to colleges with available accommodation through a process designed to ensure fairness and consistency across the collegiate system.
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College Membership & Preferences
How colleges are allocated, what preferences mean, and whether allocations can change.
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No. All applicants who receive an offer from Durham are eligible for college allocation.
You may be preliminarily allocated to a college before you have accepted your academic offer.
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The majority of preliminary college allocations are made as part of a main allocation exercise following the college preference submission deadline.
Applicants who receive an offer after the main allocation exercise may be included in subsequent allocation runs. Where eligible, these applicants will normally be given an opportunity to submit college preferences through the Undergraduate Applicant Portal before being allocated.
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Yes. Applicants can rank all 16 undergraduate colleges in order of preference using the online college preference form, which is available through the Undergraduate Applicant Portal once you receive an academic offer from Durham.
Preferences are taken into account as part of the allocation process but cannot be guaranteed.
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No. Once a college allocation has been made, it forms part of your broader offer from Durham University and will not normally be changed at an applicant’s request.
An exception may be considered where a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met within the allocated college, following assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services through the Disability Disclosure process.
Durham’s colleges are multidisciplinary academic communities. The allocation process is designed to ensure a balanced distribution of students across colleges in order to maintain the distinctive collegiate experience.
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No. UCAS decisions (Firm or Insurance) do not influence the college allocation process.
College allocation begins before the UCAS decision deadline so that applicants can receive a preliminary college allocation before deciding whether to accept their offer.
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No. Applicants are eligible for college allocation once an academic offer—conditional or unconditional—has been made and communicated to UCAS.
Durham University uses offer factors to ensure the intended number of students are admitted. These factors are applied across all colleges. All offer holders are included within the same allocation process, and holding an unconditional offer does not guarantee allocation to a preferred college.
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College allocation takes place in the year of application. Applicants who defer their offer are allocated proportionately across colleges using the same allocation principles as all other applicants in that year.
This means that a preferred college cannot be guaranteed following deferral. This approach ensures that applicants in subsequent years are not disadvantaged by a large number of college places having been allocated to applicants who deferred in a previous cycle.
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No. All colleges are multidisciplinary, and no college is linked to a specific subject.
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No. Family connections to a college are not considered in the allocation process.
College allocation is based solely on applicant preference and the need to maintain multidisciplinary communities across all colleges. Of course, students can state their preference for colleges attended by family or friends in the past.
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No. All colleges are multidisciplinary communities and offer a wide range of activities and opportunities.
There are also extensive inter-collegiate and University-wide activities available to all students. Individual interests, skills, or abilities are not considered as part of the published college allocation process.
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No. College allocation is based on two principles only:
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maintaining multidisciplinary academic communities; and
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applicant preference.
Colleges are not allocated based on facilities. Allocation confirms membership of a college community, not access to a particular room type, catering arrangement, or facility. An exception may be considered where a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met within the allocated college, following assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services through the Disability Disclosure process.
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No. Once a college allocation has been made, it will not normally be changed at an applicant’s request.
An exception may be considered where a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met within the allocated college, following assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services through the Disability Disclosure process.
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Yes, but only before the college allocation process begins.
You can amend your preferences using the college preference form in the Undergraduate Applicant Portal.
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No, we do not operate college waiting lists, either centrally or within individual colleges.
Once a college allocation has been made, it will not normally be changed at an applicant’s request. An exception may be considered where a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met within the allocated college, following assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services through the Disability Disclosure process.
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No. College swaps are not permitted.
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There is no appeals process for college allocation decisions.
Where a student has a medical or disability-related need, they must follow the Disability Disclosure process. The University will first consider whether reasonable adjustments can be made within the allocated college.
Only where a student’s needs cannot reasonably be met will a change of college be considered, based on an assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services. Decisions reached through this process are final.
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No. College allocation is about membership, not accommodation alone.
Your college is central to your academic, social, and pastoral experience at Durham, offering events, activities, support, and leadership opportunities regardless of where you live.
Accommodation & Student Circumstances
Where students live, catering, medical needs, and specific cohorts.
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All new first-year undergraduates who meet the criteria of the University’s Accommodation Guarantee, and who indicate through the College Membership & Accommodation Application that they wish to be considered for University accommodation, will be offered University accommodation, subject to availability and operational requirements at the time of allocation.
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No. Once an accommodation offer has been made, it will not normally be changed at a student’s request. If you choose not to accept your accommodation offer, the University cannot guarantee that a further offer of accommodation will be made.
Accommodation offers are made based on availability at the time of allocation and are intended to ensure that as many students as possible can be offered University accommodation. Offers relate to a specific room type, location, and let length and cannot be amended on preference grounds.
Where a student has a medical or disability-related need, the University will first consider whether reasonable adjustments can be made within the offered accommodation. If needs cannot reasonably be met, students should contact their allocated college directly for further advice.
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Students may express interest in returning to their college for accommodation in subsequent years or choose to live in privately rented accommodation in Durham City.
Accommodation beyond the first year is not guaranteed and is subject to availability at the time of allocation.
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Once a college allocation has been made, it will not normally be changed at an applicant’s request on financial grounds.
An exception may be considered where a student has a medical or disability-related need that cannot reasonably be met within the allocated college, following assessment and recommendation by Disability Support Services through the Disability Disclosure process.
Catered colleges typically provide around 650 meals per year, averaging just over £4 per meal, and remove the need for food shopping or cooking equipment.
There may be support available to help with the cost of living for students who experience financial difficulties. You can find information on managing your finances, cost of living, and additional support is available on the University website.
Catered colleges can offer good value for money, typically providing around 650 meals per year, averaging just over £5 per meal. This removes the need for food shopping or cooking equipment. The core 30 weeks of catering in 2026/27 is catering charge of £107.11. -
Yes. All colleges are experienced in supporting a wide range of dietary requirements, including complex needs, where reasonably practicable.
You are encouraged to contact your allocated college directly to discuss your individual requirements.
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All catered colleges are able to provide Halal meals. When you arrive, simply let the catering team in your college know about your dietary requirements and they’ll be happy to help. A vegetarian option is also available at every meal.
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Where a student has a medical or disability-related need, the University will first consider whether reasonable adjustments can be made within the allocated college.
If your needs cannot reasonably be met, you should complete the Disability Disclosure Form so that your circumstances can be assessed by Disability Support Services. A change of college will only be considered where recommended following this assessment.
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If you require a live-in carer, please contact the College Membership and Accommodation Office at CMAO@Durham.ac.uk to discuss your individual requirements so that we can make sure to provide suitable accommodation.
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Exchange students are allocated to a college for membership once their attendance at Durham University has been confirmed.
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Yes. Where an applicant submits more than one academic application, they are able to provide college preferences for each application.
Contents Insurance
Contents insurance is included in University accommodation to help protect your belongings against risks such as theft or damage. Cover limits and exclusions apply, so you should review the policy and consider additional personal insurance if needed.
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Yes. Students living in University-managed accommodation are covered by a contents insurance policy arranged by the University. This policy is provided by the University’s insurer and is included as part of your accommodation arrangement.
This insurance is designed to offer a level of protection for personal belongings while living in University accommodation. It is included automatically for eligible students and does not require a separate premium to be paid.
Group Contents Insurance Policy
Group Contents Insurance Policy Summary Key Facts -
The policy provides cover for personal possessions kept within University accommodation, subject to the policy terms and conditions. This typically includes items such as:
- Clothing and personal effects
- Laptops, tablets and other personal electronic devices
- Personal valuables, within specified limits
Cover applies while items are kept in University accommodation and may also extend to certain items temporarily removed from the accommodation, subject to policy conditions.
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Yes. The policy includes:
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a maximum total cover limit, and
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individual item limits for certain types of belongings.
High-value items may only be covered up to a specified amount. You should check the policy documents carefully to understand how the limits apply to your belongings.
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The insurance policy includes maximum cover limits, single-item limits, and specific exclusions. For example:
- There may be limits on the maximum amount payable per claim
- Certain high-value items may need to be declared or insured separately
- Some items or circumstances may not be covered
Students are strongly encouraged to review the full policy documentation carefully to understand the exact limits, exclusions and conditions that apply.
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The University’s policy is suitable for most students. However, if you own high-value items or want additional cover beyond the policy limits, you may wish to arrange your own personal contents insurance.
Students are responsible for deciding whether the University’s cover meets their individual needs.
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If you need to make a claim under the personal possessions insurance policy, guidance on the claims process is available through Howden.
This includes information on:
- How to submit a claim
- What evidence may be required
- Expected timescales
When you use the link, you will need to register on the website with your University email address. You will see ‘Durham University’ as the accommodation provider. Where it asks for University or College, please select Durham University.