About Us

Welcome to South College, a friendly, diverse and ambitious community of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Opened in 2020 as Durham's seventeenth College, South inherited the best of Durham's collegiate traditions. Already, it has created new and exciting ones of its own. Southies, as our students call themselves, are immensely proud of their college. Together, we have made it a wonderful place to study, encounter new ideas, and enjoy the very best of Durham's superb wider student experience.

A stunning example of purpose-built modern architecture, South is located on a beautiful, parkland site among Durham's Hill Colleges. It is next door to Van Mildert College and close to many academic departments, the University library and the new Learning and Teaching Centre.

South has a tremendous set of social, sporting and cultural facilities including a gym, theatre, music rooms and a dance studio. The College is home to a Library and a comfortable, modern Café/Bar complete with pool table and games consoles. These are in the Pitcairn Building, which is home to our Reception, post room, student welfare office and JCR. 

As you would expect, South also has tremendous student accommodation. Our student rooms come in two types: en-suite bedrooms in cluster flats, each with its own kitchen/dining room, and large Town House rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchen/dining rooms. Large external spaces including the Plaza and the lawns around the South College Pond offer opportunities to socialise in the open air. A multi-use games area provides space for sports such as tennis, basketball and lacrosse.

South College offers a fantastic opportunity to students who would like to share in the adventure of further developing and promoting the College's identity. This is based on the ideals expressed in our college motto: 'Libertas, Aequalitas, Civitas Totius mundi', in English, 'Freedom, Equality and Global Citizenship'. 

During our college matriculation ceremony, every new Southie swears an oath of loyalty to these values in the presence of the College mascot, a large wooden owl called Oswald. Oswald also plays an important role at our regular college formals and at college balls. The South College alumni association is called the Owl Society. 

As a student in South College, you will be at the heart of Durham University. As a member of our college community, you will have the chance to make friends for life. You will also have support and encouragement to develop self-awareness, leadership and problem-solving skills through participation in societies, teams and student representative groups such as the South College JCR.

South College is writing a new chapter in Durham University's proud history. As a community, we are dedicated to freedom of expression, democracy, and opportunity.  We hope you will join us and enjoy being part of this enthralling project.