Welcome from the Principal

Welcome and congratulations on gaining a place at St Cuthbert’s Society. You are joining one of the oldest and friendliest student communities in Durham.

At St Cuthbert’s Society (generally known as Cuth’s) we are proud to cater for a diverse range of students. Our welcoming and friendly atmosphere forms the foundations of our offer to you; a world class student experience, during which we will support you to achieve your maximum potential.

The student body at Cuth’s, known as the Junior Common Room (JCR) is a fantastic way for you to meet new people and form lifelong friendships. It is the hub of our college and provides a warm welcome to all our new students. As an independent charity, Cuth’s JCR is also unique, in that it is run for our students by our students. It is the heart of the Cuth’s community, and its role is to ensure you receive the best and most rewarding student experience. From the moment you arrive at Cuth’s you are part of the JCR family. As a member, you will be able to attend events, play in sports teams and join, or create societies; we currently have over 40 to choose from.

At Cuth’s, we are passionate about our local communities, and we are always exploring new and innovative ways to enrich it, with a mix of outreach, volunteering, and charity activities. Cuth’s also offers a wide variety of intellectual events that are open to all, including: interdisciplinary symposia, talks by our very own students and staff on their scholarly research, and lectures by distinguished visitors.

University will be the best time of your life, it is fun and exciting, but can also be a little stressful at times. I want to assure you that we take the health, wellbeing, and happiness of all our students very seriously. The College Officers, staff and welfare team will be here, always to provide the support you need, when you need it most.

As a place to live, study and socialise, Cuth’s is a beautiful mix of the old and new and has college accommodation on two different sites. The historic Bailey site by the cathedral and city centre and the Parson’s Field site on the outskirts of the Maiden Castle Wood with fabulous rural views of the river and surrounding countryside.

Lastly, Cuth’s may lay claim to be one of Durham’s oldest colleges, and we are strong on tradition, and proud of our heritage. But we are also a very modern forward-looking college, willing to do things a little differently and embrace change. We will provide the support you need to make the most of your student years at Cuth’s and to enjoy Durham to the full.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

With very best wishes,

Tammi Walker

Principal of St Cuthbert's Society and Professor of Forensic Psychology