The academic year 2025/26 marks 20 years since St Mary’s College welcomed its first cohort of men, 106 years after its foundation in 1899.
The College was founded as a women’s college, first at The Women’s Hostel and then finally gaining college status in 1920. It was the last one of Durham’s Colleges to admit men as well as women.
In 2005, the first undergraduate male freshers were admitted. This signalled a change to the College community, with the 92 men constituting around 40% of the year’s intake.
While not everyone supported the change, it was clear that the college understood the value of a more inclusive community. Jenny Hobbs was College Principal in 2005, she said:
"We are preparing to become a distinctive college for women and men. We are proud of the diversity of our students and strive to inspire all who enter with a belief in achieving their own potential, not only in the world of academia but in many walks of life."
As part of our 125th anniversary, we featured images of some of our alumni, including some of the first cohort of men. Three of them have kindly shared some stories with us.
For more stories from the 'Men of Mary's', read page 7 in our Anniversary Brochure
Phil Comac (Economics, St Mary's College, 2005-2009)
Alex Baker (Geology, St Mary's College, 2005-2009)
Laurence McHauser (Engineering, St Mary's College, 2005-2009)
Mary’s remains proud of its roots as pioneers in the education of women and retains elements such as the Boughton wing (named after former Vice Principal Gillian Boughton), as a single-sex residential location. Its pioneering spirit lives on in work on increasing diversity, with students from a wide range of countries and with bursaries and scholarships to support students to benefit from Mary’s community regardless of financial constraints.
If you would like to get in touch with your alumni stories, stmarys.alumni@durham.ac.uk
Durham University takes pride in the achievements and contributions of its 230 000 alumni and supporters. Stories that cite views, talks and published work reflect the individual's contribution in their personal or professional capacity and do not represent the University's position or endorsement.
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