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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the College allocation process work, and can I change Colleges?
Once College membership has been allocated, it cannot be changed at an applicant’s request other than for exceptional circumstances such as a medical need that cannot be met by your allocated College. You can find out more about the Undergraduate allocation process here and the Postgraduate allocation process here.
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Do all first year students live in College?
New undergraduate students are expected to live in College accommodation during their first year of study. There are a number of rooms in College reserved for postgraduate students. We welcome “returning students” wishing to live in College in subsequent years.
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Do I need to apply for accommodation?
Undergraduates
You will be contacted by the Accommodation and Allocations Office, to ask you to register your interest to receive an offer of College accommodation. If for exceptional reasons, you wish to live out of College, you should talk to us about this by contacting stephenson.admissions@durham.ac.uk .
Postgraduates
You can express a preference for membership and accommodation or membership only; for more information please see the dedicated webpage here.
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What room types are available?
Undergraduates
Stephenson offer varied room types for undergraduate students – single en-suite, paired and standard rooms. These are all located on our Howlands Farm site. Prices can be found here.
Postgraduates
We offer three types of room across our Howlands Farm and Ernest Place sites for postgraduates - single en-suite, premium studios and luxury studios. Prices can be found here.
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Can I select a preference of room type?
You will have been asked to complete an Accommodation Application Form earlier in the year. We will use the information provided on this form only for the purposes of room allocation. We cannot guarantee to meet all requests and where a particular type of room is oversubscribed, we will allocate firstly by prioritising any medical/disability needs and thereafter by lottery.
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How much is College accommodation?
University residence charges can be found here.
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Do I have to move out during the Christmas and Easter vacation?
Your licence to occupy University accommodation allows you to stay in College for the duration of the academic year.
Undergraduates
We offer 39 week lets for new undergraduate students.
Postgraduate
We offer 50 week lets only for postgraduate students.
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I have a disability/medical condition which requires special facilities in my accommodation. Who shall I tell?
If you have special requirements for your accommodation, please complete the Tell Us More Form.
Once you have completed this form, a Disability Adviser will review the information given in line with your medical evidence, and:
1. If you have been successful with your University application, you may receive an email from a Disability Adviser, confirming that we were able to put your Disability Support Plan (DSP) in place. You will be given the option to make an appointment with a Disability Adviser if you have any questions on the recommendations given.
or
2. If we need further information, we will email you to make an appointment, so we can discuss your support in more detail.
Contact details for Disability Support are also available on our website at www.durham.ac.uk/disability.support/.
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Is accessible accommodation available?
The college have two accessible flats available, both located on the ground floor. The bedrooms are en-suite and can be fitted with auxiliary aids such as flashing alarms and vibrating pillows for students with sensory impairments. Kitchens within these flats have risers under the sink to allow the benches to be adjusted, if required.
There is also a lift for public use located within one of the residence blocks. Accessible toilet facilities are located in Wylam, Howlands and Saltwell buildings.
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Howlands Farm site (undergraduates and postgraduates)
Facilities in each bedroom include a single bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, study desk, chair and noticeboard. Standard bedrooms include a wash basin. Wi-Fi connection to the University network is available in all rooms. Bedrooms are arranged around a shared kitchen.
Ernest Place site (postgraduates only)
Information on furniture and facilities in our Ernest Place en-suites and studios can be found here.
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There are a number of things that you should bring to College. If you are travelling from overseas, you may wish to buy much of this when you arrive.
- Clothes - bring clothes to cater for every eventuality including warm clothes and waterproofs! You’ll also need formal wear for Induction as well as for other events throughout the year.
- Bedding - Beds in College are single sized and you need to provide your own duvets, pillows and sheets. You should also bring your own towels. You may wish to bring some personal items such as photos to personalise your room.
- Crockery - The kitchens are fitted with a fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle and microwave. You'll need to bring all your own crockery i.e. mugs, plates, bowls, as well as pans, baking trays, utensils etc.
- Toiletries – You need to provide your own toiletries such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap etc.
- Food – You may wish to bring a small amount of food with you for the first few days. You can go shopping or arrange a supermarket delivery shortly after arrival.
- Electrical items from outside the UK.
- Please note: for safety reasons, electric appliance adaptors are not allowed in University residences. Please do not use your electrical equipment in the residences unless you have an undamaged British cable with a 3 pin plug, this must be stamped BS1363 to connect to the electrical supply.
- Electrical equipment can only be used in university residences if connected by a UK cable. Some electrical equipment, such as computer laptops, mobile phones etc. have separate cables for connecting to the electrical supply. It is possible to buy separate cables in the UK in order to use your electric equipment safely in your college.
- Kitchen items, including rice cookers can be bought locally at reasonable prices.
- The electricity supply in the UK has a much higher voltage than in some countries outside Europe. It is therefore very important that electrical appliances are used safely - an electric shock can be fatal!
Further advice on what to bring for students travelling from overseas can be found here.
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What’s the internet like at Stephenson?
A Wi-Fi connection to the University network is available in all rooms and communal areas in College. Students are advised to have anti-virus software on their laptop. More information can be found here.
Students can connect their phones/tablets to University Wi-Fi. Please find more information here.
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If I bring a TV, do I need a Licence?
Yes. More information is available on the TV Licensing website.
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Is Stephenson a self-catered College?
Yes, Stephenson is a self-catered College, but we dine together often; informally with food from the café/bar, at College events such as our “Locomotion Dinners” (semi-formal dinners) and also, formally, at our Formal Dinners.
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Does Stephenson have Formal Dinners?
Yes, Stephenson College hold Formal Dinners throughout the academic year which are larger, grander events. We are the only College to also offer semi-formal Locomotion and Connections dinners where we dine together in a smaller, more informal setting every other week. And there are the special events which are real highlights in our College calendar such as the JCR Winter and Summer Balls and Stevo Day!
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Durham is a collegiate university, with 17 Colleges across Durham City. All students at Durham are a member of a College and ‘live in’ during their first year. Colleges are diverse communities, welcoming students from around the world and studying across all disciplines within the University. Whilst no teaching takes place within the Colleges, they provide opportunities for personal development, extracurricular activities and a range of events for students to enjoy. Each College has common rooms representing its student body and designated social spaces and facilities such as a café-bar, study space and areas for arts and sports.
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What is the history of Stephenson College?
Stephenson College is one of the youngest of Durham University's Colleges, founded in September 2001 and named after the railway pioneer, George Stephenson. We are a modern, progressive, values-led college. Information on our namesake and our College history can be found here.
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JCR stands for Junior Common Room; the representative body of undergraduate students at Stephenson. The JCR is headed by a President; a student elected to the position by fellow students to lead the JCR for a year, usually following their graduation. The President runs the JCR with an Exec Committee of current students, also elected, and these are supported in their work by the Non-Exec and their committees. Undergraduate students are asked to pay a membership fee to their JCR when they join the College.
MCR stands for Middle Common Room; the representative body of postgraduate students in Stephenson. The MCR is headed by a President, who with their Exec, runs the MCR. Postgraduate students are asked to pay a membership fee for the MCR when they join the College.
The common rooms facilitate events, activities and opportunities within the College including sports, societies, socials, outreach and development as well as representing the student body in meetings with the College and University.
You can find more about our Common Rooms here.
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The simple answer is absolutely everything! Stephenson has its own Connections Programme with opportunities to get involved in our award winning volunteering and outreach programme, our flagship Stephenson Ideas talk series, our Community Connections trips and much more! The JCR and MCR also facilitate a range of events and activities in music, arts, sports and societies. There is a place for everyone at Stephenson.
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What sports and societies does Stephenson offer?
We currently have 37 sports teams and numerous societies so there is something for everyone at Stephenson! We finished 5th in the College sport league in 2023/2024 and look to build on that success going forward. We are the only College to have a college-level Debating Society and have a very active Feminist Society and Gardening Society, amongst others!
Find out about our sports and societies in our Year in Review 2022/2023 here!
We promote leadership and proactive and creative engagement and each year invite new and existing students to set up and develop new clubs and societies based around their skills and passions. This is promoted by the College and both Common Rooms. With the assistance of the JCR Sports Officer or Societies Officer, opportunities can be underpinned with start-up and development grants.
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How many students are in Stephenson College?
The College has approximately 1,200 full time undergraduate and postgraduate students. We typically have 433 students living in our Howlands Farm site, including first year undergraduates, returning students studying in their second, third and fourth years, and postgraduates, with an additional 61 postgraduate rooms at Ernest Place.
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What faith provisions are there?
Our College Chaplain is in College one day per week. Chaplains are an integral part of the welfare provision and pastoral support that the University offers both to staff and students. Chaplains at Durham are either based in Colleges where their care is for all members of College, or they work across the University where the Chaplain usually represents a particular denomination or faith community (though they are still available to everyone).
Find out more about the different faith communities and provisions in Durham and the surrounding areas at www.dur.ac.uk/faithsupport/
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What local travel provision is there in Durham City?
Most students walk or cycle to and from lectures. Stephenson College is located next to the Howlands Park and Ride site. Resident students can currently benefit from a reduced rate when using the Howlands Park and Ride bus service. The University also currently have an arrangement with Arriva, offering discounted bus travel around Durham City. Find out more: www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/public/bus.
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What transport links are there to and from Durham?
Durham is easily accessible by rail and road and is about 30 minutes’ drive from Newcastle International Airport or 40 minutes’ drive from Durham Tees Valley Airport. More information about travelling to Durham is available at www.durham.ac.uk/study/location/durham/travel.
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You are strongly advised not to bring a vehicle to College.
The University policy regarding car parking can be found here.
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Where do students do their food shopping?
As a self-catered College, Stephenson students tend to use online shopping facilities for food and other provisions, and there is a supermarket and local market in the city centre which sells produce and groceries.
There is a College shop on-site which is open 7 days a week from 17.00 - 19.00, kindly run by student volunteers. Here you will find a great range of cupboard essentials, toiletries and sweet treats!
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When shall I arrive at Stephenson?
You will receive further guidance about arrivals once your place is confirmed in August of your year of entry.
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