Living in University accommodation is a great way to settle quickly into life at Durham and become part of your college community from day one. With accommodation located at the heart of college life, you’ll have access to facilities, events, and support, as well as the chance to build friendships and make the most of everything your college has to offer.

All new undergraduate students are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation. Accommodation preferences are collected through an accommodation preference form, which is emailed to all Firm and Insurance offer holders in early June, following the UCAS reply deadline. The form will remain open until August 2026 (with the final date published in advance), giving you time to explore your options and let us know what you’re looking for.

When completing the form, you’ll be asked to confirm whether you’d like to receive an accommodation offer and to share some general preferences to help guide the allocation process. Accommodation offers are made once final college membership allocations are confirmed.

Each Durham college has a staffed office that is typically open during standard working hours, usually between 9.00am and 5.00pm, where students can speak to college staff about accommodation, welfare or practical queries.Outside of office hours, porters are present on site 24 hours a day and can assist with urgent issues, access queries, and signposting to further help where needed. In addition, students can access a range of central University support services, including welfare and emergency support, through the University’s central support webpages, which are available at any time.

Durham is a compact and walkable city, and many colleges, teaching spaces and student facilities are located within a relatively small geographical area. Most students choose to travel on foot for day-to-day activities, using established pedestrian routes that connect colleges, academic departments, libraries and the city centre. Where accommodation or teaching spaces are further apart, a range of alternative travel options, including cycling routes and local bus services, are available. Journey times and routes may vary depending on individual needs and the location of specific colleges or residences.

All colleges provide bicycle storage facilities, and cycling is a popular way for students to travel around Durham. Student parking within colleges is limited and is only permitted with a valid parking permit. Parking permits are normally available only to Blue Badge holders or students with exceptional needs, such as specific course or placement requirements or elite sports commitments, and are issued following a needs-based assessment.