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College Life

There's a whole range of opportunities for you to get involved with at Van Mildert College.

We are known for our outreach projects, vibrant social scene, successful sports teams, and opportunities for student participation. We have over 80 different clubs and societies for everything from cheerleading to fundraising. While we of course encourage excellence, our 'give it a go' approach is equally valued and promotes inclusivity and engagement regardless of your level of skill or experience.

  • Dimensions Programme

    The Dimensions programme offers a range of opportunities to students which align closely with the Durham Inspired Award.
    Students celebrating a hockey win
  • Student Support and Wellbeing

    Within the College, the Student Support Team is available in the Principal's Office to help with a wide range of matters and concerns.
    Students sitting on a picnic blanket laugh and smile as they enjoy the Jam by the Lake music festival on the college grounds

Dimensions Programme

The Dimensions programme offers a range of opportunities to students which align closely with the Durham Inspired Award.
Students celebrating a hockey win

Student Support and Wellbeing

Within the College, the Student Support Team is available in the Principal's Office to help with a wide range of matters and concerns.
Students sitting on a picnic blanket laugh and smile as they enjoy the Jam by the Lake music festival on the college grounds

Societies

Societies play a key role in student life at Van Mildert College. The JCR offers a wide range of societies that allow you to pursue interests (new or long-held), to meet new people across different years and just enjoy doing something that you love. Many of the Societies take an active role in running the College's biggest events, such as Jam by the Lake (the largest student-run open-air music festival in the North East), our wonderful College Balls, Formals or the annual College Fashion Show.

Our social calendar is busy and varied, for example:

Formal Dinners

Formals occur about four times a term. Come with friends, dress up, and enjoy being served a delicious 3-course meal. Sometimes we look forward to fancy dress Formals or themed events including Formals for Halloween, Christmas, Burns' Night, Valentines or St Patrick's Day.

Please see the Mildert Guide to Formal Dining for more information.

Mildert Guide to Formal Dining

Events

MildArts (the umbrella society for art, music and theatre at Mildert) oversees our theatre company, three music rooms with amps, guitars, pianos, drum-kit, and recording equipment, a full brass and percussion Big Band, an annual musical, a talent show, a college pantomime (written by students about the college) and Summer Shakespeare, with a plethora of other plays and performances. Then there's our Charity Fashion Show (the only one in Durham to accept everybody who wants in), Jam by the Lake, 'bops' which transform the JCR into a massive themed party with special drinks, decorations and entertainment, and College Balls. Balls are the biggest events of the year; bringing the whole college together, dressed up in 'black tie' for a formal meal, live music and a whole variety of entertainment through to the early hours.

Sport

Sport forms a central and vital part of student life in the College. With clubs ranging from the traditional (such as Rugby, Football and Hockey) to the more unusual (such as Ultimate Frisbee or Cheerleading), there is something for everyone, at any level. We are proud to have a consistent and high achieving record in sport amongst the Durham Colleges.

 

Cathedral viewed from Owengate with Durham Tours purple app logo in left corner

Durham Tours

Fancy taking a virtual tour around Durham? Our brand new 'Durham University Tours' app is available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store!

Learn more about our virtual tours