"On the open day, I fell in love with the city, and I was impressed by the facilities. So, I applied..."
I knew I wanted to do a primary education course but wasn’t particularly sure which university I wanted to go to. I looked at league tables and Durham was very high up, so I went for an open day. On the open day, I fell in love with the city, and I was impressed by the facilities. So, I applied, and I was fortunate enough to gain a place.
Open days are a great opportunity to get a feel for the university, but also the course. Open days are a great opportunity to explore the city which is almost as important as course information. At the end of the day this is the place you will be living for 3 years. We went to a session which introduced the course to us, which was very helpful. I loved the way the course was taught, with a balance of theory but also “practical learning” with the block placements. The open day was beneficial in my decision to apply to Durham. I would recommend them to everyone.
I had my heart set on going to Durham ever since the open day. However, I still attended the post offer visit day to make sure I was making the right decision for me. It was great to have a refresher about the course as the open day was so long ago. Along with another visit to the city centre, the post offer visit day confirmed that Durham would be my firm choice.
The Durham interview was the best interview experience I had. Before the interview we were given a tour of the campus, and we had time to socialise with people who would potentially be on our course. During the interview I was very nervous as most of my interviews had been online via zoom, however the interviewer gave me time to take deep breaths to calm my nerves. She kept on reassuring me that I was doing great, which really helped. I am forever grateful for her patience with me that day, I hadn’t had that experience in any other interview before.
Applying to Durham was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m finding the course interesting and I’m excited for what the future holds.
I applied to Durham University firstly due to the reputation of being an extremely high-quality university based in the northeast of England. Growing up in County Durham, I find a strong sense of pride being able to attend a university only 20 minutes up the road from my hometown, representing the next generation of up incoming graduates of Durham University from County Durham. The X101 Primary Education also was perfectly suited to my ambitions of training and developing into the best teacher that I can be, there are countless opportunities to study in a friendly and well organised environment, as well as gain first hand experiences in the classroom through the placement programme.
As to be expected, interviews for anything in life can be daunting. I found that my Durham interview to be challenging but incredibly useful for developing an experience of speaking to other teachers about teaching. I have found that my confidence in talking about education and teaching since this interview, has significantly increased. Other university interviews were in group setting, which was not as useful, as they did not offer a one-to-one interview which gives you a chance to show what you are capable of as an individual.
I am delighted with my decision to attend Durham University to study Primary Education. In only one year, my confidence and communication skills have skyrocketed beyond what I thought I would be capable of at this stage of my education training. All of the staff are very approachable and care for the progress you make and will go above and beyond to ensure that well-being is a priority. The in-school training that the university offers is top-class, and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience last year in a classroom environment. The praise and feedback I received by professionals and tutors has been extremely helpful and gives me more motivation to continue to develop into the teacher that I know I can be.
I applied to Durham University after doing some research online and comparing different courses at different universities. Durham was the most favourable option to me, as I preferred the modules offered here and also thought it was great that you can have the degree and QTS in just three years!
Yes I attended an open day in the summer of 2023 and I would say that this day really confirmed to me that Durham was the goal. I spoke to some of the lecturers from the department and also attended the talk which detailed what the 3 years studying at durham would look like.
I also attended a post offer visit day and I found this day to be really insightful. On the day I visited there was 2 3rd year primary ed students that we got to speak to about their experiences and they also hosted sessions for us where they showed us some of their work from the 3 years and also answered any questions which we had about any aspect of studying at Durham.
My interview experience at Durham was the best I had by far. The interviewers were so kind and reassured me that the interview was nothing to worry about.
I am thrilled that I chose to study at Durham university as the community here is brilliant… there are so many opportunities in regards to sports, volunteering and societies. The staff in the education department are very caring and considerate, providing interesting and educational lectures and seminars.
Durham University was always my top choice due to the opportunities available such as, societies, sports, and studying abroad. Being a part of a college is a unique aspect in making long lasting friends outside of the classroom. Every college has its unique history, dinners, quizzes, and events which make them differentiate from one another. These events vary so everyone has the best time while here at Durham. Durham University provides you with a sense of belonging as the amazing welfare team and lectures provide high quality support and guidance throughout your time here at Durham, this makes a huge impact on succeeding here at Durham, as you never feel like you don’t have your own voice or struggle on your own. I love Durham as you are being taught by the best of the best as the lectures are experts within their field, no question is ever unanswered. Not only is the university amazing but so is the county itself as it is enriched with history and natural beauty due to the architecture, cathedral and everything is within walking distance. This provides the best opportunities to see the whole city and no need for a car.
Open days enlighten you with the whole Durham experience as you can communicate with all aspects of the university including college representatives, course leaders and students themselves who provide you with every answer to your questions. This helped my own personal experience as choosing a university can be both stressful and nerve-racking in choosing the best fit for you, however Durham was the clear choice for me as it Is affordable, multicultural and student friendly not only that, but my course succeeded many other universities in the country. They want you to succeed and will do everything to provide high quality education when studying here.
The Post Offer visit day was so enlightening as you meet other students who could possibly be on your course in the future this provides you with a sense of who you could be spending your next three-year experience with. Attending the visit day was important to me as I wanted to ask a few in person questions, see all the accommodations and colleges, and how my course will be delivered in full depth.
When approaching Durham my nerves were extremely high however the second, I stepped into the building they disappeared as I was greeted by extremely understanding and approachable lectures. I asked a few questions before my interview started including accommodation, my course, and many more. These were perfectly answered by the lovely staff members. We were walked as a whole group to the lecture theatre to complete the first half of my interview which was a written assessment that lasted for 45 minutes and it was over before I knew it. The second part of my interview I completed a formal interview with two lectures. Some nerves came back as I was unsure on the questions about to be asked however they disappeared when I entered the private room as it felt more like a conversation than an interview, this made my experience worthwhile. Due to this I felt like I was able to deliver as much knowledge and understanding of the course possible to get the positive outcome I was hoping for.
I would like to thank Durham for this opportunity as it provided me with an amazing experience for the present and the future.
I am extremely pleased with my choice in choosing my course as I am able to go into schools to have the experience in training and understanding the issues behind closed doors which schools face which could possibly affect children’s learning environments. My degree has developed my academic knowledge and understanding in the many different roles and responsibilities of a teacher, how the National Curriculum works, and how an effective teacher can deliver lessons. Primary Education at Durham differentiates to other universities as it gives you the opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status which enables you to go straight into teaching.
I applied to Durham University because I knew it was a world class university that would offer me an amazing student experience while still allowing me to achieve my QTS so when I graduate that will enhance my employability as a teacher. I love the college system and how that involves college sports as well as an additional sense of community which has really helped me to settle into life at Durham especially as I am far from home. I was particularly interested in the SEN modules as these are a particular interest of mine which definitely encouraged me to apply to Durham.
My Durham interview was my first university interview and meeting the other interviewees before we began was a really crucial step as two of the people I met are now on my course. The interviewers were very friendly and supportive during the interview which definitely encouraged me to come to Durham.
Now that I am on the course I am confident that Durham is the correct university for me and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. The lecturers are all very friendly and I have thoroughly enjoyed starting placement and the whole Durham student experience.
I love the city and the course content, as well as the collegiate system and all the sport opportunities here.
My interview was fantastic. I felt listened to and welcomed which made me really excited to come to Durham. The department seemed equally academic and invested in our personal wellbeing which was important to me.
So far, the lectures have been amazing - friendly and welcoming with an obvious passion about the course and teaching children which is infectious.
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