Welcome to New Students - Durham University

Congratulations and Welcome to Durham History Department

Congratulations and Welcome to Durham History.

Welcome to our new students!

Congratulations on gaining your place to study at Durham, and a warm welcome to the Department of History. We hope you will enjoy your time with us and that you will seize the opportunity to build upon your established interests, and broaden your horizons as an historian. There is plenty of opportunity for you to do both.

We offer one of the most exciting and wide-ranging History degree programmes in the United Kingdom. You can study in more detail and in new ways topics you have encountered before, like the Tudor Monarchy, Nazi Germany or the modern history of the USA. But we will also introduce you to less familiar periods and regions, like the European Middle Ages or the history of east Asia, and to new themes and approaches, such as environmental history, the history of science, visual culture, and the history of gender and sexuality.

We know you are ready to undertake a new intellectual adventure and the Department will support you in this. Durham is one of the largest History departments in the UK; that's why we can offer you such a rich variety of topics and approaches to history. But we pride ourselves on having the friendliness and approachability of a small department too.

Wishing you contentment and success in your time with us,

Professor Julie-Marie Strange

Head of Department

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Studying History at Durham has been great - the lecturers are passionate about what they teach and the enthusiasm is passed down in every seminar. I had constant support around me all year and felt like I could approach staff to ask for help at any point. I’m going into second year with confidence and excitement

Abbie Brindle

Student Rep - History

Department Information

You can access lots of useful information on our Blackboard Learn Ultra Induction site, our Transitioning to Higher Education information and student SharePoint.

Next steps

Enrol online

Enrolment opens eight weeks before the start of your programme. It's important to enrol as soon as possible to access your University account and email.

Two students studying in Teaching and Learning Centre with hot drink

Registering for your programme and specific modules

Once you've completed online enrolment, you'll be able to access our information about the modules available for next year, and how to register your preferences

Durham's History Department is spread across several buildings:

Our main building is 43-46 North Bailey, just opposite Hatfield College
We also occupy two floors of Cosin's Hall, which is a large, Georgian building on Palace Green, near the castle and cathedral
Finally, some of our colleagues have their offices elsewhere, including at 58 Saddler Street where there are also two additional seminar rooms.

Return to the Welcome and Orientation page

Your first week in Durham – University Induction Week Events Timetable

The Timetable has been designed so College events don’t clash with any of your academic departmental events, but offer you lots of opportunities to meet your fellow Freshers, find your way around and settle into student life.

To help you keep track of where you need to be, and what you need to do during your first busy days at university, in your College and your Department, we have created a day-by-day University Induction Planner. This should help you to plan your schedule, so you don't miss anything - from being issued with your Campus Card or meeting the staff in your Department, to trying out for a sports team or joining a student society.

Your Personal Induction Planner

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Useful links

Matriculation

Colleges

Library

Durham Students' Union

Enrichment

Students studying in the Teaching and Learning Centre

Finding Your Way Around Durham

Learn more about the wider student experience at Durham

Student updates

Check out our student blogs to read more about life at Durham from our students. Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Highlights

What to bring to University

Read our top recommendations to add to your packing list ready for your arrival at Durham.
Welcome to Durham – and stop worrying!

Moving to University can be a daunting prospect but there’s no need to worry, you’ll feel right at home here.