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Pioneering projects

Explore our diverse range of projects, from spin-out creation, research collaborations and supporting innovation. Whether we're tackling net zero challenges, advancing health sciences, or developing new technologies, our case studies showcase the impact and success of businesses and researchers working with us. 

 

90% of research rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (UK Research Excellence Framework 2021)
£85 M research awards made to Durham (2022/23)

Towards a better future

Among our scientists, social scientists, business, arts and humanities scholars we have world-leading authorities in their field.

We are one of the top universities in the world, for taking action to address the most pressing environmental, social and governance challenges facing society today. Our researchers are shaping the world, from the intimate to the infinite.

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University student
Researchers at Durham University offer technical expertise that cannot be found elsewhere. We have been collaborating closely on a multitude of projects for several years and hope this will continue to be fruitful long into the future.

Dr Hira Virdee
Founder & CEO Lumi Space
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We are a globally outstanding centre of research

Research at Durham brings together the leading minds in their fields who work collaboratively across departments and with our partners to develop new ways of thinking that have a positive impact on societal and global challenges. 

Explore our research playlist

Research Degrees

Whether you’re looking to connect with international industry and business through your work, or the global academic research community, as a postgraduate at Durham you can expect the freedom and facilities to explore what’s important to you.

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Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits

Dr Alex Brown and Dr Grace Owen from our Department of History explore the surprising range of workplace benefits that existed for peasant workers in medieval England.
Section of an image from 1863 depicting men and women cutting grass in Medieval time. Taken from  the vintage book Les Evangiles, edited by Curmet, 1863, Paris

Law School PhD student wins international research competition

Miranda Wang, a PhD student in our Law School, has won this year’s international Matariki Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The competition challenges PhD students to explain their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
Miranda Wang, second from the left, being presented her certificate by Professor Colin Bain (third from the left), with Dr Peter Whitton (far left) and Megan Olshefski (right)

Breaking the sound barriers: Understanding the academic risks of mild and unilateral hearing loss

Imagine a busy classroom with children hearing and interpreting lots of sounds around them. PhD student, Katherine Collier, from our School of Education has looked at the academic impact on children with mild and unilateral hearing loss.
Young children sitting at a classroom table with the teacher doing crafts

UK to overhaul asylum policy – will the new measures work?

Professor Jonathan Darling, from our Department of Geography, explores the UK Home Secretary's proposed reforms to the asylum system.
A group of women standing around with bags on the floor.

Durham research informs report warning of dangerous acceleration of global ice loss

Research by Professor Chris Stokes in our Department of Geography forms part of a new international report on the effect of climate on the world’s ice sheets.
Snow blows from an ice sheet which juts into the sea.

Chemists discover why sunscreen stains leave you seeing red

Have you ever tried bleaching sunscreen stains on clothing, only to be left with bright red results?
Sunscreen bottles arranged in a circle around a sun drawn in white cream on a bright blue background

Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits

Dr Alex Brown and Dr Grace Owen from our Department of History explore the surprising range of workplace benefits that existed for peasant workers in medieval England.
Section of an image from 1863 depicting men and women cutting grass in Medieval time. Taken from  the vintage book Les Evangiles, edited by Curmet, 1863, Paris

Breaking the sound barriers: Understanding the academic risks of mild and unilateral hearing loss

Imagine a busy classroom with children hearing and interpreting lots of sounds around them. PhD student, Katherine Collier, from our School of Education has looked at the academic impact on children with mild and unilateral hearing loss.
Young children sitting at a classroom table with the teacher doing crafts

Explore policies, governance and our staff directory

We develop opportunities for businesses to: link with policymakers, understand our research governance and connect with academic researchers.

  • Policy Hub

    We support knowledge exchange activities, develop networks and projects, and provide policy and impact training.
    Policy written in lettered cubes
  • Ethics and governance

    Research ethics is a key part of research integrity, which aims to safeguard the interests and well-being of those impacted by the research.
    paper people dancing around glass globe
  • Research staff directory

    Connect with our academic researchers, or click below to contact our business support team.
    Business people sitting round a table at a meeting

Policy Hub

We support knowledge exchange activities, develop networks and projects, and provide policy and impact training.
Policy written in lettered cubes

Ethics and governance

Research ethics is a key part of research integrity, which aims to safeguard the interests and well-being of those impacted by the research.
paper people dancing around glass globe

Research staff directory

Connect with our academic researchers, or click below to contact our business support team.
Business people sitting round a table at a meeting

Thought leadership

Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits

Dr Alex Brown and Dr Grace Owen from our Department of History explore the surprising range of workplace benefits that existed for peasant workers in medieval England.
Section of an image from 1863 depicting men and women cutting grass in Medieval time. Taken from  the vintage book Les Evangiles, edited by Curmet, 1863, Paris

Breaking the sound barriers: Understanding the academic risks of mild and unilateral hearing loss

Imagine a busy classroom with children hearing and interpreting lots of sounds around them. PhD student, Katherine Collier, from our School of Education has looked at the academic impact on children with mild and unilateral hearing loss.
Young children sitting at a classroom table with the teacher doing crafts

Upcoming events

IMH Research Generator: Gender, Affective Injustice, and Health

Monday 1 December 2025 - Monday 1 December 2025
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Institute for Medical Humanities
A model of a metal tree emerging from a sitting person, with various birds and animals sitting on the branches.

Tools for Land Back Across the Former Empire

Monday 1 December 2025 - Monday 1 December 2025
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Cosin's Hall, Seminar Room, Palace Green
Golden sunrise over the Hoodoo badlands at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. The area contains the largest concentration of First Nation petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) on the great plains of North America.

Gender, Affective Injustice and Health - Neurodiversity Reading Group

Monday 1 December 2025 - Monday 1 December 2025
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Online
Gender, Affective Injustice and Health

Causal inference and social activism - book seminar

Monday 1 December 2025 - Monday 1 December 2025
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Birley Room, Hatfield College, North Bailey, Durham.
Nancy Cartwright

Research and Innovation Services

Research and Innovation Services
Durham University,
Boldon House,
Wheatlands Way,
Pity Me,
Durham,
DH1 5FA.

E: business.gateway@durham.ac.uk