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St John's Crest featuring a lion and eagle

St John's College

A supportive community that will positively challenge, develop, and grow your individual strengths.
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Overview

Year founded 1909
Motto Fides Nostra Victoria (Our faith is our victory)
Number of students living in the college 270 of 850 total students
1st year rooms

175 (plus 40 postgraduates)
Catering options Fully catered
Gowned formal dinners Yes
A map of Durham City highlighting the location of St John's College

About us

St John’s College is like no other Durham college. Founded in 1909 and set in a series of beautiful listed buildings in the heart of Durham city, our community enjoys stunning views of Durham Cathedral and boasts gardens and lawns stretching down to the River Wear. We are one of the smallest colleges, renowned for our lively and welcoming atmosphere. St John’s fosters a supportive community that will positively challenge, develop, and grow your individual strengths. The College has a degree of independence within the University, both financially and in its governance. Our students study for University degrees alongside members of other colleges, but we have the freedom to do things a little differently.

  • College Life

    Find out more about student life and experience at our College.
    students at lunch in Haughton Dining Room

  • Accommodation

    See our accommodation and catering options during your degree.
    Student bedroom

College Life

Find out more about student life and experience at our College.
students at lunch in Haughton Dining Room

Accommodation

See our accommodation and catering options during your degree.
Student bedroom
Welcome to New Students

Location

Our College is situated in the historic heart of Durham City, within a World Heritage site.

Only a stone's throw away from Durham Cathedral, our College boasts a series of interconnected Georgian houses, as well as secluded gardens and lawns stretching down to the River Wear.
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Cobbled street outside St John's College in Durham

Discover...

Explore our College

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St John's College Record

Explore our College Records from 2016 onwards.

Read the College Record 2024 Archived College Records

Facilities

  • Gym

    Our new gym has ergs, cross trainers, treadmills, a weights room and much more.

  • Library

    Our library is light, spacious and congenial for study, with 86 study desks as well as a group study room for up to 8 people and an excellent stock of around 27,000 books.

  • Chapel

    Our College Chapel is the Church of St Mary the Less which was founded around 1140, extensively renovated in 1847, and acquired by St John's College in 1919.

  • Music

    Our dedicated music practice rooms have upright pianos, guitar amps, vocal amplification and a full electric drum kit, as well as an electric organ and instrumental practice space.

  • Linton Bar

    Social distancing rules over the summer of 2020 inspired us to repurpose our Upstairs Bar and neighbouring outdoor space on Linton, forming the Linton Garden Bar.

Explore Our Facilities
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Gym equipment overlooking our green space

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The Sir William Leech Library on the first and second floors of our purpose-built Learning Resource Centre

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The Church of St Mary the Less on the Bailey just across the road from the main row of College buildings

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Student performance in the gardens

Beer garden with outdoor seating surrounded by autumnal trees

Linton Bar accessed from the lawns at the back of the College where there are many large tables and parasols for socialising

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Student updates

Hear from our students at St John's and find out what College life is like.

Highlights

Freshers Week through the Years

Four students reflect on their experiences during their first weeks at St John's.
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Boat Club Successes

Deiniol shares some of the Boat Club’s most successful moments during this year’s rowing season.
Students exercising outside in the gardens
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Cranmer Hall

St John's College is home to Cranmer Hall, a vibrant and diverse evangelical Christian community rooted in Durham and the North East.

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Get in touch

Contact us by phone or email below to find out more about accommodation, admissions and student support.

St John's College

3 South Bailey
Durham
DH1 3RJ
United Kingdom

Tel:+44 (0) 191 334 3500


St John's College, Durham is a constituent College of Durham University and is a registered charity.

Charity No. 1141701

VAT No. 334 636457