Durham University, founded in 1832 in the historic city of Durham in North East England, is one of the UK's oldest universities and a member of the Russell Group. Durham is organised into colleges, each with its own community, accommodation and social life, and it is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK. The university is known for strong teaching across the humanities, sciences, social sciences and business, and for a collegiate experience that gives a large university a small-community feel.
Programmes offered
Durham offers undergraduate degrees across four faculties: Arts and Humanities, Science, Social Sciences and Health, and Business. Popular programmes include law, economics, history, English, mathematics, computer science, physics, politics and business management. Durham's collegiate system means every student belongs to one of its colleges, which provide accommodation, pastoral support, clubs and sports, while teaching is delivered by academic departments. Postgraduate degrees include taught master's programmes and research degrees across the same fields, with strengths in theology, archaeology, physics, economics and law.
Fees and funding
International undergraduate tuition at Durham for 2026-27 is reported in the range of roughly £26,000 to £36,000 per year depending on the programme, with laboratory-based subjects at the higher end — confirm the exact fee for your course on Durham's official fee pages, because fees are set per programme and rise for new entrants. UK students pay £9,790 for 2026-27. Students should also budget for college accommodation, food, books and travel, and for the Student visa costs of £558 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year. Durham offers a range of international scholarships, including merit-based awards, whose values and deadlines change each year.
Admissions and deadlines
Applications for undergraduate study are made through UCAS, with the equal consideration deadline of 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time for most courses, and 15 October 2026 for medicine and other early-deadline courses. The UCAS fee for 2027 entry is £34.50 for up to five choices, and the personal statement follows the three-question format with at least 350 characters per answer. International applicants normally need IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 overall depending on the course, and some programmes require specific A-level or equivalent subjects. Durham does not generally interview undergraduate applicants, except for some professional programmes.
Campus life and careers
Durham's colleges are the centre of student life, with formal dinners, college sports, societies and volunteering, and the city itself is compact, historic and walkable, with the cathedral and castle at its heart. The university has strong employability outcomes, with graduates recruited by major employers in law, finance, consulting, technology and the public sector, and the Graduate Route visa allows eligible international graduates to stay and work in the UK for two years after completing their degree. Durham's relatively low cost of living compared with London or the South East is a practical advantage for international students.
Frequently asked questions
How do Durham colleges work? Every student belongs to a college, which provides accommodation, community and activities, while departments deliver teaching.
What is the UCAS deadline for Durham? 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time for most courses; 15 October 2026 for early-deadline courses.
What English score does Durham require? Usually IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 overall depending on the course — confirm per programme.
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Sources and verification: Durham University fee and admissions pages (2027-28 fees and UCAS deadlines to be confirmed on durham.ac.uk); UCAS 2027 fee £34.50.