The Durham University Experience

Higher Education Institute College

Video Conference 15th January 2008

David Thornber, International Office

Shaped by the past, creating the future

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Location• Located in the North East of England

• Voted best City in the UK (2007) by the international travel magazine Conde Nast

• Surrounded by beautiful countryside - North Yorkshire Moors, Lake District, Holy Island and Scotland

• Excellent road and rail links. Only 3 hours to London, 1 hour to York and 1 ½ hours to Edinburgh by train

• Fly into Newcastle International Airport or Durham Tees Valley Airport. Access to Europe through a number of airlines serving Newcastle airport.

Modern Queens Campus

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The City of Durham

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About Durham University• Founded in 1832• Third oldest university in

England after Oxford & Cambridge

• Two campus locations – one experience

Durham - a beautiful, historic city - Cathedral and Castle are a UNESCO World Heritage site

Queens Campus, Stockton – a modern custom-built campus community

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Durham University at a glance• 15,100 students (11,600 UG, 3,500 PG) in 2006/07

• 2400 international students from over 120 countries

• 6 students from Qatar (2007/8)

• 7,600 female / 7,500 male students

• 86% of teaching quality assessments rated as ‘excellent’

• 95.1% completion rate - one of the highest completion rates of the UK

• 9th – The Times Good University Guide League Table (2008)

• 109th in World University rankings (2007)

• one of the UK’s top six sporting universities

• one of four UK universities to feature a pastoral Collegiate system

(Oxford, Cambridge, Durham & Lancaster)

• Islamic prayer room provision

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Academic Units

• 3 Faculties:– Science– Arts & Humanities– Social Sciences & Health

• 31 academic departments• 200+ undergraduate programmes• Year 0 and International Foundation year programmes• Single, Joint and Combined Honours programmes• Research and taught Masters programmes• PhD programmes

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Subject AreasAnthropologyArchaeologyBiological & Biomedical SciencesBusiness & Business FinanceChemistryClassicsAncient HistoryComputer ScienceEarth SciencesEconomicsEducationEngineering

English StudiesGeographyHistoryLawMathematical SciencesPhilosophyPhysicsPoliticsPsychologySociologySportTheology and ReligionCombined honours in ArtsCombined honours in Social Sciences

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Research

International Quality Research – RAE - www.hero.ac.uk/rae/

• 94% of staff are research active• 75% of academic staff are in 5 & 5* research areas• 84% of science staff are in 5 & 5* research areas• 20 of Durham’s 33 subject areas were rates 5 or 5* in the last RAE• Six departments are rated 5*

– Chemistry– Applied Maths– Geography– English – History– Law

• World Science Rankings 1st in the UK and 18th in world for impact

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The Collegiate System • The Collegiate System is at the heart of student support structures at Durham University

• currently 16 residential colleges – 14 fully-catered or part-catered– 1 self-catered– 1 (Post)Graduate

• Colleges are small enough to foster a strong sense of community, whilst still allowing students to enjoy all the academic and other benefits of a large University.

• each college is a small community providing a wide range of activities and facilities for study, sports, the arts, socialising, relaxation and welfare

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What is a College?

A place to live, eat, study and play

There is NO teaching

A place to study any subject

Quota for each subject

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College Features • each College has a different character• diverse student body (nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion, gender, age)• strong sense of community: between 300 -1100 students per College• variety of support structures

– Personal tutors– College Chaplains– Welfare support– Health and Safety advice– Freshers services

• 99% of first-years live in College – students can come back for their final year • close-knit student community• student self-governance• formal dinners

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• Meeting and socialising facilities– JCR (parties, social events)– College coffee bars– Music rooms– Sports facilities

St. Cuthbert’s

College

• Clubs and Societies– Drama societies, Choirs, Environmental societies,

Language/National societies, Political societies, Film societies, other thematic societies

– Charity events

Recreational Support 1

DUCK on Mt. Kilimanjaro

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• College sports– Over 92% of students are actively engaging in sports– Wide variety of activities on offer (Martial Arts, Rowing, Rugby,

Aerobics, Cricket, Basketball …)– College competitions

Recreational Support 2

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Other Support Services

• Academic Tutors / Supervisors (Department)• University Counselling Service• University Medical Centre• International Student Advisor• International Students’ Association• International Students’ Induction Programme with a “Meet and

Greet” service• College Chaplains/multi faith provision – Islamic prayer room

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Our special global Alumni NetworkSome of our famous alumni are:

George AlagiahBBC Correspondent

Will CarlingFormer captain

England rugby team

Jonathan EdwardsOlympic Gold medal winner (triple jump)

Roger Moore‘James Bond’

The late Mo Mowlam

Former Cabinet Minister

Nasser Hussain

Former captain of England

cricket team

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Tuition FeesInternational Tuition Fees 2008/9 • Arts & Social Sciences - GBP 10,050 • Laboratory based Science, Engineering & Technology - GBP 13,110• Business MA Programmes - GBP 11,025• Business MSc Programmes - GBP 11,800• MBA Programme - GBP 20,500

Language Programmes • EAP Programme 1 - (12 weeks) – GBP 2,910• EAP Programme 2 – (8 weeks) – GBP 1,940• EAP Programme 3 – (4 weeks) – GBP 970

Accommodation charge (fully catered) – GBP 4,170 (based on 2007 costs)(self catered) – ca GBP 380 per month

Other expenses for one academic year ca GBP 2,000Cost of living in Durham cheap - many student discounts

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Summary

• Third oldest University in England after Oxford & Cambridge (est. 1832)

• World class teaching, learning & research with particular strengths in the Science & Business disciplines

• Durham University highly positioned in UK and World rankings • Exceptional & unique Collegiate System providing varied

accommodation options and first class pastoral support & recreation opportunities

• Durham is a very safe and cost effective environment in which to live and study

• Two locations, one great experience

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I wish your students every success for their future studies

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ContactInternational OfficeDurham University

The University OfficeOld ElvetDurham

DH1 3HPUnited Kingdom

Phone: +44 191 334 6322Fax: +44 191 334 6326

international.office@durham.ac.uk www.durham.ac.uk

David Thornber – d.j.thornber@durham.ac.uk

Thank you for your attention

Any questions? …