Undergraduate – Postgraduate Digital Prospectus

Why I chose to study Accounting

Elias Koenig on September 19, 2024

In this blog, I’d like to tell you a little more about my experience studying BSc Accounting at Durham.

When I applied to Durham, I initially enrolled on the BA Accounting and Finance programme. However, I was offered the BSc Accounting programme instead. At this point, I hadn’t looked into the pure Accounting programme, so I was a bit worried as I didn’t know much about the course or the modules. However, after looking into it a bit more, I discovered that this course was more suited to me. The pure Accounting programme offers students the opportunity to become chartered accountants quickly and easily, with some exams offering exemptions, meaning it will take less time to become a qualified accountant after graduation and fewer exams in the future!

About the course

One of the best things about the BSc Accounting course is the number of students within the course. This year, there were about 60 of us. However, the BA Accounting and Finance course has over 200 students. This means that the Accounting programme is much more personal, and all our modules take place in person. This is greatly advantageous because it means it’s easier to have a more personal and accessible relationship with lecturers and allows you to really get to know the people on your course and make some great friends!

The course doesn’t have many contact hours. I usually have about 12 hours a week due to the course being semesterised. This means that we only have three modules in the first term, then exams on those particular modules. The same thing happens in the second term. At first, I wasn’t sure how this would benefit me because all of my friends, studying different courses, didn’t have the same structure. However, the structure of this course is incredibly helpful and much easier in my opinion. Although it means the term is intense with content, you don’t have as many modules to learn at one time, and it means that you can focus on particular modules, and then have the exams whilst the content is still fresh in your mind.

What I enjoyed about the course

Within the Accounting programme, I particularly enjoy the tax modules. I know it seems to many people that this could be quite boring, but it’s so interesting to learn about all the different rules and regulations about what happens with our money. These modules aren’t just something that an accountant needs to know – everyone benefits in learning about what happens with their money and why. The great thing about Accounting modules is that you can apply them to everyday life. It’s not just something you leave in the classroom.

In my first year, I loved the ‘Skills for the Professional Accountant’ module. This programme was very interactive which allowed us a break in between the more stimulating modules. As part of this module, we had to prepare presentations and were given the opportunity to present in front of professional bodies. This gave us great experience for the future. We had to dress smartly and watch everyone else’s presentations (as seen in the photo above). I particularly enjoyed the fact that it isn’t always necessarily about essays and maths equations, but also about having the opportunity to work in groups and learn valuable skills that will benefit us in our future accounting careers.

Why choose this course?

If you choose to join the BSc Accounting programme at Durham, you’ll be able to significantly improve highly-anticipated skills, such as communication and presentation skills, have the opportunity to work with great, supportive professors, and get to delve more into the accounting world. You can also look forward to understanding the broad aspects of Accounting, many of which I didn’t know I’d be learning about. You have the chance to look more into the ethics of accounting, many business modules, law modules, and of course financial modules. It isn’t all just spreadsheets!

Department support

The support I have received so far at Durham from my lecturers has been outstanding – even compared to my friends on other courses. Because of the size of this particular course, it allows you to feel more comfortable with the professors and makes it much easier to be supported in many ways. The Accounting department is a great department to be part of, and I feel very lucky with all the help and support I have received so far and continue to receive throughout each term and within each module.

Extracurricular

There are vast numbers of extracurricular activities you can get involved in while you’re at Durham. These range from College sports and activities, University sports and activities and loads of other opportunities. University is so different from school and college. There may be days when you have no lectures or seminars and have some free time to get stuck into College and University life, along with any independent study. It’s also easy to find a part-time job if that’s what you’re looking for. I worked in a nightclub during my second year and loved every part of it – from socialising to earning some extra money!

I can recommend not only Durham University but also the BSc Accounting programme here. It is an excellent course to further enhance your accounting career, meet amazing people, make excellent connections, and obtain all the skills you will need for your future. I hope you consider furthering your education here at Durham University.

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How Student Community Consultancy (SCC) connects students and businesses

Elias Koenig on September 18, 2024

Let’s face it – Durham is populated by students. It’s hard – maybe even impossible – to walk down the street without seeing about five different people you know within the space of five minutes. Yet, you might have also found that businesses often miss the mark when it comes to understanding what we, the students, really want…

Enter Student Community Consultancy (SCC), the student-run solution aimed at bridging that gap. Founded just last year at Durham University, SCC is all about using data-driven consulting to help businesses connect with students in a way that’s meaningful, authentic, and, most importantly, effective.

So, what is SCC?

We kicked things off in 2023 right here in Durham. Durham University is more than just a place to study; it’s a hub of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. One of the things I love most about being a student here is the culture that encourages us to think big and take risks, which was one of the key motivators to put the idea of SCC into action. For us, this supportive environment was key in helping launch the Student Community Consultancy (SCC). From connecting with like-minded peers, Durham has been instrumental in getting SCC off the ground.

Since then, we’ve been all about using data to help businesses figure out what students really care about. We are a data-driven consultancy that aims to bridge the gap between the student mind and the businesses in university towns. Think of us as the go-between for students and businesses. We’re not just guessing what students might like; we’re actually collecting data from you directly to back it up, so businesses can have the insight of the student voice.

How do we do it?

You’ve probably seen us around campus – maybe outside the TLC or Billy B – asking you to fill out a quick survey. That’s us, the “sweet people” (literally – we bribe you with candy!) But those surveys? They’re not just busywork. The data we collect from them is super valuable because it helps us track what students are thinking over time. We update it four times a year, and when we come back in September 2024, there’s more than just sweets to look forward to. There’s a raffle for £100 cash prizes, free clubbing tickets, and of course, sweets! We can’t lose our trademark!

We dive into the “why” behind the collected data by asking more open-ended questions and even having one-on-one chats with students. This way, we can really get into the details of what drives our decisions and opinions – stuff that quantitative surveys might miss.

As we are a non-profit, we also give money to local charities, currently partnering with local food banks and homelessness shelters so that we can give back to the Durham community as much as possible.

What’s in it for you (and us)?

When businesses understand us better, they can create products, services, and experiences that actually appeal to us students. And honestly, that benefits all of us. We work with businesses over a 12-week period to help them get their strategy right. Durham is a small place, so we believe it is imperative that businesses target the students correctly!

Who’s behind the scenes?

SCC is run by students for students – students studying a range of courses from Theology to Accounting to Politics. We’ve got a whole squad working on different things. Some of us focus on client projects, others handle social media (so give us a follow if you haven’t already!), and we’ve got teams managing the legal and financial administration to keep everything running smoothly. SCC is pretty rewarding because we’re all learning and growing together while also making a real impact.

What’s next for SCC?

We’re just getting started. In addition to being founded in Durham, by September 2024, just in time for Freshers’ Week, we are expanding to St Andrews and Exeter to ensure we can create this impact all over the UK and Scotland. But no matter where we go, our mission stays the same: making sure businesses understand what students want, based on real data and real conversations.

It would mean so much to us if you gave us a follow on Instagram – not only does it benefit us, but it benefits you as you can stay in the loop of all upcoming events and survey collections!

So, if you feel like you know, or have, a business that would benefit from us, or you’re ever curious about what we’re up to, or simply just want to get involved, just reach out! We’re all about bridging that gap between the student world and the business world.

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Connections, Connections, Connections! My Experience of Studying History at Durham University

Elias Koenig on August 29, 2024

Throughout my time studying History here at Durham, I’ve felt privileged to be able to engage with a multitude of vast, intertwining, and – often unassuming – connections centred on exchanges of people, objects, and ideas. In both my BA and MA programmes, I’ve appreciated global historical topics at every turn, whether tracking the nuanced developments of prestigious heraldry across late medieval England, France, and the Low Countries, or uncovering the international contexts of historical events like the Boxer War in late-Qing China. I’ve scrutinised sources on early modern Europe’s ‘Little Ice Age’ and climate change, and I’ve explored the scholarly wilderness surrounding Africa’s wildlife conservation and its problematic nineteenth-century origins.

Stretching my thinking

Both programmes, but especially my MA, have encouraged me to stretch my thinking, connecting topical, historical themes to present-day, fruitful discussions in my seminars and coursework. Weaving together a myriad historical periods, actors and geographies, I’ve tremendously enjoyed studying History at Durham –analysing the origins of phenomena from deadly diseases to Dutch delftware and tracing their subsequent historical journeys from one location to the next.

So, what’s special about studying global history at Durham?

The History Department

The Oriental Museum

Firstly, the Oriental Museum, on the university’s doorstep, has provided me the opportunity to study a wealth of visual and material culture from pith paintings to astronomical apparatus, and other institutions such as the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies have organised fascinating events for history students.

The Oriental Museum

Taking the lead

Moreover, I’ve consistently pushed myself to participate in the teaching and learning of global historical topics, from organising my own group-led seminar discussion of Sam Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners and the Windrush Scandal as part of Durham University’s Decolonising History Initiative in 2022, to assisting in the smooth running of panel discussions on complex circuits of medicines, missionaries, and migrants within the Asian Connections Workshop in my final term.

Image of participants of the Asian Connections Workshop

Asian Connections: Flows of People, Medicines, Ideas, and Practices’, a workshop organized by the Durham University ‘Thinking East Asia’ Research Group.

Wide variety of topics and modules to choose from

These many enriching opportunities have been invaluable, supplementing my core learning and skills, and encouraging me to be independent and original in my thought and study. I’ve also always sought to take advantage of the History Department’s excellent teaching and expert insights by selecting an array of global topics, ranging from modules which covered the histories of British-occupied Myanmar and Weimar Germany, to modules which specifically brought separate, fascinating stories of different places and peoples together…

For example, in the final year of my BA, I studied the Mughal Empire and the Qing Dynasty respectively within a single module, Empires and States in Early Modern Asia, which allowed me to discover a variety of state-building techniques from mobile courts to imperial gardens to complex, authoritative genealogies. I developed my analytical skills most strongly through contrasting how Inner Asian legacies, post-Mongol Empire, manifested in India and China, dissecting Asian rulers’ imperial authority, political organisation, and multi-faceted identities. Not only did this allow me to appreciate the histories of both empires, but it enabled me to naturally access wider historical debates, a skill I’ve found indispensable at MA level.

Some of the text books I have used during my studies

Learning more about the world

More recently, The City in History MA module has enabled me to walk the streets of classical Constantinople, late medieval London, early modern Delhi, and colonial Khartoum, drawing comparative points between human experiences within urban history. Placing one construction – the city – in a global framework has likewise enriched my experience of studying different themes such as gender, state ritual, and ideology by evaluating multiple historical viewpoints and intersecting with an array of historiographical, sociological, and anthropological approaches.

Ancient map of Paris

Critical engagement with historical sources

Through studying the MA core module, Themes, Readings and Sources, I was able to further delve into wider historiographical questions such as archives’ nature and purpose for historians from the nineteenth century to present-day, discussing a variety of primary sources such as oral testimonies following the British Empire’s atrocities in Kenya in the 1950s. Adopting a global lens enabled me to analyse European, African, and Asian archives’ own subjective inclusions and omissions, explaining missing subaltern voices and more deeply interrogating why and how historical evidence is recorded. In summary, my History MA – especially looking to my modules with a global perspective – has fuelled and rewarded my critical engagement with all historical sources, schools, and scholars.

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying my History BA and MA here at Durham University and will continue thinking about the connections between global historical themes, events, and perspectives as I move forward into the next chapter of my life.

Me at my graduation

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A day in the life of a philosophy and theology student

Elias Koenig on July 24, 2024

If you’re reading this, then it’s possible that you’re considering studying Philosophy and Theology at Durham! I hope that this ‘day in the life’ can help paint a picture of what your life could look like this time next year!

A typical day

On a normal day, I would have around 2-3 ‘contact’ hours (whereby I attend in-person lectures and seminars). Thus, my day begins with a Picnic Basket coffee (the absolute best coffee place, in my humble opinion), and a scenic walk either through the city centre or along the river to my classes.

Doing a joint honours degree means that your time will be split across two departments. This allows you to become well acquainted with lots of beautiful study spaces in Durham. For me, most of my theology classes take place around Palace Green, whereas my philosophy classes will occur around Elvet Riverside. It is wonderful to be able to experience so many facets of the teaching in Durham as a result of being split across departments.

After completing my in-person teaching for the day, I will use the rest of my day to plough through my to-do list – the contents of which vary. It usually entails some seminar preparation for the rest of the week (reading and preparing questions), as well as getting ahead of any formative/summative essays! This could involve reading, planning, or drafting, depending on where I’m at! My favourite place to carry out these tasks is the Student Union building on New Elvet. It’s a wonderfully relaxed environment, which best facilitates productivity for me the environment encourages collaborative work which is perfect for discussing ideas.

Tailoring your degree to you

You will notice that much of this ‘day in the life’ is somewhat vague insofar as the logistics of the course are concerned. This is because a joint honours degree will look different for everybody! I have chosen modules which focus heavily on the intersection between philosophy and theology, with a specific focus on ethical studies. Many of my peers have opted for modules which instead focus on the more sociological elements of religion. Some people prefer the more hypothetical metaphysics. The modules you choose will ultimately shape the experiences you have in the department – this is absolutely my favourite thing about studying this degree. My experience is totally unique to me, just as yours will be to you.

Evenings as a philosophy and theology student

Being given the opportunity for independent work during the daytime means that it is incredibly feasible to keep evenings totally free from work! I love to use my evenings to see friends, visit the theatre in Newcastle, cook yummy food, engage in various societies, and speak to my family and friends on FaceTime. Having my evenings free is super important to me, and I love that the flexibility of my degree allows this!

Concluding

There you have it! A typical day in my life as a philosophy and theology student here at Durham. I hope that this little insight painted a clear picture for you – a picture of pretty study spots, interesting lectures, and lots of flexibility!

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From clearing to Law with a foundation year

Elias Koenig on July 3, 2024

My first year at Durham University has been filled with making memories, support and overall a very positive experience. I applied through clearing after there was a mistake with my initial results and the support at the university was incredible and welcoming: I made the right decision coming to this university.

I was initially disappointed about not going straight into first year of law at Durham but the foundation year has been amazing where I have made great friends, learnt a lot about myself and what I want to get out of my degree and best of all the foundation programme gave me the opportunity to travel to the Czech Republic as part of the course to partake in a poster conference to present my research: a unique opportunity that has been a highlight of the year. All the staff around campus have been supportive with them genuinely wanting the best for you at university, if you ever need advice or guidance about anything minor or major there is always someone available.

Coming from a small mining town I was curious as to what student life at Durham would be like and during the year there have been many opportunities to get involved within the university from college fashion shows, sports, volunteering, and college balls or celebration days making it a great atmosphere.

I participate in three Team Durham sports, five societies, and also I’m a student ambassador. I hope to get more involved in volunteering and I am going on an internship to Fiji supplied by the university next summer! One of my favourite things about the university is how it feels like a community and you can walk into the city centre and be bound to see a few familiar faces in Tesco or queuing for Flat White Kitchen. There are some traditional Durham Uni things like the purple quarter zips, the DU nicknames and the collegiate settings that I miss when going home. Honestly, I could not recommend this university enough, it is not just about getting a degree at the end of it here but about making lifelong friendships and accomplishments. My only wish was that the first year had not gone by so quick!

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What happens after exams in Durham?

Elias Koenig on June 20, 2024

The period after exams is easily my favourite time of year in Durham. Not only is there more time to chill, but the sun is shining and there are so many events and celebrations! Societies usually pick back up again, after a quieter period for revision and exams, so it can be nice to catch up with people again and get back to rehearsals and training.

College Day

In St. Mary’s, our college day falls after exams. It’s essentially a huge celebration of college with all your college friends. It functions like a mini festival, with food, rides, games and music throughout the day. Last year, we had a Take That and Taylor Swift tribute act playing late into the night. There was an insane downpour of rain and we all stayed outside with our ponchos having so much fun. Other colleges have their celebrations on different days throughout the year, but at Mary’s it’s something we look forward to after exam season.

Summer Ball

Yet another huge event in the college calendar, summer ball is not one to miss! Each college has their own ball, unique to them in some way. St Mary’s summer ball promises an evening of great food and drink, rides, live music and entertainment, and some core Durham memories. It’s a great excuse to get glam and feel fancy for an evening – many Facebook profile pictures arise from a summer ball photoshoot. There is a tradition at Mary’s that, after the ball has ended, we watch the sunrise over Observatory Hill. This is followed by a ‘survivor’s breakfast’ for those who make it through the whole night. I can specifically remember eating my survivor’s breakfast and then heading up to bed, not to resurface until 6pm. Summer ball is truly not one to miss, and I am eagerly awaiting this years!

Festival of Sport

The festival of sport is like the ultimate sports day. All the colleges get involved and compete against each other in basically every sport. As a theatre kid, I lack the qualifications to speak on this in depth but I can vouch for the fact that it’s fun to watch! There is a really friendly atmosphere, food vans and lots to take part in or watch. A bit of friendly college rivalry is healthy for us all.

Rowing

The warm weather makes for ideal rowing conditions after exams. You can hire traditional wooden rowing boats for a more casual experience, or if you are a keen rower, of course there are the University and college rowing teams. The Durham Regatta also takes place this time of year, in early June. Once again, I am not the sporty type – but it’s fun to watch!

Societies

During exams, societies usually slow down a little bit because everyone is studying. Theatre productions and shows come to a halt for those weeks and sports teams will train less or not at all. Once exams are over, it’s back to business and you can be as busy as you want to be. Last year, I took part in a 48 hour musical where we only had 2 days to audition, rehearse and perform. I played Gabriella in High School Musical and we raised lots of money for charity. This year, the theatre company that I am Vice President and Treasurer of is going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! I am so excited for those that are going and I’m sure they will do so well.

Chilling out

Whilst there are many events on offer, it is also important to take this time to relax and enjoy the lesser workload. You’re only a student for so long, and soon will come the time where ‘summer holidays’ don’t exist. It can be nice to wake up a little later, lay in a bit longer and just spend the day doing absolutely nothing. I like to take up a few more shifts at work now that I have more time and make a huge effort to spend time with friends. One of our favourite places to chill is the racecourse along the riverside. It’s also great to take this opportunity to go on day trips to Newcastle or Seaham, for example. My college is also offering free enrichment trips to Beamish and Whitby which should be fun!

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Beyond the lecture theatre: Exploring Durham’s sports scene

Elias Koenig on June 20, 2024

Hi, I’m Isabel a 3^rd year student studying an integrated masters in Earth Sciences. For me sport is what has shaped my past 3 years at Durham university – from being captain of Collingwood Women’s football team, competing for Collingwood squash and rounders, to representing the university in touch rugby and Women’s football.

Why embrace sport at university?

Sport for me is one of the key reasons I love being a student at Durham. The opportunity to engage in a variety of sports activities—from playing football eight times a week, to bi-weekly squash and touch rugby, and even trying out lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and mixed netball. Beyond just playing, sport has been where I have found my people; it’s how I’ve made most of my friends outside my course.

Durham university has two levels of sport, offering a vibrant and varied sporting environment no matter your level of expertise. From college sport where you have friendly intercollegiate leagues and cups that run throughout the year, to Durham university(‘DU’) sport where you get to travel the country on a BUCS Wednesday representing Durham against other Universities.

What’s unique about college sport at Durham?

As a student from Collingwood College, the array of sports and teams is staggering. Did you know that Collingwood College Football Club is the largest amateur football club in Europe, with 18 football teams (16 men’s and 2 women’s)? That’s not to mention the 9 netball teams, 5 hockey teams, and teams for squash, cheerleading, dance, and cricket, among others. Whether you’re into football, netball, rowing, or something a bit more niche, there’s likely a team waiting for you. As well as regular weekly fixtures, college teams also participate in Varsity weekends— fun and friendly competitions against other colleges, and universities such as York and Loughborough, which are always a fun day out with friends, filled with a bit of sport rivalry!

Exploring Durham University (DU) sports

In 2023, Durham was named Sports University of the Year by The Times, a testament to our strong sports culture, which has consistently placed us in the top three of the BUCS table since 2012. But it’s not just about the statistics – DU Sports caters from beginners to international-level athletes with professional support from sports psychologists, nutritionists, and regular strength and conditioning sessions at our state-of-the-art sports performance hub. I always say that being part of Team Durham makes me feel like being a professional athlete, a unique experience that complements my academic journey at Durham.

Sports: Not the only way to get involved

While sports have been my go-to for socialising and staying active, Durham offers a range of other ways to engage with campus life, from theatre and music to various societies and leadership roles. My advice to you? Don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone. The experiences that initially seemed daunting have turned out to be the most rewarding parts of my university life.

To summarise my waffle: whether you’re a seasoned athlete or someone looking to try something new, the sports scene at Durham offers something for everyone. It’s more than just games and competitions; it’s about building friendships, developing skills, and making unforgettable memories. So, why not give it a try? You might just find your passion or a new circle of friends waiting to welcome you.

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Our Geography field trip to Rotterdam

Elias Koenig on May 28, 2024

Thursday

This diary begins on the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry, where I am writing in our rather small cabin on the sixth deck. Having never been on an overnight ferry before, I must admit that the idea of sleeping in a small cabin whilst rocking on the water does feel a bit strange. However, I have come prepared with my sea sickness tablets, which seemed to have worked well so far, albeit the North Sea does seem fairly calm this evening. Most of our group seemed to have enjoyed the buffet on board the ferry, with plenty of options and different cuisines available. A particular highlight was the soft-serve ice cream that was available as a dessert – definitely pick vanilla over strawberry next time! The sea is fairly calm and I’m hoping I can get a good night’s sleep.

Friday

Today was jam-packed with activities! After waking up, my first realisation was that the sea was much choppier than the night before. After a hearty breakfast on board the ferry (with particularly nice bread!), accompanied by an extra sea sickness tablet, we finally arrived in Ijmuiden. Our coach met us at the ferry terminal, where we immediately made our way to the University of Technology at Delft. Here we visited the Green Village, where our guide talked us through the various innovations that had been developed for home and work spaces. However, for me, the highlight of the day was visiting the Port of Rotterdam, where we were taken on a tour of the port by boat. Our guide gave us information about the port and the functions of its different areas and was particularly useful in pointing out where the Porthos off-shore Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) project was located. A surprising sight at the port was the impressive HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier that was briefly visiting having come back from NATO exercises earlier in the month. After an exhausting day of events, we checked into our hostel, which had a quirky exterior design of yellow cubes tilting at different angles! The evening allowed us to explore the city somewhat, and a group settled for a pint (well, 500ml) of beer at one of the city centre’s many bars.

Saturday

Our second day in Rotterdam began with a speedy breakfast as we dashed quickly off to the city’s unique mode of transport, the water taxi’s. These small yellow boats were really convenient at getting us right to the city centre, where we would meet our architect guide. During our tour we learnt more about the rather wacky architecture of the city, such as the Lego-esque De Rotterdam skyscrapers. Most of Rotterdam’s old historic centre was completely decimated by bombing during World War II, except for the Art Noveau Hotel New York, that once served as the departure point for Dutch emigrants heading to America. In my personal opinion, I haven’t been particularly fond of either the post-war brutalism nor the contemporary high-rises that make-up much of the city’s centre. Following our tour, we headed to the Maker’s District, where we given a talk by the volunteers at the Floating Farm, a self-sufficient farm built and floating on water that housed over 30 cattle at our time of visiting. Whilst it was an interesting concept, it did slightly feel like “tech for tech’s sake”, and some of our group questioned the ethics of housing over 30 cattle on a small grid beside the Port of Rotterdam. After a long-day, I went out for a bite to eat at one of the local burger restaurants, before settling down for the evening.

Sunday

The day started more relaxed than the previous one as we headed leisurely towards Rotterdam’s architecture museum. The museum had a particularly interesting exhibition on Netherlands’ spatial planning, in which it displayed infographics of the past, present, and future plans for the Netherlands by architects and the government. In the afternoon, we split off into our project groups, with our group heading back to the central library right beside our hostel. With an interview with Porthos coming up the next day, we planned our line of questioning and divided responsibility for note-taking/asking questions. In the evening, we received a fascinating talk from an employee of Solar World, a company that provided small-scale solar energy solutions to neighbourhoods in Malawi and other African countries.

Monday

After an early breakfast at the hostel, we took a coach to TomatoWorld, a greenhouse and information centre funded by multiple different companies that develops innovative technology in the greenhouse tomato-growing sector. Entering the greenhouse was exactly like the feeling you get when stepping off a plane in a warm country, the temperature had risen about 10C to 15C! A particularly fascinating fact about TomatoWorld was that they utilised CO2 captured by industries in the Port of Rotterdam and fed it through pipes into the greenhouse to help the tomatoes grow. Following our tour at TomatoWorld, we briefly headed to the Innovation Dock, an old warehouse that was home to numerous projects, many of which were being carried out by students. However, our group left the warehouse early, as we needed to head on the metro across town to Porthos’ office in the north east of the city. We met our interviewees at Porthos, who spoke perfect English like everyone else in the Netherlands. They gave our group enlightening information about the role of CCS in the Netherlands’ energy and how the Porthos project came about. With our data gathered successfully, our group headed out to a pizza restaurant in Rotterdam to celebrate our findings.

Tuesday

After a hectic few days, today has been fairly chilled by comparison. Following a slow start, our group met downstairs in the hostel’s common area, which had plenty of workspaces. We started work on our presentation, designing the PowerPoint slides and writing scripts for the sections we had assigned ourselves. Some good news came at around lunchtime, as another company involved in the Porthos project, EBN, came back to us and said that they were available for an interview tomorrow. As their head office was in Utrecht, it meant seeing another city in the Netherlands! Our group had been slightly envious of the two groups studying urban mobilities, who had been to both Amsterdam and Utrecht in the last few days – but at least now we can also see a bit more of the country!

Wednesday

This morning we headed off on a train to Utrecht for our interview with EBN. Utrecht Central station was massive and really easy to navigate, and luckily EBN’s office was really nearby. Our interviewee was directly associated with the Porthos project and was particularly knowledgeable on the risks associated with the project and the technicalities of CCS. After our interview, we were able to explore Utrecht a bit more and find somewhere for lunch. The city was strikingly beautiful – with narrow streets and much more traditionally Dutch architecture. We found a really good Italian sandwich place selling huge cheese, salami and veg sandwiches for just €4! In the afternoon, we went to the university’s library, which we were able to enter as students. Something that I found very interesting was the amount of English being spoken by other students who were presumably studying at Utrecht University! We headed back to Rotterdam just before dinner, and as of the time of writing, have spent the evening working on the last touches of our presentation!

Thursday

Our last day in the Netherlands! We headed this morning to where it all started, Delft, where we had booked a private room in a co-working space to conduct our presentations. We were up second, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. However, our preparation from the last few days paid off massively, as we all finished thinking it had gone really well. I was impressed by the effort put in by the other groups as well, and particularly the clear and professional design of their PowerPoint slides. With the assessment out the way, we had a quick lunch at the co-working space, headed into Delft (another city with great architecture) for some snacks for the ferry and got on our coach back to IJmuiden. Although I was looking forward to getting back for some rest after a jam-packed trip in the Netherlands, I have to say that overall, the trip was great fun and I really enjoyed working with my team on our CCS project.

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See highlights from the field trip to Rotterdam here

Feeling inspired? Take a look at our Geography Department webpages

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What you need to know about the undergraduate collegiate system

Elias Koenig on May 16, 2024

When applying to Durham, I’m sure most of us were both intrigued and intimidated by the collegiate system. The endless hours spent binge-watching Jack Edwards created an idyllic expectation of the collegiate life. But what is the collegiate system? And how does it actually work?

Durham University is one of the very few UK Universities with a collegiate system, which is what makes us quite special. The collegiate system allows students the opportunity to find a community/family at Durham where they can meet students from all backgrounds, courses and degree levels. It makes the process of transitioning to university much easier as you’re constantly surrounded by people who understand you, and are going through a shared experience.

Which is why it’s important to understand the ins and outs of the collegiate system before diving in to university and college life.

How many colleges are there?

Durham University has 17 colleges all located across the City, the Bailey, and what’s known as the Hill (near main Science Site).

Hatfield {Bailey}
Castle (University College) {Bailey}
St Cuthbert’s Society {Bailey & Old Elvet}
St Chads {Bailey}
St Johns {Bailey}
St Hilde Bede {the main bulding is close to Gilesgate but the college community is moving to a new location in 2024 near the city centre due to refurbishments}
St Aidan’s {Hill}
Grey {Hill}
Trevelyan {Hill}
Ustinov (Postgraduate only college)
South {Hill}
John Snow {Hill}
Van Mildert {Hill}
Stephenson {Hill}
Josephine Butler {Hill}
Collingwood {Hill}
St Marys {Hill}

I’ve done my research, now what do I do?

Whether you’ve attended an open day, spent hours googling and searching social media for all there is to know about each college, the time has come for you to rank your college preferences. Also, the tricky part. Upon receiving an academic offer from Durham, you’ll be asked to rank 16 of the colleges according to your preference (1 as your first, 16 as your last). My biggest advice to incoming students is to take this process seriously, and to rank ALL 16 according to your preference properly and not just the first 3 or 6. Also, to properly do your research, whether that’s attending open days, speaking to ambassadors online or browsing through the social media pages. The most important thing to remember is, college preferences are not 100% guaranteed! The university will do its absolute best to allocate you your top preferred college, but that will not always be the case. Which is why it’s important you rank all colleges properly.

Preliminary allocation, allocation, and reallocation

Understanding the lingo of the collegiate system is integral, it avoids confusion, stress and anxiety during the allocation process. Fear not, I am here to break it down:

Preliminary Allocation- Once you rank all 16 colleges according to preference, you will be entered into the college allocation process, usually beginning in May. And will receive a preliminary allocation until results day. This allocation is NOT your final allocation, and is rather done in preparation for your final allocation.
Final Allocation– Once your place at Durham has been confirmed after results day, you will receive a final allocation. This allocation may be different to your preliminary allocation or for some not, but it is your final and confirmed allocation.
Reallocation– While incredibly stressful and unfortunate for some, reallocations do happen (not always!) when a college becomes oversubscribed, and yes, sometimes you are reallocated a college you were not expecting or to your delight, are reallocated a college you originally ranked higher. However, the University will always try its best to reallocate you to suitable or similar college to your preferences.

The most commonly asked question after preliminary allocation or final allocation is whether you can change your college if you are unhappy with the choice. The answer is situational. If your allocated college cannot provide for your medical or accessibility needs, then a request to change your college can be made. But, if it’s simply you not liking your college, then that is not grounds for a request to change your college and you cannot change your college based on that.

How does the allocation process actually work?

You’re probably wondering, are allocations first serve? Whether you firmed Durham? Well, the answer is quite complicated. The Allocation process takes into account various factors when allocating you a college and is an incredibly complex process and system to understand. Applicants are grouped into two categories:

Applicants who have filled out the preference form, ranking their colleges.
Applicants who have not ranked their college preferences.

Applicants from both categories will go through the allocation process until finally, a preliminary allocation is provided.

The allocation criteria take into consideration the required quota for each course in a college and your college rankings. Meaning, if a college is overly subscribed or you were not allocated your top choice, it probably means they’ve filled the required number of students from that course. You may think these criteria isn’t fair, but, it’s a necessary criterion as it allows for an equal and diverse mix of courses/course levels within each college; which makes the college experience and student life at colleges better for students 😊

What if I don’t get my first choice?!!

Yes, sometimes, you won’t be allocated your first choice, or your second or even 6^th. But it’s important to know that whichever college you are allocated, you will end up loving and proudly defending when it comes to college rivalries and debates. Your first choice may be the one you wanted, but your allocated college will end up being the one you needed all along.

You’ll find an amazing community waiting for you at your college, regardless of whether it was your top choice or not, and you’ll have some amazing memories to look back on further down the years after you graduate 😊

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Find out more about the undergraduate college application process here

Read more student stories about College here

Read about Harry’s experience of being reallocated

Why you shouldn’t stress about not getting your first-choice college!

What’s it like studying Physics

Elias Koenig on May 3, 2024

Why Physics?

When applying to unis, I was always pretty certain that I wanted to study physics. After reading a great book about it a few years ago, I found understanding why things worked at a fundamental level really cool, and the idea of studying crazy phenomena like black holes and quantum theory seemed awesome to me!

A typical day

A typical day in my life sees me waking up half an hour before lectures, quickly having breakfast and taking the 5-minute walk down to the science site (a definite upside of being at Trevelyan college!). Contact hours are all an hour long and there are generally 3-4 of them every morning, ranging from tutorials to lectures to workshops, after which I head back up the hill to Trevs for a catered lunch. My afternoon is then generally spent in the library, most likely doing assignments, going over lecture notes or preparing for tutorials.

My top tips

Being a first-year student, I was glad there wasn’t much module choice in terms of physics, because I would have had no idea what I wanted to specialise in! However, roughly half of our modules are maths modules, and I picked the ones focussed more on teaching the maths needed for physics, instead of the ones giving a more rigorous, abstract approach. These modules were my favourites in first term, and I found it really cool how they took the maths I’d learnt at school a step further and showed us where it all came from.

My favourite part of second term has been the physics side of the course though! While in the first term I didn’t really interact much with physics outside of lectures and assignments, in the new year I started going over my lecture notes and using the textbook to make sure I really understood what was going on. Doing this has made me enjoy the course much more! It’s more work, but I’d say my main learning from first year is that you get as much out of the course as you invest in it.

Once a week we also have a three-hour lab session, and just like the theoretical part of the course, I’ve enjoyed it much more in second term! My favourite experiment so far has been measuring the speed of light, which we did by bouncing the light off a mirror and measuring the time delay between when it was emitted and when it came back. Apart from the fact that we got a really accurate result, I really enjoyed it because it branched the theory we’d been doing with real life.

Friends and free time

Before coming to uni I was worried that my degree might mean I was working all the time, but, in first year at least, I’ve found that balancing friends/societies and my workload has definitely been doable. I spend most of my free time with my friends and often in the evenings we do something together like baking or playing a game. I also always look forward to my Wednesday evenings, where I play DnD with a group I met through the Durham Games society!

Frisbee, frisbee, frisbee!

I’m also on the Ultimate Frisbee team for both Trevs and Durham! Before coming to uni I’d never played, but now I have training three to four times a week and generally a match over the weekend. I’ve also been around the UK a bit for matches or tournaments with the Durham team, which is always great fun! Sport has always been a great way to destress for me, and Ultimate Frisbee has been a great new discovery!

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Feeling inspired? Take a look at our Physics Department webpages

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