Colleges

Why I chose an MSc in Developmental Psychopathology

Elias Koenig on September 30, 2024

Hi all! I wanted to share about why I decided to study Developmental Psychopathology at Durham University. If you’re curious about what it’s like, here’s my story – and spoiler alert: it’s been amazing!

What drew me to this programme, and why Durham

I’ve always been curious by how our minds develop. That’s why I decided to study Developmental Psychopathology. It’s the perfect blend of what I’m passionate about – understanding mental health and how early experiences can shape us.

Durham caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First off, it’s one of the top-ranked universities, and the Psychology department has a good reputation. I wanted to study somewhere that’s known for being strong academically, and Durham didn’t disappoint.

Not to mention that Durham as a city is very charming! It’s small, historic, and absolutely beautiful. I’m not a “big city” kind of person, so the calm, cosy vibe of Durham was ideal for me. And even though it’s small, it’s close to bigger cities like Newcastle and Leeds, which is perfect when you need a change of scenery or a weekend escape.

Taken whilst rowing with friends along the riverside in Durham in the summer.

And the college system here? It’s such a great way to make friends, and a place where you can dive into your interests, with loads of great facilities to support you – it’s like a close community.

From undergrad to postgrad: my journey so far

Before Durham, I did my undergraduate degree in Psychology at another UK university. My previous university and Durham have a pretty similar in vibe – they’re both small, friendly cities with beautiful surroundings. The transition to Durham worked for me.

I’ve always known I wanted to become a psychologist, and going for a postgraduate degree was the next step toward that goal. Plus, in today’s competitive job market, having a postgraduate qualification definitely gives you an edge. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of mental health and development, so here I am!

What I hope to achieve

What am I hoping to get out of this programme? A lot, honestly. I’m really excited to learn more about how people develop, both in typical and atypical ways. This year has been full of learning – everything from theory to research – and I’m definitely feeling more confident in my skills.

After I graduate, I’d love to move into a more practical, clinical role. I want to take all this knowledge and apply it to help people, especially children and adolescents, navigate developmental challenges. This programme is giving me the foundation I need to make that happen, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

So, that’s a bit about my journey so far at Durham. It’s been such a great experience academically, but also personally. It’s a place that’s not just shaping my career but also my life. If you’re considering Durham, I’d definitely recommend it!

And a fun fact about the photo of Durham Cathedral (at top of blog) taken at sunset – This is one of the spots where Harry Potter was filmed, so don’t be surprised if you see people waving wands and striking wizard poses inside!

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Read about the MSc in Developmental Psychopathology here.

Read about Durham’s department of Psychology here.

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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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Read more here about the course: Accounting – Durham University Business School

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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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College sport – Hill v Bailey

Elias Koenig on June 13, 2024

What is college sport?

College level sport at Durham allows students to get involved with sport at university at a more relaxed and less competitive level and often allows students to learn a sport from scratch. If college sport is something you want to get involved in, it’s important to consider the different sports facilities at different colleges.

Bailey colleges

The Bailey colleges are the older colleges at Durham, located in old townhouses (and a Castle!). This means that space is often limited. That doesn’t mean that students here don’t get involved with sport though. In fact, Hatfield and Castle have a dedicated day where they compete against each other in different sports! Many of the colleges will head over to the Maiden Castle fields (Sport & Wellbeing Park) to play sports like lacrosse, rugby, football and more! Indoor sports like badminton and volleyball are played inside Maiden Castle. The Sports & Wellbeing Park is only about a 15-minute walk from the Bailey, meaning if you want to get involved, the travel isn’t very strenuous. Other sports such as cheer vary from college to college, but a few of the Bailey cheer teams practice in the Hild Bede JCR. The intercollegiate cheer competition is still at Maiden Castle though.

Hill colleges

Hill colleges were founded later and so have a lot more space than Bailey colleges. Colleges such as Grey and Collingwood both have tennis courts for college use. While Mary’s and Stephenson have dedicated outdoor sports areas. Some sports at the hill colleges may still happen at Maiden Castle, especially if there are intercollegiate competitions. For example, floodlit matches, which are attended by the colleges competing, are also often held at Maiden Castle.

Which is better?

Even though hill colleges do have more on site sport facilities, the facilities used by the Bailey colleges are not far away and most people who engage in college sport will likely visit Maiden Castle at some point due to the intercollegiate competitions at Durham.

Most of the sports offered at colleges will also be the same, but it is worth looking at what is offered at each college if there is something specific you’re interested in. For example, Castle did not have a cheer team until this year!

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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 😊