Hello and welcome back to Discovering Durham University with @thedurhamstudent. I’m your host Crystal and in this blog, I’ll be taking you through how and why our podcast came to life.
Origins of the podcast
For those who may not be aware, @thedurhamstudent is the University’s official student-run marketing team. We’re a group of students who showcase our day-to-day lives at Durham University through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Blogs, TSR threads and now our podcast platforms.
During one of our brainstorm-heavy team meetings—where we throw around ideas, discuss the University calendar, and review the recent content we’ve put out—a question was posed on how do we answer the questions that seem to repeatedly come up?
Questions like: How does the collegiate system really work? What if I get a college that wasn’t my first or even fifth choice? Will my college define my entire university experience? And [insert the many other questions on colleges]. And of course, the usual questions: What is Durham like? Is the nightlife any good? Will I fit in?
We do touch on these topics in our other content, but a one-minute reel can only convey so much. We realised the necessity for a single platform where we could thoroughly explore these subjects and beyond. Thus, Discovering Durham University with @thedurhamstudent was born.
Purpose of the podcast
Conceptualised to be a comprehensive guide to Durham University, this podcast is designed to answer your most pressing questions and provide in-depth insights into university life, all conveniently accessible in one place – I hope this season has successfully met these objectives. But beyond disseminating information, this podcast seeks to connect, reassure, and inspire. At its core, I believe the very purpose of this podcast ties back to the question of “Will I fit in?”
For many, the transition to university is not just a change in educational setting but a significant life chapter filled with excitement and, yes, a good dose of apprehension. Even though I have just recently graduated, I still remember all those mixed emotions – wondering if I’d chosen the right place and how I’d navigate this new world. So, hosting this podcast in my final year was more than just a capstone project; it was a passion project aimed at soothing the very anxieties I once faced. It was about creating the kind of resource I wished existed when I was a fresher – somewhere to turn for both answers and reassurance.
Ultimately, Discovering Durham University with @thedurhamstudent is about more than just filling you in on the details about university life. It’s about building a bridge from uncertainty to belonging, demonstrating through stories and insights what the Durham Difference truly is…spoiler alert: the Durham Difference is you, the students! So, here’s to discovering yourplace at Durham University and making it your own.
What’s next?
With our debut season released, I can’t help but feel we’re just scratching the surface of what this podcast can achieve. There’s so much more to explore and expand upon, and this season has set a solid foundation. It’s clear we’re poised for significant growth—ready to transform this into a resource that you can turn to time and time again. I’m excited to see where the next podcast coordinator takes it!
So, whether you’re currently poring over your UCAS application, or you’re an alum fondly recalling your college days, this podcast is crafted with you in mind. Grab your headphones, hit play, and let us take you on a journey through Durham University, one episode at a time. Because here at Discovering Durham University with @thedurhamstudent, we’re not just discussing university life; we’re living it and sharing it.
We hope you’ll stay tuned and experience Durham as we see it, learn it, and love it. Here’s to the stories we’ve told and the many more we’re eager to share. The journey continues, and we’re thrilled to have you with us.
You can listen to our podcast on your favourite podcast platform here. Or or you watch on YouTube
Beginning your university studies is an exciting time, but it can sometimes be a little daunting to start out your student life. Fairs are a great way to help you get a sense of all the other parts of your university life away from academia, and at Durham there’s a whole range of fairs on offer, which I’m now going to break down for you into three sections: sports, societies, and jobs & careers.
Sports
Lots of Durham students participate in sports alongside their studies. Whether you are looking to try out a new sport as a beginner or to hone your talents through representing the university, there is something for you.
Durham Students’ Union organises a Sports Fair that takes place during Welcome and Orientation Week (also known as Freshers’ Week) which is free to attend and gives all students an opportunity to see what’s currently on offer and to meet the people running each sports group. This usually takes place at Maiden Castle, a facility which hosts lots of Durham sports so it’s also a great time to visit and see where you might be training! Students can book tickets online through the Durham Students’ Union website to attend the Sports and Activities Fair, and you can also view the range of sports online there by looking at their ‘Groups’ page.
Societies
Durham Students’ Union also runs the Freshers’ Fair in Maiden Castle during the same week (but usually on a different day!), and you can also reserve a free ticket to this fair through their website by searching in their events. This fair is all about the clubs on offer (which is a MASSIVE list visible online via the previously mentioned ‘Groups’ page), including everything from the likes of drama, music, arts, to all kinds of hobbies and interests, to groups representing your academic course, career goals, or personal identity. It’s a great opportunity to go and get inspiration for what you might want to participate in alongside your studies.
If you are as keen as I was when I went to the Freshers’ Fair, then you will probably also end up marking down way too many activities that you have decided you want to try before eventually settling into a routine. This is completely fine as plenty of societies have taster sessions which you can sign up for to discover if it’s a good fit.
It’s also worth remembering that lots of Durham Colleges will organise their own Freshers’ Fair to help you discover what’s on offer there specifically. This will be different from the centralised Freshers’ Fair, so don’t skip it just because you’ve been to others! This will be much smaller and held in your college, and you probably won’t need to reserve a ticket in advance. College Freshers’ Fairs are great because lots of colleges will provide many of the activities that are on offer at centralised clubs, but on a smaller scale, which might be perfect if you’d prefer to be part of a smaller group. It will also give you the opportunity to meet more students from your college, who you will likely be seeing on a regular basis if you are a liver-in! The activities on offer will vary but will likely include both societies and sports, so go and check it out!
Jobs & Careers
Are you looking to get a part-time job at university? Well, there’s a fair for that too! On Wednesday 9th October 2024 between 1-4pm, this year’s Part Time Jobs, Placements & Volunteering Fair will be taking place. Just head on down to the Teaching & Learning Centre located near to the Bill Bryson Library on the Lower Mountjoy site, you will have the opportunity to talk to your potential employers and see a range of jobs, voluntary roles, and placement opportunities available to students. (You might also want to come and say hi to The Durham Student Team if you see yourself as one of our next Content Creators!)
This is a great way to get some inspiration for jobs, especially those which you might not have even thought of applying to! Taking part in one of these roles can not only help balance your finances whilst you study, but also give you some professional experience that will help boost your CV for when you are job-hunting after graduation.
There are plenty more opportunities throughout the year to help you get career insights which you can find on Durham’s CareersConnect page, including sector-specific events and talks. Check up on this page as their dates are worth getting in your diary.
What do I take to a fair?
The essential thing to take would be either your phone or something else to make notes on. You will probably want to have some record of the groups of particular interest to you so writing down their group names is a must!
Lots of student groups advertise their activities through either Facebook or Instagram (some might use a mailing list), so it’s also worth having these social media apps downloaded so that you can follow along and see what activities are on offer.
Some groups might even have a QR code for you to scan to take you directly to their page, and when you are at the Part Time Jobs, Placements & Volunteering Fair, you might also have QR codes to help you find application portals, so make sure your device is charged up before you go!
Tips for attending fairs
Don’t be afraid to say hi (and don’t be surprised when the people at fairs try and talk to you as well!). These kinds of events involve plenty of meeting people and there will be a lot of enthusiasm from everyone trying to get you to join their group. It’s likely that there will be groups you aren’t interested in, but it’s also an occasion to be open minded about new opportunities.
There is no ‘right’ amount of time to spend at a fair. Some people will have specific interests they want to follow, and some want to look at every group and maybe even circle back around to the start to make sure they didn’t miss anything. Don’t feel like you need to stick with the group you came with the entire time as they might not share all of your passions. Go at your own pace and remember that there are lots of other ways to reach out to the groups that attend these fairs if you have further questions or if you missed out on talking to them in the first place.
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Read more about the part-time jobs, placements and volunteering careers fair
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!
Follow us for your chance to win a whole range of things such as free Rotate tickets, £100 cash prizes, and more!
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.
Michaelmas is a gorgeous term. Durham in autumn is beautiful, plus there is plenty of excitement from joining new societies, meeting new people, and getting stuck in with new modules. Whilst the weather starts out warm and sunny, winter soon rolls around. So, here’s a list of things to do that are actually realistic for this time of year.
Spending up to £5:
Go to the Freshers’ Fair! It’s a great way to see all the sports and societies on offer here at Durham, and most importantly, lots of them will run free taster sessions within the first few weeks of term!
Go to the Botanic Gardens. They are awesome year-round and free for students, so bring your campus card! Even if you don’t want to walk around, there are plenty of places to stop and sit down. The greenhouse is a great choice for chillier months.
Attend biennial light art experience Lumiere! (Usually in November)
Spending less than £15:
Go see a student play or a student concert, even better if you are supporting your friends. The music and drama scene in Durham is incredibly active so you will always have your pick of shows. I particularly recommend college pantomimes.
Take part in a college formal! Lots of colleges have Christmas formals, which have an amazing atmosphere and is a great way to celebrate with your friends.
Spending more than £15:
Go to a Christmas market – Durham has one and there are plenty nearby to attend.
Term 2 – Epiphany Term (January-March)
The Racecourse in winter
Epiphany term is the coldest term, so here are some fun indoors activities for you to get stuck in with.
Spending up to £5:
Go to Palace Green Library. Not only is it fun to have a look around, as you are a student and you have to study, so why not do it somewhere super historical? Being on Palace Green is the epitome of Durham’s academic vibes, and students are welcome to study in this historical building.
Visit the Gala Theatre. The £5 cinema tickets are a bargain to enjoy the silver screen!
Oriental Museum. It’s free to enter, so just pop in to see some amazing artifacts! It’s also super close to the colleges on the Hill (such as Van Mildert, South, Collingwood) so if you are living up there why not pop in?
Spending less than £15:
Hop on a train to Newcastle! You’ll probably need a break from the city (and your summative work) at some point in term, and less than 15 minutes away on the train, Newcastle will offer some variety in scenery, shops, and nightlife.
Go to one of Durham’s gorgeous independent cafés for a drink or cake with your new friends. You can’t go wrong with most of the places in Durham, but they do get very busy around lunchtime so pick your time of day wisely!
Spending more than £15:
Attend one of Durham’s many fashion shows (which happen both in college and university-wide!) – or maybe you are planning in modelling in one anyway!
Term 3 – Easter Term (April-June)
The Racecourse in summer – the place to be!
Easter Term has it all: good weather, the end of year stress from exams to dissertation submissions, and the celebration that follows. Whether it’s revision procrastination or submission jubilation – you’ll want plenty of things to do other than just staring at your notes.
Spending up to £5:
Explore the area: the Bluebell Woods, down by the river, Wharton Park, and Observatory Hill. The green spaces are honestly one of the best parts about Durham! Exploring them is also a great way to take a study break in exam season.
Go see St. Mary’s beautiful trees in bloom!
Visit Durham Cathedral.
Spending less than £15:
Hire a rowboat and row yourself down the river!
Swap out your riverside walk for one by the sea! There are plenty of beaches only a stone’s throw away.
Spending more than £15:
Go to a college ball! In the final term, colleges pull out all the stops on their summer balls – if you fancy a (cheaper) and more chilled out event, college days also happen in this term, offering a relaxed, music-festival vibe.
This list is not exhaustive of all the things on offer in Durham, (and obviously a large chunk of what you will be doing is studying!) but as you can see, there is plenty to do in each term for each budget.
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Download our latest prospectus and college guide here.
If you are looking for some more obscure, but nonetheless handy, items to add to your last-minute pack list for university this year, then you are in just the right place! In this blog, I share some of my holy grail additions that have served me well throughout my time at Durham.
Here is my list of random items (in no particular order!)
Extension lead – This can be useful if you have plug sockets that are in hard-to-reach places, or if you do not have many at all.
Mattress topper – This is a nice investment that can make the beds much more more comfortable.
Coat hangers – You can never have too many of these in the wardrobe.
Laundry basket – Circuit laundry will be made difficult without something to transport your clothes in, especially if you are required to go to a different building to do it. You could also bring a drying rack if you prefer to air dry your clothes.
Shower caddy (particularly for shared bathrooms) – You will likely share a bathroom at some point during your time at university and having a small, transportable bag of essentials can save you a lot of time and effort when heading to the bathroom.
Important Documents – Do not forget to bring things like your ID, passport, and any other crucial documents that you might need during your time away from home. They are super important but can be also, just as easily forgotton about.
A long key chain – This is a random, but I believe useful, suggestion. I liked to have a long, lanyard-style key ring on my university keys to help make them more obvious in my bag or room. You absolutely do not want to be that person losing your keys and having to go to the porter at 3am!
Speaker – If you like listening to music when in the shower, studying or just wish to make yourself popular in the flat, bring a small, portable speaker.
Doorstop – A frehser’s must-have! Using one of these to keep your door propped open from time-to-time will help to get you better acquainted with your housemates.
Tupperware – Batch cooking as a university student is super helpful and rewarding. Coming prepared with a lot of tupperware makes this an easy habit to get into straight away.
Dressing gown/blanket – Do not forget that Durham is in the north-east of England and so, a fluffy dressing gown and a cosy blanket are simply must-haves!
Small mirror – Your room may have a mirror, however, in the case that your mirror is not in the most convenient place, bringing your own small one can save you a lot of hassle.
Ear plugs – University can get loud and sometimes rooms can be near college social areas, so bringing these small sleep-savers could do your future self a massive favour.
Small first aid kit – Having your own first aid kit is a top tip to make sure that you are prepared for any flu or illness that might catch up with you at university.
Fancy dress – Durham loves its fancy dress! Whether it is for a formal, social or a friend’s party, you will encounter a themed event during your time at university. If you have any bits already at home, then it is worth adding them to the suitcase, they will serve you well at Durham.
Cards or games – Another fun item that will make you a flat-favourite.
Hot water bottle – Did I mention that Durham can get cold in the winter?
Reed diffusers – usually college accommodations do not allow lighting candles but, using a reed diffuser is a great alternative which still leaves your room smelling sweet and feeling homely. I always got compliments about how nice my room smelt in first year and it was all thanks to a cheap reed diffuser form Tesco!
There are a lot more items that you could bring to make your accommodation feel more homely, but those are some of my favourites. Make sure you do not forget about the essentials though, you will still need bedding, toiletries, and clothes a little more than a doorstop, even if they are both useful to have!
Starting postgraduate studies can feel like diving into the unknown. I still remember the nerves I had when I first began, which is why I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to become a university ambassador. I wanted to help others navigate this transition and find their footing.
Being an ambassador has been an incredible experience. It’s allowed me to connect with potential students, whether I’m guiding them around campus, sharing what life at Durham is really like during open days, or answering their burning questions in online Q&A sessions.
Exploring the city, campus, and colleges
One of the best parts of being an ambassador is leading tours during open days. I get to show off the city, the campus, and the colleges—essentially all the places that make studying here such a unique experience.
Interestingly, I’ve also used this role as an opportunity to explore the city more myself. Leading these tours has taught me more than I ever expected—I’ve learned fascinating details about the history of buildings and the stories behind various landmarks. It’s a win-win for everyone, as we all get to uncover more of what makes this beautiful, historic city so special.
Connecting through online Q&A sessions
Not everyone can make it to campus, especially those who are halfway across the world or balancing a full-time job. That’s where online Q&A sessions come in.
These are some of my favourite events to host because they allow me to connect with students in a more personal way. It’s like having a friendly chat—students can ask anything on their minds, from how the course is structured to what it’s really like living away from home. We cover from academic side of things, like what the workload is actually like, to the practical stuff, like finding accommodation and getting involved in campus life.
Other opportunities
I’ve also had the chance to take on various other interesting roles, such as:
Open Days and Post-offer Visit Days: Presenting, guiding, staffing stands—basically, anything that helps showcase what our university has to offer.
Recruitment Events: Assisting in key moments like Confirmation and Clearing.
Balancing study with part time work
This is a casual job, so I can sign up for events whenever I have the time, and I can skip them when I’m too busy. There’s no pressure, just the flexibility to get involved when it suits me.
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Find out more about part time work at Durham university in Mia’s video
Download our latest prospectus and college guide here.
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!
Durham Regatta
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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Follow The Durham Student on Instagram,TikTok and YouTube to see what life is really like at Durham.
Hi, I’m Isabel a 3rd 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!
Collingwood squash
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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Follow The Durham Student on Instagram,TikTok and YouTube to see what life is really like at Durham.
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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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.
Our cabin on the ferryPort of Rotterdam
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.
The floating farmThe famous “De Rotterdam” buildingA strange-looking building next to the Rotterdam architecture museum
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!
A great day spent in Utrecht
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
