Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charter in 1837. It was the first recognised university to open in England for more than 600 years, after Oxford and Cambridge, and is thus one of the institutions to be described as the third-oldest university in England. As a collegiate university its main functions are divided between the academic departments of the university and its 17 colleges. In general, the departments perform research and provide teaching to students, while the colleges are responsible for their domestic arrangements and welfare.The university is a member of the Russell Group of British research universities after previously being a member of the 1994 Group. Durham is also affiliated with the regional N8 Research Partnership and international university groups including the Matariki Network of Universities and the Coimbra Group. The university estate includes 63 listed buildings, ranging from the 11th-century Durham Castle to a 1930s Art Deco chapel. The university also owns and manages the Durham World Heritage Site in partnership with Durham Cathedral. The university's ownership of the World Heritage Site includes Durham Castle, Palace Green, and the surrounding buildings including the historic Cosin's Library. It was Sunday Times University of the Year for 2005, and the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year for 2015, and was awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2018. Durham University Student Volunteering and Outreach was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.Current and emeritus academics include 14 Fellows of the Royal Society, 17 Fellows of the British Academy, 14 Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences, 5 Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2 Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts and 2 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Durham graduates have long used the Latin post-nominal letters Dunelm after their degree, from Dunelmensis (of, belonging to, or from Durham).Among British universities, it had the ninth highest average UCAS Tariff for new entrants in 2019 and the third lowest proportion of state-school educated students starting courses in 2016, at 62.9 per cent (fifth lowest compared to its benchmark).Inspiring the ExtraordinaryWe believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other.University Strategy 2017-2027Durham is one of the world’s great universities and one of the most distinctive.We produce world-leading and world-changing research across all four of our Faculties, our education is challenging, enabling, research-led and transformative and our wider student experience, delivered through our Colleges, Durham Students’ Union and Experience Durham, is among the best in the UK. But we are not complacent. Our University Strategy 2017-2027 sets ambitious targets for growth and development, to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge.This Strategy was approved by our University Council in December 2016 and you can view the external summary document of this here. Of course this is only a static document, dating back to the Strategy's approval. However, as with all strategies, our University Strategy is continually reviewed, updated and refreshed. Our plans inevitably alter due to an ever-changing external environment and our response to it.The major approved developments since December 2016 have been a new set of University Values (linked to our work on the University brand), a new Global Strategy and a refreshed Wider Student Experience Strategy. In addition, a new Digital Strategy is in development.Facts and figuresA world top 100 universityA top UK university26 departments or schoolsOver 4,300 staff membersFour faculties17 CollegesA top university for employabilityOver 30% of students are of non-UK originA total student population of 20,268 (2020/21)
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Watch the videos to learn about the student life-cycle and the teaching environment at the University.
Between Friday 11 and Sunday 20 March, we’re celebrating British Science Week. From improving people's health and influencing changes in the law, to supporting business and bringing long lost music to new audiences, our research is having an impact around the world.
Read more →The Department of Archaeology’s recent work both in research and in delivering in-person skills-based training to students and professionals around heritage documentation, presentation and protection, is an important development and one this MoU will continue to develop.
Read more →This ranking specifically focuses on and evaluates the extent to which programmes integrate sustainability knowledge and skills into business education. Information used to rank business schools across the globe includes the modules taught as well as the diversity of faculty, research and research centres.
Read more →Two companies started by past students here at Durham have been accepted onto the Tech Nation Net Zero 2.0 programme, which is supporting the UK’s most promising climate tech companies drive down environmentally harmful emissions.
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