New UK Postgraduate Students
There are lots of things you can do to get a head start on student life before you arrive! Here are the key tasks to complete so you're ready to study, live and socialise as a Durham postgraduate student:
1. Enrol online
This is the first and most important step you should take before you arrive.
Enrolment opens six weeks before the start of your programme. Once you have completed your enrolment, then you'll be able to access your university IT account.
2. Get connected with My Digital Durham
Once you are enrolled, you get access to a range of digital services such as your university email account, FREE Microsoft 365 and Office subscription, plus a range of teaching and learning apps to help you with your studies. View the interactive pdf and video
3. Get to know your College
Your College is waiting to welcome you, visit their Welcome webpages to find out everything you need to know about arriving and joining their community
4. Get to know your Department
There are a number of different ways you can get to know more about your department before you arrive, including looking at our Freshers webpages, logging in to Sharepoint/Learn Ultra and watching videos.
5. Access the Transition into Higher Education online course
To make the transition to university as smooth as possible, we’ve worked with students to create an online pre-arrival course for you to complete called Transition to Higher Education. Use our virtual learning environment to try out some new academic skills and get familiar with our digital tools.
6. Choosing optional modules
You can begin selecting optional modules after 1st September, and after your Department has been in touch to offer you guidance, so you can make informed choices about your modules. Please do not select optional modules before this time.
7. Register with a local doctor
We take your health and wellbeing very seriously. We encourage you to start the process of registration with a doctor in Durham before you arrive, so that you can access healthcare when you need it. This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition or require repeat medication.
Your first week in Durham – University Welcome and Orientation Week Events Timetable
The Timetable has been designed so College events don’t clash with any of your academic departmental events, but offer you lots of opportunities to meet your fellow Freshers, find your way around and settle into student life.
Durham Students' Union
Durham Students' Union is the representative body for all students of the University, and offers many different clubs and societies to join.
Get involved
Need more information?
Return to our main welcome pages for new students