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Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions
Are all first-year undergraduate students guaranteed college accommodation?
All new first year undergraduates will be guaranteed an offer of accommodation from the University providing they submit the Accommodation Form by 11.59 pm (UK Time) on Friday 12 July 2024.
Learn more about how to apply for University accommodation.
Can I still change my college preference after an allocation is finalised?
Durham University has a policy that once a college allocation is made then it is part of our broader offer and not something that would be changed at the applicant’s request.
Having multidisciplinary academic communities is very important to maintaining our unique collegiate experience and so our allocation process is designed to ensure that this academic balance is maintained.
Can students live in their college for second, third and fourth year accommodation?
Students can apply to express interest as a returning student to their college for accommodation, or move out to privately rented accommodation in Durham City.
I have not got the college I would prefer, can I be moved?
The college you are allocated to will not be changed at an applicant’s request. Read further information regarding the college transfer request process.
Will college allocations come out immediately after the allocation process begins?
Once initiated in April time the college allocation process runs on a daily basis meaning that once an academic offer is made and communicated to UCAS, a preliminary college allocation will immediately follow. There may be a delay of a couple of days for this to be updated in our records.
Can I express more than one preference for a college?
Yes. Applicants can rank all 16 of our colleges in order of their preference using the online preference form. This form can be accessed within the Undergraduate Applicant Portal if you receive an academic offer from Durham.
Will making Durham my firm choice in UCAS enhance my chances of being allocated to my first preference?
No. Whether an applicant has made their UCAS decisions has no reflection on the college allocation process. It is not necessary to have made your choices to be eligible for a college allocation.
We begin the college allocation process earlier than the deadline date to make UCAS decisions so that applicants know their preliminary allocation before making a decision.
I have an unconditional offer, surely I can be placed in my preferred college?
Applicants are eligible for preliminary college allocation once an academic offer is made and communicated to UCAS, whether conditional or unconditional.
Durham University, in common with other universities, use offer factors to make the right number of offers to applicants to ensure we end up with the targeted number of students for the start of the academic year. The factors may be smaller for unconditional offer holders. The offer factors are taken into account when running the allocation process across our colleges for both unconditional and conditional offer holders.
I have deferred my offer, why am I not in my preference college?
College allocation is undertaken in the year of application. We seek to allocate deferred applicants proportionately across colleges using the same allocation principles. We would not wish to disadvantage applicants in the following year from being able to receive their preference college due to large numbers of offers having been made previously to deferred applicants.
I have a particular interest/skill/ability and that is why I wanted my preferred college. Can I be moved?
All colleges are academic communities offering opportunity for participation in a wide range of activities. There are also university wide organisations and activities that students can join. Students have the opportunity to participate at college, inter-collegiate and university level in any activities they wish to participate in. We do not look at such factors when allocating colleges.
I have been allocated to a college which does not offer the facilities I wanted. Can I change?
The allocation process is based upon two principles only; multidisciplinary communities within all colleges and an applicant's preference. Learn more about how the allocation process works.
We do not allocate colleges on the basis of the facilities they have. The college allocation is part of the broader academic offer and as an offer holder you are being offered membership of a college community, not a particular room/catering type.
I cannot afford a catered college, can I be reallocated to a self-catered college?
Our current policy is that once a college allocation is made this would not be changed based upon an applicant’s request. The only exception to this would be where a specific medical need cannot be met in the allocated college.
Our catered colleges serve around 650 meals per year to students and this approximately averages at just over £4 per meal. We feel this offers good value to all students who reside in a catered college. There is no culinary equipment needed to be purchased and no weekly food bills on top of the overall price.
The University has put together some information on the cost of living, managing your money and working during your studies here. The pages also include further information on how to seek advice and additional support if needed.
I have a medical need that I feel cannot be met by my allocated college. Can my college be changed?
In the first instance, you should liaise with your preliminary allocated college to see if any needs can be met or mitigated. The college will also be able to give you more information if necessary on how to be considered for a transfer on medical grounds, should your needs be potentially best met in an alternative college. Learn more about college transfer requests.
I/we am/are Durham alumni and went to X College. I/we wanted my/our child to go to this college.
Applicants have the opportunity to rank college preferences using the online ranking form. Family members with previous membership of a Durham college is not taken into account in the allocation process. The college allocation process is based upon two principles only; multidisciplinary communities within all colleges and an applicant's preference. Learn more about how the allocation process works.
Can I be placed on a waiting list for my preference college?
We do not operate waitlists, whether this be centrally or within each individual college. Once a college allocation is finalised this will not be changed at an applicant's request.
Our process is designed to calculate offers to make prior to further accept or decline decisions being made by the applicant or by the University. We expect a large number of offer holders will not end up at Durham, and this is built into our planning and the allocation process.
How are applications from Erasmus students dealt with?
Erasmus students are allocated to one of our colleges for college membership once their attendance at Durham University is confirmed.
Can I change which college I'm allocated to if I don't want to live in college accommodation?
No. College allocation and the collegiate system of Durham is about more than just accommodation.
Your College is where you are provided with membership and will be the place where you socialise and meet students and staff from all levels, disciplines and nationalities. Being part of a College means that you get the benefits of a large, international university whilst being a member of a smaller, friendly scholarly community.
Colleges also offer a comprehensive programme of student-led events and extra-curricular activities as well as personal support. You can even help run aspects of your college, which provides you with unique leadership opportunities and gives you valuable experience for your future career.
Read more information on our distinctive collegiate student experience.
How do I appeal a decision not to permit a change of college on medical grounds?
Applicants are allocated to a college through our publicised college allocation process. Durham University has a policy that once a college allocation is made then it is part of our broader offer and not something that would be changed at an applicant’s request.
Requests for a college transfer that are not based upon a medical need will not be considered, and there is no appeals process for this decision.
If an applicant has a medical need, they must first liaise with their preliminary allocated college to see if their needs can be met or mitigated for. If an applicant's needs cannot be met by their preliminary college allocation they will need to follow the College Transfer Request process. If this is followed and a reallocation is confirmed, then there would be no appeals process for the decision made.
Similarly, if an applicant follows the College Transfer Request process and no transfer is required, there is no appeals process for this decision. The University looks to support applicants on the basis of removing potential barriers to begin your studies at Durham.
I want to change the colleges preferences I stated via the Undergraduate Applicant Portal - how do I do this?
Applicants are able to amend their original college preferences before the college allocation process commences. To do this please refer to the college ranking form within the Undergraduate Applicant Portal.
Does college preference matter for my choice of study programme?
All colleges are multidisciplinary communities, meaning there is no one college for a particular subject. You can therefore express a preference for any of our 16 colleges where undergraduate students are members, or an 'open' application if you do not have a preference. Your preferences will be taken into consideration as part of the allocation process.
Do I need to accept my offer for undergraduate study before I am allocated a college?
All applicants who receive an offer from Durham University are eligible for college allocation. As soon as a departmental decision to make an offer is recorded, applicants become eligible for college allocation. You will be provisionally allocated to a college when the college allocation process begins, regardless of whether you have accepted your offer from the University.
If I submit two applications to Durham, can I specify a different college preferences for each application?
It is possible to submit two academic applications to Durham University, for further information please contact the Enquiries Team using the online enquiry form.
You are only able to rank your college preferences once using the online college preference form for an academic application where you may receive an offer from Durham.
Do catered colleges offer food for students with dietary requirements and/or allergies?
All colleges are able to cater to a wide variety of dietary requirements and have experience of supporting those with complex dietary needs. We would advise you contact your allocated college directly to discuss your dietary needs, as this can be passed onto the college kitchen staff.