Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O'Brien looks ahead to our Congregation and other summer activities.

All secondary-age school pupils in year eight (aged 12 and 13) in England will be required by the government to take a reading test. The declared purpose is to help drive up reading standards so that “everyone can thrive”. Stephen Gorard, Professor in our School of Education, explores whether this additional test is a good idea.

We will be hosting our second ‘Greenspace Festival’ on Thursday 16th June, from 2-7pm in Collingwood College, following the inaugural event last year.

The Oriental Museum is hosting an evening of live music and family-friendly events to celebrate the spectacular festival of Diwali on Tuesday 14 November from 6pm - 8pm. Staff and students from the Durham University Hindu Society are looking forward to welcoming visitors of all ages, to join in with traditional Diwali activities.

In the September edition of our community newsletter, we celebrate the achievements of our students, share opportunities to get involved, and highlight University research and outreach that makes a difference.

Professor Joe Elliott, Principal of Collingwood College, launches new book, The Dyslexia Debate Revisited

We’ve appointed a new Biodiversity Manager to further cement our position as one of the ‘greenest’ universities in the world.   

Our Chancellor and acclaimed foreign affairs specialist, Dr Fiona Hill, is launching a new scholarship scheme to support students from North East England who come from lower income households.   

The Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing & Balbir Singh Dance company Sweet Spots Sensory Trail is now open to everyone.

Vice Chancellor, Stuart Corbridge, comments on how having a world-leading university at the heart of our city, county and region is of immense benefit to our communities and the local economy and expresses his thanks as his role comes to an end.

We’re reopening our popular World Heritage Site visitor attractions to the public for the first time since March 2020, with a range of exhibitions, galleries, and self-guided tours on offer.

Professor Douglas Davies, one of the world’s leading scholars in the field of death studies, has been recognised with a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Association for the Study of Death and Society (ASDS).