41 Facts About Durham University

Durham University is a collegiate public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charter in 1837.

Durham University is a member of the Russell Group of British research universities after previously being a member of the 1994 Group.

Durham University graduates have long used the Latin post-nominal letters Dunelm after their degree, from Dunelmensis .

Between around 1286 and 1291 the Benedictine monks of Durham established a hall at Oxford University to provide them with a seat of learning.

Durham University College was surrendered to the Crown in 1545 following the Reformation.

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The strong tradition of theological teaching in Durham gave rise to various attempts to form a university within the city itself, notably under King Henry VIII and then under Oliver Cromwell, who issued letters patent and nominated a proctor and fellows for the establishment of a college in 1657.

Those attending Durham University College were expected to bring a servant with them to deal with cooking, cleaning and so on.

Notable past presidents of the Durham University Union have included Richard Dannatt, Sir Edward Leigh, and Crispin Blunt.

The Durham University SRC was formed in 1907 with representatives from the Durham Colleges, the College of Medicine, and Armstrong College .

Until the mid 19th century, University of Durham degrees were subject to a religion test and could only be taken by members of the established church.

Medical degrees in Newcastle were exempt from this requirement from the start of the affiliation of the medical school, but in Durham University it lasted until the revision of the statutes in 1865.

However, Teesside, which had only become a university in 1992, had difficulties in taking on its responsibilities for the college and withdrew in 1994, Durham taking over full responsibility for UCS and the degrees to be awarded there.

Programme of integration with Durham began, with the Privy Council approving changes in Durham's statutes to make UCS a college of the University of Durham.

In May 2010, Durham joined the Matariki Network of Universities together with Dartmouth College, Queen's University, University of Otago, University of Tubingen, University of Western Australia and Uppsala University .

In 2012, Durham joined the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities.

Durham operates a collegiate structure similar to that of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, in that all the colleges at Durham are "listed bodies" in part two of the Education Order 2013 made under the Education Reform Act 1988, as bodies that appear to the Secretary of State "to be a constituent college, school, hall or other institution of a university which is such a recognised body" .

Durham University requires students applying for degrees in law to sit the LNAT admission test.

Durham University has been criticised for not accepting as many students from low participation neighbourhoods, and from state schools, as might be expected from its admission standards and course offerings.

In 2014, Durham became the first UK university to participate in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.

Durham University is part of the Russell Group, Virgo Consortium and the N8 Group of Universities.

Similarly, Durham University fell from 19th to 20th in the Times Higher Education ranking by total research power.

Durham University has been placed in the top 100 universities in the world in both the Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds rankings since 2010.

Earth and marine sciences, anthropology, English language and literature, history and law and legal studies featured in the top 50 in the world, while Durham University ranked in the top 100 for chemistry, modern languages, physics and astronomy, politics, psychology, and sociology.

In scientific subject areas, Durham University ranked 251st in the world for biomedical and health science, 104th in the world for life and earth sciences, 389th in the world for mathematics and computer science, 76th in the world for physical sciences and engineering, and 69th in the world in social sciences and humanities.

In certain subject areas, Durham University ranked 30th in the world for the humanities, 44th in the world for social sciences, 153rd in the world for technical sciences, 191st in the world for natural sciences, 269th in the world for life sciences and 418th in the world for medical sciences.

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In 2017, Durham had the highest graduate employment rate of any UK university, with 97.

In 2015, Durham University was placed 47th in the world in QS's pilot global employability ranking, and 8th in the UK for graduate prospects by the Times and Sunday Times 2016.

In 2013, Durham University was judged to have the best quality of student life in the country in the inaugural Lloyds Bank rankings and has never been out of the top three, coming in third in 2014 and second in 2015.

In 2015, Durham University was voted number 1 in the UK for best university WiFi, on the review platform StudentCrowd.

Approximately 200 student clubs and organisations run on Durham University's campuses, covering academic, arts, culture and faith, hobbies and games, outdoors, politics, law and music interests.

Team Durham University Community Outreach is a sports community programme aimed at giving support and opportunities through the use of sport.

Sport at Durham University is a key aspect of student life with some 92 per cent of students regularly taking part.

Durham University is recognised as a Centre of Cricketing Excellence by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Durham University is one of four universities to compete in the unofficial "Doxbridge" Tournament in Dublin, a sporting competition between Durham University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and the University of York.

Durham University won this tournament in 2014 and 2015 before York recorded their first victory in 2016 .

Durham University is home to the oldest Gamelan slendro set in the UK with an active community group and an artist in residence.

Durham University alumni are active through organisations and events such as the annual reunions, dinners and balls.

Umbrella organisation for Durham University alumni is Dunelm, which offers a range of events and dedicated alumni services.

Dunelm can trace its roots to the Durham University Society, formed in 1921, and preceded by the Society of Dunelmians in 1905 and the Durham University Association in 1866.

Dunelm USA, formerly the North American Foundation for the University of Durham or NAFUD, is a philanthropic body in the United States that hosts alumni events and fundraises for Durham-related projects.

Durham University graduates hold noteworthy positions in the law, including Supreme Court Justices Lord Hughes and Lady Black, the President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane and the current Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland amongst others.