Is Durham a good student city?

Yes. Durham is one of England's oldest university cities, compact and walkable, with a lively collegiate student community of around 21,000 in a small, historic setting.

How many students are there at Durham University?

Durham University has around 21,000 students, roughly 16,500 undergraduates and 4,500 postgraduates, in a notably small city.

Is Durham a collegiate university?

Yes. Every Durham student belongs to one of its 17 colleges, which handle accommodation, dining and much of social life, and you stay a member of your college throughout your time there.

Education

A Student's Guide to Durham

New to Durham University? An introduction to life in one of England's oldest university cities, from the collegiate system to getting around a compact, hilly city.

durhamcity.live·31 August 2026

Durham is one of the great student cities of England, home to one of its oldest universities in a place small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes. If you are arriving as a student, here is what makes it tick.

A collegiate university

Durham is a collegiate university, one of only a handful in the country and often compared to Oxford and Cambridge. Every student belongs to one of its 17 colleges, and that college, rather than your academic department, is where you live, eat and find your feet socially in first year. You stay a member of your college for your whole time in Durham, even after you move into a house. Our guide to the colleges explained goes into how the system works.

A small city with a big term-time buzz

With around 21,000 students in a compact city, Durham's rhythm swings noticeably between the busy terms and the much quieter vacations, when most students head home. In term the bars, cafes and riverside paths fill up; out of term the city returns to its residents. Either way it is a genuinely walkable place, though be warned that the peninsula around the cathedral and castle is steep and cobbled, so sensible shoes earn their keep.

Town and gown

The two great buildings on the peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are woven into student life: University College actually occupies the castle, and graduation ceremonies are held in the cathedral itself. The main students' union, Durham SU, is based at Dunelm House on New Elvet, a landmark Brutalist building reached from the peninsula by the striking Kingsgate Bridge.

Getting around and getting home

Almost everything is within walking distance, so most students rarely need a bus around the city. For heading home or exploring further afield, Durham station sits on the East Coast Main Line, with direct trains to London King's Cross in around three and a half hours and Edinburgh in under two, plus a rebuilt bus station on North Road for regional and coach services.

Once you have found your feet, dig into our other student guides on the colleges, where students live, the university year and Durham on a budget.