Where Durham Students Live: Colleges and Student Areas

Where you live in Durham changes as you go through your degree, from a room in college in first year to a shared house later on. Here is how it usually works and where students end up.

First year: in college

Durham colleges typically provide accommodation for first-year students, so most new arrivals live in college to begin with, eating and settling in together. Rooms are generally single study bedrooms, offered on either a catered or self-catered basis; exact room types, catering arrangements and rents vary by college and change year to year, so check the university for current figures. Living in is a big part of the collegiate welcome, and it is where many students make their closest friends.

Later years: private housing

After first year, most students move into private, shared houses while keeping their college membership and social life. This is when the city's student areas come into their own.

The main student areas

• The Viaduct — near the station, within walking distance of both the Bailey and the science site; one of the busier, more sociable student areas.
• Claypath — handy for the university and the city centre, close to the Gala Theatre and supermarkets, with housing at competitive rates.
• Gilesgate — generally cheaper than areas closer to the centre and well served by buses, which keeps it popular.
• Neville's Cross — close to the centre and about a fifteen-minute (uphill) walk to the science site, though amenities can be a little further out.
• Elvet and the Bailey — central and characterful, close to the peninsula, though space is limited.

A word of advice

Durham's student housing market moves early, and it is easy to feel pressured into signing for a house sooner than you need to. Take your time, view places in daylight, and read the university's student renters' guidance before committing to a tenancy. For the wider picture of student life, see our student's guide to Durham.