Skip to main content

Inspiring Excellence Scholarships

Recognising outstanding international students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Find out more

  

Discover

  • Lumiere 2025

    Lumiere returns for three nights of spectacular light art on the streets of Durham from Thursday 13 - Saturday 15 November 2025.

    An artwork made up of long bamboo poles lit up red to give the impression of fire and energy, set in an open space at night-time.
  • University of the Year

    We are The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026 and ranked third overall in its Good University Guide. Explore our league table results.

    A group of three students stood in front of a view over Durham with Durham Cathedral in the background

Lumiere 2025

Lumiere returns for three nights of spectacular light art on the streets of Durham from Thursday 13 - Saturday 15 November 2025.

An artwork made up of long bamboo poles lit up red to give the impression of fire and energy, set in an open space at night-time.

University of the Year

We are The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026 and ranked third overall in its Good University Guide. Explore our league table results.

A group of three students stood in front of a view over Durham with Durham Cathedral in the background

Events in the Middle East: support and assistance for students and staff

Read our statement and answers to frequently asked questions.

A hand holding a digitalised version of the globe

Research impact at Durham

We conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference, globally and locally: research to empower and inspire.

Discover more about our research impact

  

What's new?

Filter:

Strengthening our global partnership with Peking University

A delegation from Peking University (PKU), led by its President, Professor Gong Qihuang, visited Durham to reinforce our long-standing strategic partnership.
Professor Karen O'Brien and President Gong sitting at a table smiling with UK and China flags

Were Neanderthals capable of making art?

The ability to make art has often been considered a hallmark of our species. Professor Paul Pettitt of our Archaeology Department explores the evidence that our ancient sister species, the Neanderthals, were capable of creating art.
A computer generated image of a Neanderthal holding a flaming torch putting his hand on a cave wall

Dam disasters of the 1920s made reservoirs safer – now the climate crisis is increasing risk again

Professor Jeff Warburton from our Geography Department sheds light on how devastating dam failures in the 1920s led to major safety reforms and engineering improvements that made reservoirs far more secure. However, he warns that the growing impacts of climate change including more extreme weather and flooding are once again putting these ageing structures and their safety standards under serious strain.
The breach in the Eigiau Dam where the channel conveyed water across the plateau to the Coedty reservoir two miles downstream.

Industry Minister to address energy conference

UK Government Industry Minister Chris McDonald is to address a Durham Energy Institute conference on renewable energy transition.
Male wearing suit and tie, looking at camera. Head and shoulders shot

Children’s views could help shape better mask design

A new study from our Psychology Department has found that children’s views on the design and comfort of air pollution masks could be key to encouraging their regular use.
A child wearing K95 mask

New exhibition celebrates women who live and breathe North East football

The stories of female fans of Newcastle and Sunderland men’s football teams are celebrated in a new online and pop-up exhibition at Durham University.
A crowd of football fans with the words: Away from home. The untold stories of women football fans

New telescope captures first light in Chile

A major milestone in a global telescope collaboration involving astronomers from our Department of Physics has been achieved.
Images showing 4MOST first light observations, showing typical sky area covered by one 4MOST pointing (image to the left), together with one example spectrum, out of the 2,400 simultaneously measured spectra acquired by 4MOST (image to the right).

Commercially sourced wildflower seeds may threaten Britain’s native red campion

Scientists at from our Biosciences Department working with colleagues from the University of Liverpool, have discovered that shop-bought wildflower seeds may be putting Britain’s native plants at risk.
Red campion wildflower

Durham alumna Claudia Moloney-MacDonald crowned World Champion with the Red Roses

Congratulations to Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Economics, Josephine Butler College, 2018), who celebrated victory with the Red Roses women’s rugby squad on Saturday 27 September.
A huddle of Durham women's rugby players gather on the field ahead of a game.

From selection to studio: how our University Challenge team was built

A student team from Durham competed in the 55th series of seminal BBC Two quiz show University Challenge.
  • Will England’s new reading test for secondary pupils be useful?

    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.
    A group of children in school uniform sitting round a table reading with a female teacher in a white shirt
  • Raila Odinga: the man who changed Kenya without ever ruling it

    Professor Justin Willis, in our Department of History, joins fellow researchers in looking at the life of prominent Kenyan politician Raila Amollo Odinga following his death. They say Odinga’s “absence will generate a political vacuum that other leaders will struggle to fill”.
    Raila Odinga speaking at an event. He is wearing a suit and tie and standing in front of a backdrop which reads Chatham House.
  • Debate to consider SEND 'crisis'

    A leading Member of Parliament (MP) will discuss how to solve the ‘crisis’ in how mainstream schools cater for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) when she speaks on campus in October.
    A woman, visible from shoulders upwards, looking directly at camera

Raila Odinga: the man who changed Kenya without ever ruling it

Professor Justin Willis, in our Department of History, joins fellow researchers in looking at the life of prominent Kenyan politician Raila Amollo Odinga following his death. They say Odinga’s “absence will generate a political vacuum that other leaders will struggle to fill”.
Raila Odinga speaking at an event. He is wearing a suit and tie and standing in front of a backdrop which reads Chatham House.

Debate to consider SEND 'crisis'

A leading Member of Parliament (MP) will discuss how to solve the ‘crisis’ in how mainstream schools cater for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) when she speaks on campus in October.
A woman, visible from shoulders upwards, looking directly at camera

What’s on in Durham this autumn

The new academic year is upon us, and we’re ready and raring to go with some events you won’t want to miss out on.
A mixed group of silhouettes in various poses standing under theatre lights surrounded by shadows

Combining global and local, on the world stage

We are a global university and proudly part of North East England. That is the message our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, took to the Times Higher Education’s World Academic Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recently.

Upcoming events

  • Sweeney Todd

    Tuesday 18 November 2025 - Saturday 22 November 2025
    7:30 PM to 11:00 PM
    Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre
    Sweeney Todd Poster
  • Postgraduate online academic sessions

    Thursday 16 October 2025 - Friday 28 November 2025
    9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    Online
    Student working on laptop
  • Dona Nobis Pacem

    Wednesday 19 November 2025 - Wednesday 19 November 2025
    7:45 PM to 9:15 PM
    Newcastle Cathedral
    Choral Society in Newcastle Cathedral
  • Saturnalia Trail

    Monday 1 December 2025 - Sunday 4 January 2026
    11:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    Museum of Archaeology
    An illustration of a Roman oil lamp

Sweeney Todd

Tuesday 18 November 2025 - Saturday 22 November 2025
7:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre
Sweeney Todd Poster

Postgraduate online academic sessions

Thursday 16 October 2025 - Friday 28 November 2025
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Online
Student working on laptop

Dona Nobis Pacem

Wednesday 19 November 2025 - Wednesday 19 November 2025
7:45 PM to 9:15 PM
Newcastle Cathedral
Choral Society in Newcastle Cathedral

Saturnalia Trail

Monday 1 December 2025 - Sunday 4 January 2026
11:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Museum of Archaeology
An illustration of a Roman oil lamp

From our Student Blogs:

City, Campus, or both? Gossip Girl meets Gilmore Girls: Why Durham gives you the best of both worlds

Torn between big-city buzz and cosy campus charm? Olivia, a third-year International Relations student, explains how Durham offers the perfect mix of both.
Read Olivia's blog
St Mary's College in Autumn

 

 

This is the image alt text

Postgraduate study at Durham University

Our taught Masters and research programmes will enable you to push the boundaries of current thinking and research.

Hear from some of our postgraduate students about what they like about studying at Durham.

Discover postgraduate study