We believe everyone should have access to a good pension scheme to save for retirement. Our main schemes provide valuable benefits to you, as well as protection for your family.
USS is the main workplace pension scheme in the higher education sector. It is open to staff in roles that are grade 6 and above. New starters are contractually (i.e. automatically) enrolled into USS (under a salary sacrifice arrangement) but can choose to opt-out.
This is a new defined contribution scheme that is available to staff with an employment contract in grades 1 to 5 that start from 1 November 2024.
The scheme is part of the Mercer Master Trust and is administered by Aviva. It will be the auto enrolment scheme that applies to new employees in grades 1 to 5 that start on or after 1 November 2024.
This is our defined benefit scheme that is available to staff with an employment contract (and contracted hours) in grades 1 to 5 whose continuous employment started before 1 November 2024.
Eligible staff can elect to join DUPS instead of our other available options. A guide showing the differences between DUPS, the Aviva Basic Pension Scheme and DURSP can be accessed from the link below.
If you have any queries about your eligibility to join DUPS given upcoming changes to the provision for employees in Grades 1 to 5, please email pensions@durham.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
This is our current auto enrolment scheme for all staff in grades 1 to 5, who are employed by the University before 1 November 2024. The scheme is part of the Mercer Master Trust and is administered by Aviva.
Staff with an employment contract in grades 1 to 5 who join the University prior to 1 November 2024 will be enrolled into this scheme when they meet the statutory criteria. They also have the option of joining DUPS instead, or from 1 November 2024 the option of joining DURSP.
From 1 November 2024, the new DURSP scheme detailed above will become the auto enrolment scheme for staff with an employment contract in grades 1 to 5.
Colleagues with casual terms of engagement only are enrolled into the Aviva Basic Pension Scheme when they meet the statutory criteria for auto enrolment. They are not eligible to join DUPS or DURSP and the Aviva Basic Pension Scheme will continue to be auto enrolment scheme for casual workers after 1 November 2024.
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