60 years young – celebrating community from Graduate Society to Ustinov College

Where did it all begin?  

Founded in 1965 by Durham geography professor, William Bayne Fisher, the Graduate Society’s mission was to help postgraduates with accommodation and build a community where members could meet informally. It began with 19 students based at 38 Old Elvet in Durham. The following academic year, Graduate Society numbers had swelled to 94: 86 men and 8 women. 

The early years and becoming Ustinov 

In 1998, the College moved to Howlands Farm, which became the first formal accommodation site for the College. Howlands Farm has since become home to Stephenson College.  

Toward the end of Sir Peter Ustinov’s tenure as Chancellor of the University, the Graduate Society was formally announced as a college for postgraduate students only. At this time, in 2003, the name was changed to honour the Chancellor and the college became Ustinov College. The House Committee became the Graduate Common Room and in 2005,  Zu'bi Al-Zu'bi, President of the GCR, coined the college motto: Diversitate Valemus, which means ‘strength through diversity’, a fitting tribute to students of more than 90 nationalities that have called Ustinov home during their education in Durham! 

In 2005, the first college formal was held and the Ustinov Intercultural Forum was established to provide a formal setting to discuss members' cultures and build bridges. The Forum established multiple discussion groups to promote lifetime learning: Café Politique, Scientifique and des Arts. Today the Forum is better known as the award-winning Global Citizenship Programme.

Moving to its current home 

In 2017, Ustinov College moved to its current Sheraton Park site and is now home to 1,400 post-graduate and PhD students from over 90 countries around the globe.  

Today the College strives to be a safe, motivating and enjoyable environment that nurtures global citizenship, enables College members to grow intellectually and socially, and facilitates the development of an enduring and mutually rewarding relationship with the College, University and people and communities of North East England. 

Our 60th anniversary celebrations 

The celebrations will begin with a March Formal for current students, hosted at Ustinov’s previous home at Howlands Farm. 

A big weekend 

The whole College community, students from the past and present, our staff and the wider postgraduate community along with their families will be invited to celebrate with us on the weekend of the 18 –20 July.  

Friday Formal  

A formal dinner will be held in the Great Hall of Durham Castle, home of University College on Friday 18 July.  

Family fun on Ustinov Day 

Ustinov Day will be held on Saturday 19 July at Collingwood College. The Ustinov GCR will be welcoming students and their families for a day of amusement rides, dancing and treats. Come along and have some fun! 

Sculpture unveiling 

We are so proud of the special sculptures produced for our 50th anniversary, we are planning a sculpture to commemorate our 60th.  This will be unveiled on Sunday 20 July at Sheraton Park.  

Continuing celebrations 

The celebrations will continue into next term when we will be joined by some of our remarkable alumni to create a series of podcast talks spotlighting Ustinov's diverse community, and share their work and experiences with current students.

We will also be creating a special 60th anniversary edition of our scholarly college magazine, 'Pantomath', which will feature notable research from Ustinov alumni.