Winter Congregation: celebrating our newest graduates

12 January 2026

Celebration

Hundreds of students graduated in our Winter Congregation ceremonies in January, marking a milestone for our whole University community.

Held over two days in Durham Cathedral, the six ceremonies brought together over 1,500 graduands, their families and supporters from across the world.

Our students celebrated the successful completion of their degrees - involving years of hard work, resilience, and personal growth.

A lifelong connection with Durham

The ceremonies mark the beginning of new professional and academic journeys. All Durham graduates are welcomed into our 230,000 strong global community of alumni and supporters.

Addressing the ceremonies, Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O’Brien congratulated graduates on their achievements and encouraged them to make their connection with Durham a lifelong one.

Honouring outstanding contributions

We also conferred honorary degrees on four distinguished individuals whose work has made a significant impact locally, nationally and internationally.

Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE, a Durham alumnus and one of the Royal Navy’s most senior officers, received an Honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his exceptional leadership and service.

Yasmin Khan, founder of the Halo Project, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law for her pioneering work championing equality and strengthening protections for victims of abuse.

Sir Bob Murray CBE was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters for his transformative influence on football, education, and philanthropy in the North East of England and beyond.

Community advocate Heather Wood received an Honorary Master of Arts, recognising her decades of service to communities across County Durham through activism, creativity, and public service.

Find out more

Read more about Congregation at Durham.
Learn more about our honorary degree recipients.
Discover more about our Alumni Community.
Interested in studying at Durham? Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

From left, Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean (Arts and Humanities); Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden; Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor; Kathryn Moore (Bedel); and Professor Claire O'Malley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), at Congregation.

Students in Durham Castle Great Hall, preparing for Congregation.

Students process to Durham Cathedral for Congregation.

From left, Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor; Sir Bob Murray; Dr Shaid Mahmood, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion); and Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, pictured as Sir Bob received an honorary degree.

Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden; Vice Admiral Andrew Burns; Stephen Evans; Professor in Practice at the School of Government and International Affairs; and Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor, pictured as Vice Admiral Burns received an honorary degree.

From left: Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden; Heather Wood; Lynn Gibson (Institute Manager, Durham Energy Institute); and Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor, pictured as Heather received an honorary degree.

From left: Professor Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden; Yasmin Khan; and Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor, pictured as Yasmin received an honorary degree.