Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

We nurture thoughtful, critical and engaged citizens for a rapidly changing and complex world.

We are proud to be recognised as a leading Faculty of Arts and Humanities worldwide and to exercise the responsibilities that this position brings with it. We set out to provide leadership in the Arts and Humanities nationally and internationally; our work is intended to enrich, shape and transform lives. We nurture thoughtful, critical and engaged citizens for a rapidly changing and complex world.

Vision and mission

Prebends bridge with Cathedral in background

Durham is University of the Year 2026

We are The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide University of the Year 2026. We are also joint runner-up University of the Year for Graduate Employment and ranked third overall, up two places from last year.

Explore our Departments

If you are considering studying one of our undergraduate or postgraduate programmes, then we’d invite you to explore our website to find out more about our Departments and the innovative research-led education that we offer.

See all Arts and Humanities Departments

Welcome to new and prospective students

If you are joining us this year, we know you’ve worked really hard for this. We’ve also worked hard to provide an intellectually challenging programme of studies for your time with us and are looking forward to welcoming you to our academic community. Congratulations and welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Durham!

Welcome to Durham

Transformative Humanities

Transformative Humanities harnesses the effectiveness and power of humanities research and education to link across fields and sectors enriching, shaping, and transforming lives.

Find out more about the Transformative Humanities

Postgraduate funding opportunities

Ready to begin your PhD in 2026/27? Apply for our studentships, including the new Transformative Humanities awards. Learn more and apply.

Talking Humanities Podcast

In this episode, learn more about the establishment of game studies, film to video game adaptations, participatory games development, issues around archiving our games heritage, and how gaming can transform the way we think about culture and the humanities.

Listen to the latest Talking Humanities podcast

World-leading status affirmed in QS World University Rankings 2026

Durham University has been named in the QS World University Rankings world top 100, a position it has achieved every year since 2010. The rankings have confirmed the University’s strong global reputation for employability (64th) and it is also 22nd in the world for sustainability.

Learn more about the QS World University Rankings

Meet our students and staff from North America

Find out more about our students and members of staff from North America studying and working across all our departments.

Find out more about our departments

Faculty of Arts and Humanities on LinkedIn

Get updates and stay in touch - follow us on LinkedIn!

Visit Faculty of Arts and Humanities LinkedIn page

What's new?

Filter:

Global recognition for innovative teaching

The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.

Durham news
Lights, camera, action: new programme supports students aiming for screen careers

Students aspiring to careers in film and television will get extra support to achieve their goals, thanks to a new programme.

Student news
Durham Hosts Week of Events Honouring Black History and Reparative Justice

A vibrant week of events (20–23 October 2025) will take place across Durham, exploring Black history, reparative justice, and decolonial thought. Organised as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, the programme brings together scholars, students, and community members for walking tours, film screenings, and keynote lectures that highlight critical conversations around race, memory, and historical responsibility.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Collaborating with Action for ME to improve understanding of ME

Dr Katharine Cheston, from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Sociology, is working with the charity Action for ME to better understand what it is like to live with ME and long Covid.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
The new archbishop of Canterbury has already made history – but she has huge challenges ahead

Dr William Crozier, Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies, in our Department of Theology and Religion, discusses the challenges facing the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Global research
Church of England must do more to recognise dangers of spiritual authority

The Church of England must do more to create a culture in which spiritual authority is handled safely, according to a new report from Durham University.

Research news
Using computers to track the changing sound of bands

Coldplay, Radiohead or R.E.M. – which band has changed their music the most over the years?

Research news

Global recognition for innovative teaching

The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.

Durham news

Three people holding an awards certificate

Lights, camera, action: new programme supports students aiming for screen careers

Students aspiring to careers in film and television will get extra support to achieve their goals, thanks to a new programme.

Student news

Six people sitting in a theatre, backed by pull-up banners

Durham Hosts Week of Events Honouring Black History and Reparative Justice

A vibrant week of events (20–23 October 2025) will take place across Durham, exploring Black history, reparative justice, and decolonial thought. Organised as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, the programme brings together scholars, students, and community members for walking tours, film screenings, and keynote lectures that highlight critical conversations around race, memory, and historical responsibility.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Collaborating with Action for ME to improve understanding of ME

Dr Katharine Cheston, from our Institute for Medical Humanities and Department of Sociology, is working with the charity Action for ME to better understand what it is like to live with ME and long Covid.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Woman facing camera, smiling. Head and shoulders visible

The new archbishop of Canterbury has already made history – but she has huge challenges ahead

Dr William Crozier, Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies, in our Department of Theology and Religion, discusses the challenges facing the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Global research

A wider view of the cloister at Canterbury Cathedral

Church of England must do more to recognise dangers of spiritual authority

The Church of England must do more to create a culture in which spiritual authority is handled safely, according to a new report from Durham University.

Research news

Four lit candles with stained glass window in the background.

Using computers to track the changing sound of bands

Coldplay, Radiohead or R.E.M. – which band has changed their music the most over the years?

Research news

Lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, performing at a concert.

More news

Church of England must do more to recognise dangers of spiritual authority

The Church of England must do more to create a culture in which spiritual authority is handled safely, according to a new report from Durham University.

Research news
Using computers to track the changing sound of bands

Coldplay, Radiohead or R.E.M. – which band has changed their music the most over the years?

Research news
Durham hosts world’s first major international conference on critical neurodiversity studies

Over three hundred researchers, practitioners, and artists gathered in Durham and online for a three-day conference on Critical Neurodiversity Studies: Directions / Intersections / Contradictions.

Research news

Church of England must do more to recognise dangers of spiritual authority

The Church of England must do more to create a culture in which spiritual authority is handled safely, according to a new report from Durham University.

Using computers to track the changing sound of bands

Coldplay, Radiohead or R.E.M. – which band has changed their music the most over the years?

Durham hosts world’s first major international conference on critical neurodiversity studies

Over three hundred researchers, practitioners, and artists gathered in Durham and online for a three-day conference on Critical Neurodiversity Studies: Directions / Intersections / Contradictions.

Photograph of conference participants listening to a speaker.

The new archbishop of Canterbury has already made history – but she has huge challenges ahead

Dr William Crozier, Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies, in our Department of Theology and Religion, discusses the challenges facing the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Global research
Professor Janet Stewart highlights importance of arts and humanities at THE European Summit

Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, spoke at the Times Higher Education Europe Universities Summit in Budapest last week.

Global research
IMEMS receives major donation to address 21st century challenges through the prism of the past

Researchers at the University’s Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) have been awarded a significant philanthropic investment aimed at advancing research to address critical global challenges.

Global research

The new archbishop of Canterbury has already made history – but she has huge challenges ahead

Dr William Crozier, Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies, in our Department of Theology and Religion, discusses the challenges facing the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Professor Janet Stewart highlights importance of arts and humanities at THE European Summit

Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, spoke at the Times Higher Education Europe Universities Summit in Budapest last week.

IMEMS receives major donation to address 21st century challenges through the prism of the past

Researchers at the University’s Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) have been awarded a significant philanthropic investment aimed at advancing research to address critical global challenges.

Image of a skyline with a shooting star in the horizon

Global recognition for innovative teaching

The quality of teaching and learning that our students enjoy at Durham has been recognised at a global awards ceremony.

Durham news
Strengthening our landmark collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

We have welcomed Dr Anthea M. Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to our University – marking a significant milestone in our growing collaboration.

Durham news
Durham students visit Sweden for first Durham-Uppsala Summer School

Our students visited our partner university in Sweden for the first ever Durham-Uppsala Summer School, an exchange programme with a focus on sustainability.

Durham news