Durham University
Durham University is a public university founded by act of parliament in 1832, which places its students in one of seventeen colleges. It is a member of the Russell Group and takes undergraduate applications through UCAS.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. Durham University is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is Durham University?
Durham University is a public university based in Durham, founded in 1832 by act of parliament. Students belong to one of seventeen colleges, and it is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.
The college system is the defining structure: every student is a member of a college, which provides accommodation, dining and a social life separate from the academic department. Durham Cathedral and the castle, a World Heritage Site, sit at the centre of the city.
02
Which subjects stand out at Durham University?
The subjects Durham University is known for are law, the humanities, the physical sciences, business and economics, engineering and the social sciences. Engineering is taught under a general engineering structure rather than as separate degrees from year one.
law
the LLB and postgraduate programmes
the humanities
English, history, archaeology and theology in the faculty of arts and humanities
the physical sciences
physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science in the faculty of science
business and economics
taught in Durham University Business School
engineering
general engineering with electrical, mechanical and civil specialisms
the social sciences
psychology, education and geography in the faculty of social sciences and health
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at Durham University?
Durham University admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.5 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at Durham University?
Durham University publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Durham?
Durham is a small university city known for its cathedral and castle, and the departments and most of the seventeen colleges are within walking distance of the centre. Every student belongs to a college and most live in one in the first year.
The colleges run their own sports teams, societies and formal dinners, so a great deal of student life happens inside them rather than centrally. Newcastle is around fifteen minutes away by train.
06
How is an application to Durham University made?
Undergraduate applications to Durham University go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to Durham University directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.5 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does Durham University issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. Durham University appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- Russell Group — The institution is one of the 24 research-intensive universities in the Russell Group. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- Discover Uni — Course-level continuation, outcome and student satisfaction data are published by Discover Uni. — 26 August 2026
- Durham University — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
