Durham University

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.

About Durham University

Durham University was founded by the Durham University Act 1832, which received royal assent on 4 July 1832, and was incorporated by royal charter in 1837.^[11] An earlier college set up under Oliver Cromwell in 1657 was abandoned at the Restoration in 1660, so the 1832 Act is treated as the true founding.^[11]

The university is collegiate: it has 17 colleges, and students join one of them.^[1][13] The main campus is in the city of Durham; Queen’s Campus in Stockton-on-Tees now operates as the Durham University International Study Centre, which runs foundation and pre-master’s pathway programmes.^[11][14]

How is Durham University ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026) Durham is 85th, up nine places on the previous edition. The ranking assessed 8,808 institutions. Durham’s strongest category was sustainability (joint 24th); it was 49th for employer reputation.^[2]

In the 2027 UK league tables Durham is sixth in all three main guides, the Complete University Guide, the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the Guardian University Guide.^[12] The university also reports 22 subjects in the world top 100 of the QS subject rankings 2026.^[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Durham University?

Durham lists 27 academic departments and schools and offers more than 150 undergraduate courses, more than 100 postgraduate courses and more than 100 research degree programmes.^[1] According to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027, 30 of its subjects are in the UK top ten, with Archaeology and Classics and Ancient History ranked first.^[12]

Every student belongs to a college, which provides accommodation and community life alongside departmental teaching. The colleges include Hatfield, Grey, Trevelyan, University College (Castle), Van Mildert, St Aidan’s, St Chad’s, Ustinov and South College.^[13]

International students who do not yet meet direct-entry requirements can look at the International Foundation Year and Pre-Masters pathways at the Durham University International Study Centre.^[14]

How much does Durham University cost for international students?

The fees below are the figures Durham published on its course pages in November 2026 for courses starting in September 2027. Fees are quoted in pounds sterling (GBP) per year of full-time study.

Sources: ^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Home and international fee status

Durham charges a lower Home rate and a higher Overseas (international) rate. Which one applies depends on nationality and where you are ordinarily resident, using the fee-status criteria for higher education in England.^[15] The Home undergraduate fee is £9,790 for courses starting in 2026/27 and £10,050 in 2027/28, subject to parliamentary approval. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are no longer eligible for Home fees unless they hold rights under the relevant citizens’ rights agreements.^[16] Students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should use the fee-status check; we did not find a separate rate for them on the pages we read.

Fees can rise during your course

For students starting in 2025/26 or later, international fees are subject to an annual inflationary increase. The fee on the course page is for the first year only; later-year fees are confirmed at least three months before the year they apply to.^[16]

Deposit and other costs

All postgraduate taught courses require international applicants with an unconditional offer to pay a tuition-fee deposit; the amount is not given on the page we read.^[17] Tuition is only part of the bill. For living costs and scholarship options, see the university’s international fees pages and our United Kingdom guide.

How do you apply to Durham University?

• Undergraduate: applications are made through UCAS, the UK’s central admissions service. Durham’s own guide walks through registering with UCAS and choosing courses; check the course page for the entry grades and the relevant deadline.^[18]
• Postgraduate taught: Durham runs a separate application route through its postgraduate pages, and international applicants pay a fee deposit once they hold an unconditional offer.^[14][17]
• Visa: applicants who are not British or Irish may need a student visa before travelling. The type of permission depends on the course.^[14]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by course. Follow your course page and the university’s application guidance.

Which English level do you need?

If English is not your first language, you must show your ability in spoken and written English. Durham accepts a range of tests and qualifications, and the level depends on the department and level of study.^[19]

• Direct Entry Band A: IELTS 7.0 overall with no component under 6.5.^[9]
• Direct Entry Band B: IELTS 6.5 overall with no component under 6.0. Other tests listed for this band include PTE Academic 62 (at least 59 in each skill), Duolingo English Test 120 (at least 110 in each sub-score) and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176 (at least 169 per component).^[8]

Use the university’s subject search to find the band for your own course. Applicants below the direct-entry level can look at pre-sessional or English-preparation routes, and anyone who has already completed a degree taught in English may be exempt from a further test.^[19]

More about studying in United Kingdom (UK)

• United Kingdom (UK): best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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