Durham University

Durham, UK

QS World 2026 · #89

England's third-oldest university, collegiate like Oxbridge but smaller and single-city.

About Durham

Durham runs a collegiate system similar to Oxford and Cambridge — students belong to one of its colleges as well as the university — making it one of the closest experiences to Oxbridge outside Oxford and Cambridge themselves. Its Cathedral and Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sit at the heart of a compact, walkable city campus.

Why students choose it

  • Collegiate system modelled on Oxbridge
  • UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and castle at the heart of campus
  • England's third-oldest university

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Typical entry grades

A*AA (A Level)  ·  IB 37

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£28,000–£38,000/yr

high tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, Durham

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Durham's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: LNAT (some universities)

Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

History

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Mathematics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · STEP / TMUA (top universities)

Natural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

See where Durham ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether Durham is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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More UK universities

Durham FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Durham as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Durham?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Durham expects around A*AA at A Level or 37 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Durham's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Durham's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Durham cost for international students?

International tuition at Durham typically falls in the £28,000–£38,000/yr range (high tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Durham's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Durham?

Durham follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on Durham's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Durham?

UK universities, including Durham, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is Durham known for?

England's third-oldest university, collegiate like Oxbridge but smaller and single-city. Durham runs a collegiate system similar to Oxford and Cambridge — students belong to one of its colleges as well as the university — making it one of the closest experiences to Oxbridge outside Oxford and Cambridge themselves. Its Cathedral and Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sit at the heart of a compact, walkable city campus.

Can I apply to Durham with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Durham accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Durham and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to Durham? Get free application support.

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