Durham University
Durham University can be described as a university located in County Durham. Its legal and official name is ‘University of Durham’. This name was acquired in 1832 by the enactment of Parliament Act. It obtained the ‘Royal Charter’ in the year 1837. This university is reported to the 3rd oldest after Oxford, Cambridge. It stands on River Wear, in Stockton-on-Tees.
Durham falls in the category of collegiate universities. Its major functions have been divided between central departments of University and sixteen colleges. As a general function, the tasks of performing research and providing students with centralized lectures are carried out by the departments, whereas welfare and domestic arrangements of graduates, undergraduates, and university staff are looked after by the colleges. The decision regarding admission of students lies with the colleges. They can carry out the appointments of senior members as well.
Bill Bryson is the University’s Chancellor. He had been appointed by Convocation of the University on 4th of April, 2005. The honor of ‘Sunday Times University of the Year’ was conferred upon Durham University in the year 2005. It had been short listed for this award in the year 2004. The graduates’ post-nominal letters have the word ‘Dunelm’ attached in order to indicate university.
Origins
Theological teaching was prevalent in Durham from the ancient times. This resulted in numerous attempts of forming a university over there. The patents regarding this were issued by Oliver Cromwell and King Henry VIII. They thereby had fellows and a proctor nominated to establish a college in the year 1657. However, Cambridge and Oxford expressed a deep concern regarding this. They started feeling insecure about the Durham University. They tried creating obstacles but could not succeed. Finally, the efforts of Archdeacon Charles Thorp and Bishop of Durham bore fruit. And the Durham University came into being in 1832. Students were provided accommodation in Archdeacon’s INN between 1833 and 1837. The order with respect to this was issued by the Queen-in-Council. Thereby, Durham Castle was granted permission to be used as the university’s college. This Act received the Royal Assent and acquired the status of law on the 4th of July, 1832. The first batch passed out in 1837.
19th century
The year 1846 marked the establishment of Bishop Hatfield’s Hall. It was later rechristened to Hatfield College. It provided affordable lodgings to students with communal eating (fully catered). Those seeking education from University College had to get a servant to handle cleaning, cooking, and other household activities. After that, the expansion of University into Newcastle took place in 1852. Accordingly, the school of medicine running over there got affiliated to the Durham University.
20th century
St John’s College and St Chad’s College (both belonging to Anglican foundations) got added to Durham University in 1909 and 1904 respectively. The 20th century witnessed the emergence of Grey College (1959), Durham Business School (1965), Collingwood College (1972), and many more.
Queen’s Campus
The year 1992 witnessed the establishment of JUCOT (Joint University College on Teeside of the Universities of Durham and Teeside) at Stockton-on-Tees which is located at a distance of twenty-three miles to Durham’s south.
Academic Year
Academic year consists of 3 terms. The duration of Michaelmas term is ten weeks (October-December), Epiphany term-nine weeks (January –March), and Easter term-nine weeks (April-July).