Masters Degrees in Durham, United Kingdom

The town of Durham is one of the oldest centres of higher education in England, situated in the north of the country, 230 miles from London. It is home to one historic higher education institution, Durham University, with around 18,000 local students.

What’s it like to study a Masters in Durham?

Whilst studying a Masters in Durham you’ll enjoy life in a city with a proud academic legacy and a broader history reflected in its many heritage sites. In addition to its famous castle and cathedral, several parts of the University itself are listed buildings and there are over 600 in the city as a whole.

One of the highlights of Durham’s calendar is the annual Miners’ Gala, which takes place in July and usually attracts a crowd of 100,000. A procession of banners accompanied by a brass band, it is the largest gathering of its kind in the UK and can trace its roots back to 1869.

Though Durham is relatively small, it is a short distance from other major metropolitan centres in the north of England, including Newcastle and Sunderland. As such it can provide an excellent scenic base from which to take advantage of the shopping and entertainment opportunities in these cities, or to access their universities and facilities.

Universities in Durham

After Oxford and Cambridge, Durham is generally held to be England’s third-oldest university town, with the University of Durham having been founded in 1832 and begun awarding degrees with a royal charter in 1837. Prior to this establishment, Durham was already a historic town and renowned centre of learning, centred on its Norman cathedral and castle (now both part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Today Durham University is usually ranked within the top 100 higher education institutions worldwide and in or around the top five in Britain.

Careers in Durham

County Durham offers some excellent employment opportunities for talented postgraduates, with traditional strengths in high-tech sectors like advanced manufacturing and engineering. Hitachi Rail Europe’s headquarters for high speed trains in based in the region, while multinational bearings company NSK also has a presence in County Durham.