Congratulations to alumni George Bourne and Lauren Irwin on their medals at the World Rowing Championships, held at Shanghai’s Dianshan Lake from the 21–28 September.

Congratulations to Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Economics, Josephine Butler College, 2018), who celebrated victory with the Red Roses women’s rugby squad on Saturday 27 September. They became world champions at Twickenham, beating Canada 33 points to 13. Claudia’s success reflects the journeys of many Durham students and graduates who combine academic study with competing at the very highest level of sport.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration has been awarded the 2026 Lancelot M. Berkeley–New York Community Trust Prize for Meritorious Work in Astronomy.

A student team from Durham competed in the 55th series of seminal BBC Two quiz show University Challenge.

On 27 September 2025, our new undergraduate and postgraduate students will arrive in Stephenson College on a very significant day – it marks 200 years exactly since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

Alumna Stevie Martin (English Literature, St John’s College, 2006-2010) will be returning to Durham to perform her comedy show ‘Clout’ at the Gala Theatre on 23 October.

We have been named the UK’s University of the Year 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

We are hosting the 2025 Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Conference from 17-19 October. The Conference will be attended by more than 290 scholars, researchers and academic leads from the universities involved with the Laidlaw Foundation Leadership and Research Programme.

Our student baseball and softball club recorded their most successful season this past academic year. We catch up with the club’s outgoing President, Jaryd Mercer, to find out more.

Alumna Rebecca Daniel (Biological Sciences, St Mary’s College, 2014-17) has been selected as one of only five people to join a unique marine research expedition in Tonga, led by Arksen and charity 10% for the Ocean.

As a University community, we were saddened to hear of the recent death of our alumna and honorary graduate Biddy Baxter MBE. Her time spent in Durham in the 1950s played a formative role in an impressive career that influenced the lives of many young people.

Durham University Charity Fashion Show returns for its 43rd year with a renewed focus on alumni engagement, philanthropy, and community.