Why Students Choose Us:

Butler is an inclusive college, taking students from any background and aims to provide a vibrant social environment, but one which is consistent with the aims of Durham University to intertwine academic and personal development.

Josephine Butler College is Durham's youngest college, having opened in 2006. It has around 800 students, taking in about 230 new undergraduates and about 30 new postgraduates each year.  It is named after the 19th Century social reformer, Josephine Butler, who had a profound influence on society's view of women's health and education.

Butler is fully en-suite, self-catering and prides itself in keeping up the collegiate traditions of encouraging involvement across the College from all its members.

It is beautiful, shiny and new. It has a good mix of people from all walks of life and you really get a sense of things there for the taking if you want it as students run most of the day to day activities. It is simply wonderful

Student Experience Survey

Latest News

New Kitchen

The Bar and Library Cafe arguably holds the best position on the Hill with its sunny aspect, and great open space. It has a cosmopolitan, friendly feel throughout the year and is the hub of Josephine Butler College.  

To add to Josephine Butlers already established Bar, Café and successful pizza offering we have just opened our new bar kitchen. The kitchen was built over the Christmas period with thanks to the commitment of Estates & Buildings Lesley Ballantyne. Our new kitchen is now able to offer a wide range of bar food (see the chalk boards in the bar for our menu of the week)! 

The new menu includes . . . The Ultimate Burger N Chips, Chicken Jalfrezei or Raj Vegetable Curry (served with basmati rice, mango chutney & popadum), Beef & Ale Casserole (served with crusty bread), Penne Arrabbiata, and ‘Chip Shop Style’ Jumbo Fish & Chips with mushy peas to mention but a few!

The new bar food menu is available on Monday – Friday from 6pm until 10pm and Saturday & Sunday from 3pm until 10pm with prices starting from as little as £1 for a bowl of chips, pasta £2.95, Ultimate Burger N Chips £3.75, Curries from £3.75 and our great pizza from £3.20!

Butler Eggheads

A team of Butler students and alums (aka The JB’s) appeared on the BBC’s popular quiz show, Eggheads this month, hosted by Jeremy Vine.  The team made up of Matthew Maycock (captain), Charlie Wren, Jascha Widecki, Jo Wootton and Leo Kitchen unfortunately did not manage to defeat the infamous Eggheads but gave them a real run for their money, with three of the JB’s beating the Eggheads in the 1 to 1 rounds.

Well done to all and better luck next time!