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Hatfield College

Full-Time Students

College Membership for full-time postgraduate students

Hatfield has approximately 200 full-time postgraduate students. Whether you are studying for a one year course (e.g. Masters, PGCE or Diploma) or for a longer course such as a Doctorate, you are part of Hatfield College. We hope you will enjoy and benefit from all that College membership offers as best you can, and make a contibution to the life of the College.

The University offers a guarantee of single accommodation in a college or college-managed accommodation to applicants whose full-time course starts in September/October of the next academic year. However, this accommodation may not necessarily be in the applicants' first choice college. To qualify for the accommodation guarantee, you need to:

  1. Accept your offer to study to Durham.
  2. Apply for accommodation using the online accommodation application form as soon as possible after 1 March and before 1 July in the year immediately prior to the start of your degree course. The Colleges' Postgraduate Office will send you the application form.
  3. Sign and return your accommodation licence agreement no later than 2 weeks after it has been sent to you.

We recommend that you download and read our postgraduate booklet which will tell you more about the life of the College. Other sections of our website may also be of interest to you.

Welfare Support for full-time students

Pastoral support of all its students is at the heart of Hatfield College, and has a vital role in helping its students to attain their best in their studies.

As a full-time student you may be living in college accommodation or living out in your own home or private rented accommodation. You may be trying to balance family commitments and academic study, and you may face some difficult issues. We are here to support your learning.

The College offers welfare and pastoral support to its students through the Senior Tutor, and the Tutor for Postgraduates (Dr. Anthony Bash).

The first 'port of call' for postgraduates is Anthony Bash, you may contact him by email (anthony.bash@durham.ac.uk) or by telephone (+44 (0)191 334 2636). You are also welcome to arrange a one-to-one meeting with him.

We do not offer academic advice; for this, you should contact your department. However, we do offer pastoral and welfare help to support your learning.

Working with you and your department

We offer advice and support if you want to apply for a 'concession', that is, a request that falls outside what is permitted within the regulations of the University. These are usually on academic, compassionate, employment, financial, medical or personal grounds. Concessions usually relate to your degree programme or to assessment.

We can also offer you advice about how to go about advising your Department if you face 'serious adverse circumstances'.

The University defines such circumstances as 'exceptional personal circumstances' that are outside your control and that have prevented you from either acquiring or demonstrating the skills, knowledge or competencies required to meet the learning outcomes associated with an assessment for your course.

See further details about what the University regards as 'serious adverse circumstances', what can be done to mitigate their effects and how to apply for the circumstances to be taken into account.

Benefits of Membership of Hatfield College

As a member of the College, Hatfield is your College in Durham. You will also be a member of the Middle Common Room (MCR) of the College. Browse the MCR's own website for more information on their activities and the life of postgraduates in Durham. (Further details about membership of the MCR are below.)

Membership of the College entitles you to use the facilities of the College. These include the library, reading room, public IT facilities, two gyms (if you join Team Durham and after an induction), laundry and TV room. Perhaps most importantly, when meals are available during term-time you are welcome to eat in the dining hall. Details of meal availability and costs may be obtained from the Receptionist at the Porters' Lodge. You may also buy meal tickets from the Receptionist.

As a Full Member of the Middle Common Room, you will be able to use the lounge and recreational facilities at James Barber House, our dedicated postgraduate residence. This also applies to those postgraduate students who live out. The MCR has an active social calendar and you will be welcome to join in with social events and to meet other postgraduate students.

You will be eligible to apply for self-catered accommodation in the College at student rates. The College is in the ancient heart of Durham City, very close to the Cathedral and the Castle.

In addition, you will be eligible to apply for grants from the Hatfield Trust.

Membership of the Hatfield Association, is for life and enables you to participate in alumni events. You will also receive the annual Hatfield Record to stay in touch with the College and its students.

As a Member, the College will:

  • Keep you informed about College life by regular emails.
  • Help disseminate to you non-academic information about the University either in response to your requests for information or (more generally) in emails from the College.
  • Through its website, provide you with responsive sources of information about and opportunities in the College and University.

Anthony Bash (anthony.bash@durham.ac.uk) is the College's designated point of contact (independent of your Department) available to:

  • Help you navigate University and student processes.
  • Offer support with membership and graduation enquiries.
  • Respond to individual requests for pastoral support by email and pre-arranged Skype conference calls.
  • Provide appropriate non-academic support, especially in relation to liaison with your department, to maintaining a healthy work/life balance and in the unfortunate (and rare) instances of plagiarism or disciplinary hearings.
  • Offer advice on how to apply for University concessions in relation to assignments and deadlines if, for example, you are ill or face serious adverse circumstances that prevent you from fulfilling your academic commitments on time or to the best of your ability.

Fees for Full Membership of the Middle Common Room

There is a small cost for being an Full Member of the Middle Common Room. This is in addition to any residential charge and the tuition fees for your course.

  • An annual payment of £50 for full membership of the Middle Common Room. This will enable you to use the facilities of the Middle Common Room when you are in Durham (including James Barber House) and to attend formal meals in College.
  • A one-off fee of £10 for life-time membership of the Hatfield Association*. The Association organises reunions in Durham and elsewhere and helps keep alumni engaged with the College. As a member, you would receive a copy of the annual Hatfield Record.
  • A one-off contribution of £10 to the Hatfield Trust*. The Trust supports the learning and recreational activities of Hatfield students. You will be eligible to apply for grants from the Trust that are open to MCR members.

* Fees for the Hatfield Trust and Association for Hatfield undergraduates progressing to postgraduate study are waived as these were paid as an undergraduate student.