Accommodation
Accommodation at Hatfield is varied and full of character. Some of our Hatfield buildings are historic, listed buildings while others are more modern and purpose built. The majority of our buildings are on 'The Bailey' with splendid views of the Cathedral, but we also have properties away from the historic core of Durham.
Sharing a room...
Hatfield students congregate in a Hatfield bedroom
As a first year undergraduate you will 'live-in' College and about 60% of our first-years will be in same-gender, shared twin rooms. Lots of students are apprehensive at first about the possibility of sharing a room with another person. But the experience of sharing is almost always a happy experience, and has proved to be popular with our students.
Sharing a room seems to be one of the best ways to make friends. As part of the final preparation to coming to Hatfield you will be asked for information about your interests and habits, so we can carefully match you up with your room-mate. But if things do go wrong, we are more than happy to listen and where we can, make alternative arrangements. One student said...
"Living in a shared room in first year is a wonderful opportunity for social interaction from the start of your Hatfield life! Room mates are chosen very carefully, and it's likely that you'll make a friend for life."
In an extensive questionnaire survey of all first-year students in 2008 we found that 89% of students who shared rooms said that sharing has been a positive experience for them, and had significantly contributed to their first year at college. Over a third of those who had shared a room in their first year went on to continue to share accommodation with their room-mate when they lived out in the second year.
After first year...
All first years 'live-in'. For students in other years who want to live-in, Hatfield offers as many places as possible. Most students choose to live-out in rented accommodation in their second year and come back to live-in College in their third year. Some students live-in for all of their 3 or 4 years here. All second year and subsequent year students have single rooms which are allocated by a ballot system.
To let you know...
All undergraduate applicants to Hatfield should be aware that in recent years we have housed a small number of first year students in buildings that are in the grounds of another college. For example, we have used Wear Block at Van Mildert and Shoichi Hall in the grounds of St. Mary's College. This may occur due to circumstances beyond our control such as refurbishment of our existing stock, or because our intake of Returners or Freshers is higher than anticipated. Students who are allocated a room away from the main site of College need not worry about this. No matter where you are housed, your room will be 'University approved', distance is not far, and membership of Hatfield guarantees you full access to all our facilities and opportunities to fully participate in College life.
When rooms need to be allocated away from the main site of College, students are usually selected on academic grounds. The decision is made in consultation with the JCR Exec, and those affected will be notified as soon as possible after August confirmation.
