How to Apply

This page will help you when completing your application for a current vacancy at Durham University. To ensure that you provide us with all the information we need please read this guide carefully before submitting your application.

Searching for Jobs

You can search our current list of vacancies using the 'search and apply' function on the vacancy search page. By using the drop down menus you can search for jobs by the following criteria:

• job type
• position type
• contract type
• salary range
• location
• faculty/division
• department
• reference number

If you would like to view all of our current vacancies do not select any search criteria and just click 'search and apply'.

If you do not find a suitable vacancy from your original search, you can register for alerts from the Job Alerts page. By using alerts you will be sent an email notification when a new vacancy is advertised that meets your registered search criteria.

If you find a vacancy that you think a friend might be interested in, you can notify them by clicking 'Email these job details to a friend' at the bottom of the job details page. Follow the instructions and an email will be sent containing a link to the specific job details for your friend to view and apply; you can also include a personal message.

Making an Application

All our current vacancies are advertised online and applications are to be made via our website unless otherwise stated. If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Recruitment Team and alternative arrangements can be discussed according to your needs.

Applications can be saved and returned to once they have been started but must be completed before the job closing date. When completing the application, there are some mandatory fields you are required to include information for. These mandatory fields are marked with a red star.

Please ensure that you have read the full job description and that you have clearly evidenced the skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and any additional attributes as required in the person specification before submitting your application.

The usual application method is by CV and covering letter. For certain academic posts, you may also be asked to submit a piece of work - either recently published or accepted for publication - with your application. Where required, the job description will ask you to upload this additional document.

For some roles you may be asked some preliminary questions. These may relate to key criteria for the vacancy - depending on the answer, you may be ineligible to complete the application or depending on your response, you may be prompted to answer further questions relating to specific details or to test your knowledge in key areas of the job.

Once you have completed a section of your application a tick will appear next to the section description to indicate that it is complete. Once all sections are complete a 'submit here' link will appear allowing you to send your application to us. You can also print out a summary sheet showing the information you have submitted.

You will receive an automatic email acknowledgement when your application is received. 

You can keep track of the emails sent to you via the 'Your emails' link in your 'Jobs @ Durham' account.

Two Ticks Scheme

What is two ticks?

The two ticks symbol is awarded by Job Centre Plus to organisations in Great Britain who have agreed to take action to meet five commitments regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled employees.

The first of these commitments is to guarantee an interview to every disabled applicant who meets the minimum essential criteria of a person specification on a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities. If an applicant decides to disclose a disability the information will be provided to the shortlisting panel by the HR Recruitment Team. However this does not mean that the Department have to offer these applicants the job. They are guaranteed an interview, but have to be the best candidate for the job to actually get it. If they are not, there is no requirement to appoint them, provided that the reason why they are not appointable is not due to the fact that they are disabled.

Definition of disability

The two ticks scheme uses the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability. The Act states a disabled person is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term negative effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

A substantial effect is one that is greater than the effect which would be produced by the sort of physical or mental conditions experienced by many people which have only minor or trivial effects

A long term effect is one which has lasted at least twelve months or is likely to last longer than twelve months or the rest of the life of the person involved.

Any false declaration may result in any offer of appointment being withdrawn.

If you have any questions regarding the two ticks scheme, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Winship, Diversity Manager.

References

We will ask you as part of your application to provide a minimum of three referees who can provide information as to your suitability for the post and who you are happy for us to contact prior to interview. If you do not wish your current your current or most recent line manager to be contacted prior to interview, please provide thse details seperately in a free text question box.

Depending on the role, references will either be taken prior to interview or once you have been invited for interview.

Shortlisting

The shortlisting process begins on the first working day after the closing date for a vacancy. Applications will be individually assessed by the recruiting panel who will look for supporting evidence based on your compatibility with the requirements of the post. It is vital therefore that you clearly state in your application documents how you fit the essential and desirable criteria for the job. Candidates must meet all essential criteria in order to be considered for interview, in instances where we receive a high number of applications for a vacancy the desirable criteria can also be applied to help identify the best candidates.

You will be advised of the outcome of your application by email, the University makes every effort to complete the shortlisting process within a reasonable period of time. This is usually within 2 weeks after the closing date; however the process may take longer depending on the number of recruiters involved in the assessment and the time of year.

Feedback

We appreciate the time and effort applicants put into applying to the university and that those who are not shortlisted may find feedback useful. We receive over 12,000 applications each year and so regrettably we do not have the resources to offer feedback to applicants who are not offered an interview.

Interview Invitations

If you are shortlisted we will contact you via telephone and email to invite you to attend an interview. We will provide you with full details of the interview including format and a map.

Whilst we try to be as flexible as possible to accommodate your needs in assigning interview dates and times, it is often not possible to rearrange these due to other commitments the interview panel may have.

Interviews and Other Assessment

Preparation for interview

Your interview invitation will give you details of the date, time and location of your interview, together with details of any further assessment on the day.

Candidates are requested to confirm attendance at interview as soon as possible.

Interviews

The interview process can take a variety of forms including a panel interview or a less formal interview with the line manager of the post. More than one interview may be used for some positions.

Presentations

A variety of formats can be used, ranging from a simple session that demonstrates that the candidate can communicate effectively to a more complicated session which can measure a person's knowledge of a subject and their ability to organise ideas. Presentations are commonly used by the University and always for roles involving teaching.

You will be given some advance notice in your interview invite of the subject to be presented on the day. Some vacancies may test your ability to prepare and deliver a presentation at short notice, advising you of the subject matter on the day of the interview.

Exercises

You may be set an exercise to test one or more specific competencies relating to/necessary for the post.

For example a clerical position may measure a candidate's ability to prioritise their own workload and produce accurate documentation by setting an 'in-tray' exercise.

Assessment Centres

Some positions in the University may involve candidates attending more varied selection processes, often with group activities. Psychometric testing may also be used.

Interview expenses

The University will reimburse your travelling expenses at public transport rates (e.g. standard class rail fare) together with any necessary subsistence expenses incurred as a direct result of your attending for interview. Please note you will only be eligible to claim interview expenses if you have travelled greater than 60 miles in total to attend interview.

If you live overseas and are attending an interview for a post at Durham University we may be able to reimburse economy class airfare, this will be advised once you are invited for interview.

Reimbursement of expenses can only be made on production of receipts and completion of the interview expenses claim form (see below). Bar or telephone expenses will not be refunded.

The University reserves the right to refuse to reimburse expenses. Where it becomes clear that there was no intention of accepting the position if offered or where the University deem the expenses claimed to be unreasonable or outside of the expenses regulations.

Guidelines on interview expenses and a claim form

Offers of Employment

Notification of success

You may receive a verbal offer for appointment from a member of the recruiting panel; this could happen on the day of the interview or, if further deliberation is necessary, within a couple of days after the interview. However this will be depend on reference checks etc.

The University will follow up the verbal offer by sending you an email notification which will ask you log into your 'Jobs @ Durham' account where you will see the Job Offers section.

Inside the Job Offers section you will find full details of your offer including your job description, a printable version of your contract along with several documents that we will require you to complete and return to us at the earliest opportunity.

All information provided should be read and retained for reference.

HM Revenues and Customs - P45 & P46

As a requirement of HM Revenue and Customs and a development with RTI (real time information) of which the University is obliged to operate from May 2013.

All new starters are currently required either to provide a P45 form from their previous employer or to complete a P46 form if they had no previous employer. If they do not provide either then “emergency” measures can be taken. However, HM Revenue and Customs are to become stricter about this from May and require one or other of the forms. 

This is to bring your attention to the need to provide either form as part of the new starters process before any payment can be made. 

If you do not have a P45 or a previous employer, please complete a P46 form and return to the Recruitment Team.

Once you are in receipt of your P45 please send it to the Recruitment Team, Rowan House, Mountjoy Research Centre, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE.

Conditional offers

The University always makes offers of employment conditional on satisfactory employment clearances. Employment clearances include:

• Satisfactory application
• Satisfactory References
• Satisfactory Medical examination/questionnaire
• Satisfactory CRB disclosure - if applicable
• Research Passport - if applicable
• ISA - if applicable

Your contract letter will indicate if there are any conditions attached to your offer. If employment clearances or specified conditions are not met, the University reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Eligibility to Work

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that only individuals who are entitled to live and work in the UK are employed by the University.

In all cases, before a conditional offer is made, we are required to confirm your eligibility to work by checking original documents as per the eligible documents list. We reserve the right to undertake any checks that may be necessary to verify the information that you provide to us.

All offers of employment are made subject to verification of eligibility to work in the UK and to take the employment which the University is offering.

Who is automatically entitled to live work in the UK?

There are a number of ways in which individuals may already be eligible to live and work in the UK. These include:

• British Citizens
• Nationals of countries covered by the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement
• Non EEA nationals granted indefinite leave to remain
• Spouses or dependants of full time students or work permit holders
• People holding Highly Skilled Migrant Status / Tier 1 eligibility.

These categories are subject to change from time to time (particularly as new countries join the EEA). You are therefore advised to check your own eligibility with the Home Office via the UK Border Agency. Comprehensive and up to date information can be obtained via their web pages.

What if I am not already automatically entitled to live and work in the UK?

We can still legally employ individuals who do not already have an automatic entitlement to live and work in the UK, but we must obtain permission to do so. In most cases this will involve applying for a work permit / certificate of sponsorship and we will do this as soon as an offer of employment is made. If you are currently residing outside the UK we will send the work permit document / certificate of sponsorship to you as soon as it is granted, and you will then need to make the appropriate arrangements to apply for leave to enter the UK. If you are already in the UK then you will not require leave to enter, but depending on your existing immigration permission you may have to apply for a change of immigration status or an extension to your current leave to remain.

Please note that you will not be allowed to start work until all of these processes have been completed.

Medical Examinations

There are statutory requirements which mean that certain staff are required to attend a medical examination to determine medical fitness for work.

Such staff include those whose occupations are concerned with processes involving the use of radiation equipment, lasers, animal handling, and selective genetic manipulation.

Neither potential new recruits nor existing members of staff will be asked to take a test for HIV antibodies as part of a routine medical examination.

You will be asked to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire which is returned to our occupational health adviser and will remain confidential. 

Equal Opportunities

When making your application you will be asked to provide information for equal opportunities monitoring purposes. This information is treated as confidential and is not disclosed to individuals that will be making selection decisions in regards to your application. The University's Diversity and Equality pages contain further information on our diversity and equal opportunities policies.