News

Student accommodation increased

(18 September 2003)

The University has arranged extra rented accommodation for first-year undergraduates and postgraduate students following increased success rates by applicants.

Admissions factsheet

September 2003

From: Professor Alan Bilsborough, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
For: Colleagues in departments, colleges, administrative and other sections, student representatives

Student admissions & accommodation 2003-04

The University has an unusual situation this year of having to house more of its freshers and postgraduate students on Durham-based courses off campus. There was an unforeseen rise in the number of successful applicants, and the University has extended existing head leasing arrangements on properties in the City to provide extra accommodation.

This note sets out key background points for reference and information. You may find these helpful in answering queries about the situation from students, colleagues or others.

Applications and results

1. Durham University did not take up the option to bid for an increased allocation of numbers from the Higher Education Funding Council for 2003-04 unlike several other institutions.
2. Durham had a record number of applicants (nearly 27,000) in 2003, including significantly more from the North East.
3. Universities have to make more offers than they have places in order to be sure of filling them. This is because some candidates choose not to take up our offer, and only a certain percentage of applicants who hold Durham offers achieve the grades that their schools predict for them.
4. This has been an exceptionally successful year for A-level candidates around the country and postgraduate recruitment resulting in increased levels of admissions to universities.

Admissions

1. The number of applications to Durham and the very high standard of performance in A-level mean that we admit an unexpected number of first-year students in October. We were approx 220 students above the undergraduate quota.
2. Under the national admissions system the University has an obligation to take the candidates who meet the offer conditions, even though the total number of students exceeds the number we are funded for.
3. During August-September applicants are still in the process of confirming their place. We have reminded them of the option of deferring their place until next year, and some are deciding to do that.

Accommodation

1. We have made extra rooms available wherever possible in the Colleges eg more shared rooms, converting other types of space to study-bedrooms, taking over staff accommodation.
2. The final number of additional students may fall below 200 and most will be accommodated in College. In the case of Grey College there are some first-year students living in rented accommodation.
3. Grey College has written to the freshers involved to explain the exceptional circumstances. They reassure them that their membership of the college or participation in College is not affected by living-out, and also apologise for any inconvenience it may cause.
4. As in previous years, first-year students at St Cuthbert's Society are being housed in a variety of accommodation including properties headleased by the University as well as accommodation maintained by the Society.
5. In the headleasing scheme, the students deal with the College as landlord, not the private property owner. This includes measures in place to provide for the welfare and support of students in these properties.

Related issues

1. This year's experience reflects the widespread appeal of the University and the City of Durham to excellent and high-achieving students.
2. The University is also writing to local councillors and the City MP to explain that the extended head leasing of properties is an exceptional and temporary step to address a totally unforeseen situation that came about through factors beyond our control.
3. It is a not a situation we would have sought, since it increases demand on library and computer facilities, on lecture-rooms and laboratory spaces, and on staff time, as well as on living accommodation. But with the extra beds we can squeeze into colleges, together with the head leasing scheme, we can start to provide the extra new students with the Durham experience that their excellent A-level performance has earned them.

Future accommodation

New student accommodation is planned within the College system so that student demand on private rented housing in the city can be reduced. We expect to have more than 1,000 new student bed-spaces built over the next few years, including a new college for undergraduates and extensions to the postgraduate Ustinov College at Howlands, the replacement of older property at Parson's Field and new student housing on the former Dryburn Hospital site.

Further information:

Matthew Andrews, Senior Assistant Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions Office extn 46105.
Prof Tim Burt, Dean Of Colleges, Colleges Office extn 46129