News

The last all women’s college at Durham University opens its doors to men

(5 October 2005)

The last single sex college at Durham University is going mixed this Freshers’ Week - 2 to 7 October.

After 106 years of being an all women’s college, St Mary’s College is offering men the opportunity to make their mark. This week 92 men enter St Mary’s College as the first ever male undergraduates, making up over forty per cent of the new intake of 224 first year students to Mary’s.

Jenny Hobbs, Principal of St Mary’s College said: “As we open our doors to men we are preparing to become a distinctive college in Durham for women and men. At Mary’s we are proud of the diversity of our students and strive to inspire all who enter its doors with a belief in achieving their own potential, not only in the world of academia, but in many walks of life. In the past, women who have left the College have ‘made their mark’ on areas requiring a special dedication to ethical principles, and are to be found pioneering new initiatives in education, the media, politics, the health services and relief organisations, as they believe above all in the equal rights of the individual.”

Alumnae of St Mary’s College include broadcaster Biddy Baxter MBE, award-winning businesswoman Ann Burdus CBE and World Championship medal-winning rower Tracey Langlands.

Vickie Edwards, President of the Junior Common Room, the student representative body within the college, commented “Being a student at St Mary’s College is a unique and special experience. Mary’s students excel in many areas within the university such as academia, sport and membership of societies and the college is renowned throughout the university for its friendly, nurturing and supportive atmosphere. The current Mary’s students are looking forward to welcoming all our new freshers and as always have organised lots of activities for the forthcoming weeks to make them feel at home and to help them get to know each other.”

James Barnett, an Engineering student from Monmouth in Wales, who is one of the first men to join St Mary’s College commented: “When I came to Mary’s for my interview I was blown away by the warmth and friendliness of everyone at the college. Both the college and Durham University seemed head and shoulders above the other institutions where I had interviews so coming to Durham was an easy decision to make. Since I arrived on Sunday I have not been disappointed. All the new first years have been made to feel really welcome and we can’t wait to get stuck into life here.”

While the college will now be mixed there will still be single sex areas for those that prefer them. Jenny Hobbs continued: “Whilst we are looking forward to welcoming men through our doors we still understand that there is a significant demand for single sex areas and will continue to offer this to those that want it and provide appropriate facilities for this. Mary’s is still very much an option for those who would prefer a single sex residential area.”

To mark the end of 106 years as an all women’s college, St Mary’s recently hosted a ‘Weekend of Celebration’ to celebrate and reflect on its alumnae’s experiences and aspirations following their student days. The weekend was a great success with over 200 alumnae attending ranging in age from their twenties to eighties.