St John's College

St John's College comprises several Georgian houses, and is situated on Durham's eleventh century motte-and-bailey, just a few metres from the Norman Cathedral. One of these houses, on this World Heritage Site, was once the home for the family of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, The Queen Mother and Queen consort of King George VI. In the Bowes and Haughton Houses, our diverse community continues collegiate traditions such as quarterly Balls and weekly Formal Halls at which times students dress for the occasion and enjoy fine dining, conversation, fireworks, live entertainment, guest speakers or the like. Other traditions include Matriculation and Congregation ceremonies in the splendour of our College Chapel or Durham Cathedral.

Located on the banks of the River Wear, where you can enjoy leisurely walks, energetic runs, or a respite for reflection and reading, St. John's College maintains several secluded gardens and lawns. From the Bailey Ball in early autumn to the Summer Shakespeare plays, late in the academic year, our lawns and gardens become a hub for group recreation/entertainment and individual study. 

Situated just minutes from the Institute of Advanced Study, Union Society debating chamber, and the departments of Law, History, Classics, and Theology and Religion, St. John's College serves as a magnet for intellectual discourse and research. Housed within our College are faculty who educate and train research students and ordinands in Master's and doctoral degrees for Theology and Ministry; in CODEC doctoral degrees which interface between the Bible, digital environment and contemporary culture (www.durham.ac.uk/codec/about); and for over one hundred years, in Anglican, Methodist and evangelical ministry and missions.

You may visit the nearby heart of Durham City, after your dialogue, seminar, conference or meeting with our many researchers, College Fellows or Senior Common Room members whose interests span the range of university disciplines. Alternatively, you might engage with other postgraduates reading a wide range of diverse disciplines, from Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean Study to Sociology and Social Policy.

Another strategic way of exchanging research interests or learning from others is through our Borderlands Projects (www.durham.ac.uk/st-johns.college/johns/about/post-grad-research). As one example, postgraduate students lead our cross-disciplinary Broader-lands Discussions several times a term. Other examples include the Annual Seminar and the Annual Lecture which have featured General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame S. Leather (bioethicist), and Prof J. Barrow (physicist), to name a few.

Our diverse academic life is paralleled by our College's diverse population, with scholars from a range of places spanning Antigua to Thailand via Bahrain and Mexico. We aim to remain international in every sense as well as rooted in and committed to our region in the North-East of England.

Additional costs

Accommodation

• Standard rooms are located in and near the main College site on the Bailey
• Unfortunately, we do not have accommodation with wheelchair access.

Catering

Postgraduates living in college accommdation are fully-catered during undergraduate term-time and self-catered outside of term-time. Special dietary requirements can be met in consultation with the Catering Manager. Please contact us to enquire.

Facilities

Dedicated PG facility:

The Middle Common Room (MCR) is the Postgraduate Study Centre with space for individual and group study, reading, relaxing, and computing. Situated in close proximity to our library for research and study, and our Senior Common Room where research discussions ensue, the MCR is your ideal space for intellectual and social activity. The room is equipped with University networked computers, individual ports for laptops and Wi-Fi access. 

In addition: The Cranmer Common Room (CCR) welcomes mature postgraduates to read and dialogue with ordinands of many denominations. The Junior Common Room (JCR) is the Bailey Room and is the hub of the College's leisure and social life. The Senior Common Room (SCR) invites postgraduates to participate in intellectual and career discourse with its members. Apart from computing services in the MCR, a universal computing room is available for all members of the College.

Other facilities:

Societies, sports and outreach

All postgraduates are part of the Middle Common Room. Postgraduates also run their own Boader-lands research discussion group and their own volunteer and charity groups.

Postgraduate students are encouraged to also get involved in any of our College sports teams, societies and committees. Most notable for postgraduate participation are:

Support

• Kevin Tyson is the Resident Tutor for Postgraduates and manages postgraduate admissions, directs the research and intellectual life of postgraduates, provides pastoral care for you on a demand-led basis and works closely with the Senior Tutor.
• Sheila Hall is the Senior Tutor's Secretary and administrates postgraduate and undergraduate admissions and student needs.
• Clare Bliss is the MCR Vice-President of Welfare and offers you peer support.
• Edmund Waddelove is the MCR President and is responsible for developing the social life of postgraduates.
• Kate Bruce is the Chaplain and cares for your welfare.
• Mark Ogden is the Senior Tutor and is ultimately responsible for all student needs and welfare from intake to graduation.
• David Wilkinson is the Principal and directs the life of the College.

Contact us: