Opportunities and support

We will help you to start planning your career from day one of your studies. We offer you specific advice and a variety of support as you journey towards your preferred career. This includes:

• A Durham Award developed in partnership with employers, academic and college staff that acknowledges the skills and abilities gained throughout your Durham experience and allows you to promote them to future employers
• Skills development courses and events, to help develop your personal, 'transferable' skills, and raise your awareness of different career areas.
• These are done in conjunction with leading employers such as IBM, PwC, Allen and Overy, Audit Commission, BDO Stoy Hayward, Financial Services Authority, Teach First and UBS and many more
• Practical workshops on application forms, CVs and interview techniques
• Talks on how to choose the best career and employer to meet your expectations
• Internship, final year and graduate vacancies
• Temporary and permanent work abroad and voluntary work
• Presentations by employers, professional bodies and voluntary organisations
• Careers fairs, featuring information on employers, types of work, entrepreneurship and work experience placements
• Information and advice on postgraduate study and training in the UK and abroad
• 'The Durham Guide to Career Planning', produced in collaboration with the leading careers publisher, GTI.

And finally... the facts in 2012:

• 87% of our graduates secured employment or further study within six months of graduating
• 34% went on to further study or professional training
• 5% of our students took time out to travel after their study
• The average starting salary in a graduate level job from Durham is currently £21,000
• Our broad range of careers fairs (General, Law, Science, Engineering and IT) attracted 4,500 students in the academic year 2010/2011
• Nearly 400 careers events and presentations were held in 2010/2011, with involvement from over 100 different employers.

Support from former Durham students

The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre works closely with the Alumni Office as many Durham alumni (former students) can offer help and useful advice on careers in their employment sector. You may be able to talk to them about particular job roles and read about their experiences of finding work in different sectors. They also provide an extensive network of contacts and opportunities, both in the UK and abroad after you have left Durham.

For more information see the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre webpage.

A job while you're studying

Part-time work while you're at university isn't only a good way to help pay for your studies, it's also a very valuable aspect to add to a CV, and a great way to gain the skills future employers are looking for. Whether you want to work in term time, just in the holidays, or all year round, our Student Employment Service will help you find the right position.

For more information see the Student Employment Service website.

 ...In 2010 our Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre was again awarded the "Matrix Quality Standard for Information, Advice and Guidance Services". This is accredited by the UK's Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

...The strength of a Durham University degree was recognised in the QS World University League Rankings 2011, placing Durham University in the top 15 globally for employer reputation after 17,000 blue-chip organisations across the world ranked the quality and demand for Durham's graduates.