Accommodation and other costs

College Accommodation

Our 16 colleges offer excellent value for money with fully-catered, part-catered and self-catering options. As well as accommodation and food (in the catered colleges), the cost of college accommodation covers utilities (including a cleaning service) and a very wide range of facilities. 

Further details of costs and facilities are available at www.durham.ac.uk/undergraduate/accommodation/costs.

Private Rented Accommodation

The vast majority of first-year students live in College accommodation, then move to private rented accommodation for their second year. Some students return to College for their final year(s) of study and some choose to remain "living out".

The cost of private rented accommodation varies according to its location. Prices range from £45 per week a to £100+ per week. The average accommodation cost in 2009/10 was £65 per week for a shared house about a mile's walk away from the City Centre. You must think about how much you can afford to spend on rent before you choose your private rented accommodation.

Our Students' Union Accommodation Office helps students find accredited private rented accommodation which meets certain standards, so you know it's safe and suitable. 

As a student you will have to think about other costs as well as your tuition fees and accommodation. For the majority of students these 'other costs' are likely to include:

• Clothing
• Contents insurance
• Course costs (equipment and stationery)
• Course costs (fieldwork)
• Food and household shopping
• Laundry
• Leisure including going out, TV licence, magazines, shopping, extra-curricular activities like clubs and societies, birthday cards and all those little day-to-day expenses
• Phone calls/mobile phone
• Toiletries
• Travel (between home and university)
• Travel (day-to-day)
• Utilities.

Those of you who have homes and families are likely to have to think about other costs in addition to the ones above, including:

• Childcare
• Contents and building insurance
• Council Tax
• Home maintenance
• Life insurance.

The amount of money you will need to spend on each of the costs given above, and any other costs you might have, will vary according to your individual circumstances. You can also choose how much money to spend on things like leisure, your mobile phone, etc. 

Before you start university you should make a budget for your first year and you should stick to it when you get here. We know that budgeting isn't very interesting or always easy but it's so important that you look after your finances whilst you are at university - financial problems can really affect your wellbeing. 

Further details on budgeting, including money-saving hints and tips, are available at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/yourmoney/life_work_and_study/guides/money_while_you_study.aspx