Skip to main content

Welcome to our new students!

Principal of Collingwood College It’s my great pleasure to welcome you to Collingwood College. While the largest of Durham University’s seventeen colleges, we are a warm and friendly community that aspires to be your home away from home.

Here at ‘The Wood’ we help empower our students to develop their full potential in meaningful ways. Our college is home to a wide-range of societies, including art and dance studios, media suite, produce podcasts and have world class music facilities. We run musicals, plays and other productions in our state-of-the art theatre throughout the year.

At Collingwood, we are passionate about sport and cater for a wide variety of interests. Our college supports student abilities at any level, including eighteen men’s and women’s football teams, eight netball teams and much more. Our college facilities include a floodlit multi-use games area, cricket nets and tennis courts.

Our students are active citizens supporting a wide-ranging of charities and outreach activities across the local, national and international level. There are opportunities to pursue many varieties of interests whether art, film, music, politics, tech, sport or beyond.

Collingwood’s motto is ‘Aime le Meilleur’ (or ‘love the best’). We support our students’ successes wherever their endeavours inspire them. We will launch a leadership programme with invited expert speakers to engage and inspire drawn from our alumni and friends.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Wood and our friendly staff are on hand to support your transition to university and what I hope will be an enormously rewarding, challenging and enjoyable experience.

Thom Brooks

Principal of Collingwood College & Professor of Law and Government

Message from JCR President 2025/26

Kasia - JCR President Collingwood 2025/26Hello, I’m Kasia and I’m your JCR President this year, having just graduated with a degree in Ancient History. I’m here to help with anything related to Collingwood JCR, so if there is anything I can do to help then please drop me an email at collingwood.president@durham.ac.uk.

I recommend you follow @woodfreshers for all Freshers’ Week updates and @CollingwoodJCR for all general JCR updates! 

Enjoy your Summer, and I can’t wait to see you all in September!

An Immersive Experience of Collingwood

Explore Collingwood’s state-of-the-art facilities at your own pace.

Explore Collingwood’s state-of-the-art facilities at your own pace.
360° Virtual Tour of Collingwood College
a grand piano in a music room with red and grey acoustic panels

 

 

College Information

You will receive more information from Collingwood via email in the coming weeks. 

Once you receive your College confirmation, you will receive a link to a Checklist for Incoming Collingwood Students. Please complete all of the listed tasks as quickly as possible to ensure that you have a smooth arrival to Collingwood!

 

 

Enrol online

Enrolment opens eight weeks before the start of your programme.
Two students studying in Teaching and Learning Centre with hot drink

Transitioning to Higher Education

Useful information about preparing for university and your university life
A smiling student walking along a busy street

 

 

Your first week in Durham – University Induction Week Events Timetable

The Timetable has been designed so College events don’t clash with any of your academic departmental events, but offer you lots of opportunities to meet your fellow Freshers, find your way around and settle into student life.

To help you keep track of where you need to be, and what you need to do during your first busy days at university, in your College and your Department, we have created a day-by-day University Induction Planner. This should help you to plan your schedule, so you don't miss anything - from being issued with your Campus Card or meeting the staff in your Department, to trying out for a sports team or joining a student society.
Your Personal Induction Planner
Students on laptop with cups of tea in Josephine Butler College café

Student updates

Check out our student blogs to read more about life at Durham from our students. Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Highlights

What to bring to University

Read our top recommendations to add to your packing list ready for your arrival at Durham.
/media/durham-university/wider-student-experience-/welcome/Welcome-to-Durham-500x304.jpg

Welcome to Durham – and stop worrying!

Moving to University can be a daunting prospect but there’s no need to worry, you’ll feel right at home here.
Durham Cathedral and Framwellgate Bridge over the River Wear

Get in touch

If you have any queries about any of this information or any aspect of coming to Durham please contact us.

Collingwood College

South Road

Durham

DH1 3LT

College Office Tel: +44 (0) 191 334 5041

College Reception Tel: +44 (0) 191 334 5000