Societies

Societies play a key role in student life at Van Mildert. The JCR offers a wide range of societies that allow you to pursue interests (new or long-held), to meet new people across different years and just enjoy doing something that you love. Many of the societies take an active role in running the College's biggest events, such as Jam by the Lake (the largest student-run open-air music festival in the North East), our wonderful College Balls, Formals or the annual College Fashion Show.

Our social calendar is busy and varied...

Formal Dinners

Formals occur about four times a term. Come with friends, dress up, and enjoy being served a delicious 3-course meal. Sometimes we look forward to fancy dress Formals or themed events including Formals for Halloween, Christmas, Burns' Night, Valentines or St Patrick's Day.

More information

• Mildert Guide to Formal Dining
• 'So, what are formals all about?', a guide by Van Mildert alumni, Ruby Tomlinson

Events

MildArts (the umbrella society for art, music and theatre at Mildert) oversees our theatre company, three music rooms with amps, guitars, pianos, drum-kit, and recording equipment, a full brass and percussion Big Band, an annual musical, a talent show, a college pantomime (written by students about the college) and Summer Shakespeare, with a plethora of other plays and performances. Then there's our Charity Fashion Show (the only one in Durham to accept everybody who wants in), Jam by the Lake, 'bops' which transform the JCR into a massive themed party with special drinks, decorations and entertainment, and College Balls. Balls are the biggest events of the year; bringing the whole college together, dressed up in 'black tie' for a formal meal, live music and a whole variety of entertainment through to the early hours.

Sport

Sport forms a central and vital part of student life in the College. With clubs ranging from the traditional (such as Rugby, Football and Hockey) to the more unusual (such as Ultimate Frisbee or Cheerleading), there is something for everyone, at any level. We are proud to have a consistent and high achieving record in sport amongst the Durham Colleges.

Enrichment Programme

Our Enrichment Programme offers a range of opportunities to students. These activities seek to enhance and develop a student's intellectual curiosity and personal effectiveness through the facilitation of student-led activities. These include a broad-ranging series of lectures, seminars and debates, and skills-based activities such as networking sessions, employability initiatives and our well-established work with the local community.

The programme is based on three themes: engage and inspire, wellbeing and community, and find your future. Information about forthcoming activities is sent to students regularly via email and bookings can be made via our online student portal, in Mildert College Student Connect, Student Connect.