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Van Mildert College
The Van Mildert College Grounds

Fees and Funding

It is very important that you have sufficient funds in place to meet your tuition fees and living costs before you start your course. The University has a small amount of hardship funding available to help students who started their studies with a sound financial plan which was compromised by circumstances beyond their control, but it is unable to help students who started their studies with insufficient funds in place to meet their tuition fees and living costs.

Students who are in financial hardship may apply to the University Student Support Fund. The Student Support Team is your initial point of contact in relation to applications to the Student Support Fund. To set up an appointment, please email vm.student-support@durham.ac.uk or book online using Student Connect.

There are also a number of awards and bursaries available to members of Van Mildert College, but these are primarily aimed at supporting a variety of broader personal development opportunities. Information about these opportunities is sent to students via email throughout the academic year. For initial enquiries about the range of student scholarships and bursaries available, please contact vm.development@durham.ac.uk.

Various optional charges are also available to you as a new student at Van Mildert College. Please refer to the table below for examples.

Optional Charges

  Charge Description
Erasmus/Exchange Common room 1 term £12 Membership of the appropriate Common Room - JCR or MCR - for the duration of your studies at Van Mildert College
Erasmus/Exchange Common room 2 terms £24
Erasmus/Exchange Common room 3 terms £36
JCR £155 The JCR Levy (Membership Fee) contributes to the everyday running of the Junior Common Room and lasts for your whole time as an undergraduate. By being part of the JCR, you are becoming a part of a community of over 1000 students, and it entitles you to take part in our events, sports and societies. The levy goes towards subsidising these activities, from Formals to Fresher’s week and more, meaning you can get involved in all the JCR has to offer. Opting out of the levy means you will not be entitled to take part in these activities.
Linen pack £35 Bedding packs contain a duvet, duvet cover, pillow, pillowcase and fitted sheet.
MCR £35 The MCR Membership Fee lasts for one academic year. It provides you with membership of the MCR which is a community of over 200 postgraduate students, all of whom are members of Van Mildert College. It also entitles you to membership of the JCR and SCR. As a result of opting into this charge you are able to participate, as a postgraduate student, in all events, sports and societies run by the JCR, MCR or SCR. The MCR Membership Fee is used to subsidise a range of activities in College. Opting out of the charge means that you will not be entitled to take part in these activities or will be subject to an additional charge per event where non-members are invited.
Van Mildert Association Membership £30 Payment of this one-off charge offers lifetime membership of the Van Mildert Association; the alumni association of Van Mildert College. The association offers current students access to a network of alumni who provide careers mentorship and support engagement with College life through the provision of vital scholarships and bursaries. Alongside this the association organises reunion events for current and former students throughout the year across the UK and overseas. It has a membership of many thousands of former students many of whom remain in contact with the College long after graduation. The VMA is an independent organisation to which membership fees will be transferred.

Should you have any questions about any of the optional charges please contact the relevant staff member below.