Durham University

Founded in 1832, Durham University is consistently ranked among the top five universities in the UK and the top 100 institutions in the world.

Located in NorthEast England, the University is centered around a Norman Castle and Cathedral, which make up a UNESCO World Heritage site. As a beautiful and historic city, Durham offers scholarship recipients a quintessentially English experience at a research-led Russell Group institution.

Durham University produces world-leading research across the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Their rich and diverse academic community is home to over 22,000 students, including over 6,370 international students from over 120 countries.

Durham is ranked joint 89th globally in the World Top 100 QS World University Rankings (2025) with 12 subjects ranked in the World Top 50. It is ranked 65th in the world for Employer Reputation and 19th in the World in the category of Sustainability. Durham has 27 academic departments which sit within 4 faculties: Arts and Humanities, Science, Social Sciences and Health, and the Durham University Business School.

Durham offers over 100 postgraduate taught courses and many research programmes in the following subject areas:

  • Anthropology, Archaeology, Biosciences, Business (Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management), Chemistry, Classics and Ancient History, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, English Studies, Geography, Government and International Affairs, History, Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Law, Mathematical Sciences, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Sport, Theology and Religion.

Durham offers a unique college community through 17 colleges that are the heart of life at Durham. They offer a high level of personal support and a full programme of student-led events and extra-curricular activities with:

  •  over 80 student-led music clubs and societies
  • 27 theatre companies across the university and
  • 54 sports to participate in through 700 teams.

Durham University welcomes applications from all Chevening eligible countries for all eligible postgraduate courses. Information about the university’s entry requirements is available on its website.

All applicants who wish to be considered for an award at Durham are encouraged to select the university as their first preference within their Chevening application.

Durham University and Chevening

Chevening and Durham University share an ambition to support outstanding students from around the world who display the potential to become leaders of the future.

Notable Alumni

  • Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
  • Jonathan Edwards, Olympic, double World, European, European indoor and Commonwealth triple jump champion
  • Gabby Logan, TV presenter
  • Nigel Kim Darroch, Baron Darroch of Kew and former British Ambassador to the United States
  • Jeremy Vine, television and radio presenter and journalist
  • Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia

Who do the University of Durham support?

Durham University is sponsoring 10 scholarships for students from all Chevening eligible countries for all eligible postgraduate courses.

All applicants who wish to be considered for an award at Durham are encouraged to select the university as their first preference within their Chevening application.

Further information about the University of Durham: