Lovely Durham is home to one of the country's top universities. The city is picturesque, wooded, hilly and aching with heritage. The brooding Norman cathedral dominates the skyline - and it tells you something about the prestige of the university that one of its colleges is housed in the castle right next door. Durham is a collegiate university, meaning that student life has a real sense of focus and community to it. There's also more than a whiff of Oxbridge to proceedings. Durham students are well placed for glorious countryside and coastline, and there are good transport links - especially rail, since you're on the fast east-coast line here - should you want to leave. Though why would you?

Fees
£3,290 for full-time undergraduates in 2010-11.

Bursaries
Full-time undergraduate UK home fee-paying students with a household income of less than £25,000 are eligible for a Durham grant of £1,000 per year. UK home fee-paying students with a household income of less than £50,020 or less may be eligible for a maintenance grant of up to £2,906. The maximum combined support towards living costs (which includes maintenance loans and maintenance grants) is £6,359.

Accommodation
About 97% of first-years live in college accommodation, and many second- and third-years are housed, too. Accommodation is provided by colleges and charges vary accordingly. Self-catered accommodation is available from £3,867 for the full academic year and catered accommodation (providing three meals a day, seven days a week during term-time) costs £4,854.

Facilities
Excellent, well-stocked library in an award-winning building. It is one of only six libraries in the UK with national archive status. Good IT facilities and 64 acres of sports fields. Each college provides its own range of services - they vary, but you'll find a good standard wherever you go.

Transport
Both Durham City and Stockton have road and rail links to the rest of the east coast and country, with two regional airports providing links to major UK and European cities. A free shuttle bus operates between campuses in term-time.

Contact
Tel: 0191-334 6128
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: durham.ac.uk
Accommodation: durham.ac.uk/colleges