with it being separated into colleges you can be in a place which fits your personality more, I attend the college of Hild Bede while I have friends in other colleges- and it creates a fun atmosphere with the colleges being dotted around the area. The colleges also have their own events like formals and even sports teams, so you don't have to be pressured into joining a team where anyone from the uni can attend and join on a smaller scale with a college one. There are also really fun societies to join, and you can even make your own if you have enough people for me I'm a part of the working class society, feminist society, English literature society (please join if you do English they help a lot), LGBT society (has really fun events) and the bubble tea society (an example of some of the unique societies we have in Durham). A lot of societies are free, all of the ones I mentioned are free while some do have a cost, I am also a part of the anime society and you pay an annual fee which is not that much like £5 since you do go out a watch anime episodes and have fun socials. The only thing I dislike is how much money you have to pay to be a part of these colleges, while it is inevitable that you need to pay for tickets for formals and equipment for sports- they don't take into account the people with lower income (mainly working-class students) that don't have the money to pay for a formal outfit, tickets and for transport to get there since many live out of college and don't want to walk back in the dark. The same goes for sports teams, there needs to be a focus on the money aspect since if you do have a lower income you tend to feel misplaced in some aspects. There is elitism within the community, as someone who comes from a working-class background this was really intimidating, and there are scandals that occur within the uni- which there is an attempt to resolve on the student unions part since there have been emails telling us about the scandals, but the uni does need to do more with how the community is elitist. You can research this by looking at 'Durham University scandals' which can put a lot of people off, but there is an attempt by the wider community to battle against it and to help those. I suggest joining the working class society and feminist society since they do a lot for these issues- also the LGBT society does a lot for it too. Also, be aware, Durham is a very hilly location so if you hate hills probably avoid it. But there are beautiful places, like the cathedral and the castle, with a beautiful city centre with loads to do (we even have a cat cafe here). There are clubs around here like Players and Klute (please avoid Klute though it's disgusting), coffee shops to study in, book shops and charity shops. Loads of people around me do go to Newcastle for a night out though, since the train journey there is very cheap.

Within English Literature for first year, you have your teaching split into two parts. You have lectures, which is where you have a lecturer telling you the information and you write it down, there isn't any or much chance to say anything since you just have to listen to them and write notes. And in each module you do you have a tutorial group, where a group of around 10 belong to a tutor where you discuss your ideas further on the assignment given by your tutor (you cover information on lectures and add more to it), your tutor also sets you formative essays (essays not counting to your grade, more like practise essays). You also have an academic advisor to support you if you are struggling to keep up with work, or to understand something. I started in 2021 September and English had a mixture of online and in person teaching. I did six modules with: introduction to drama, introduction to poetry, introduction to novel, epic and legend, romance and chivalry and classical and biblical backgrounds to literature. With in person lectures only being in the epic and legend and romance and chivalry. Tutorials are all in person (unless told to be online for a personal reason by the Tutor). This blended learning did take some time to get used to, but I personally think it's great since you don't need to be in your lecture building every single day and with the online modules you can pick when you want to do those lectures notes. Some lecturers are fantastic but some do tend to be overtly quiet in their lectures, I suggest sitting closer to the front if you do get a quite lecturer). Tutors are very supportive, and let you develop your own ideas while also giving you more ideas that were not mentioned in the lecture, every tutor teaches differently with some going around the room for you to present ideas, maybe leaving people to put their hand out or some opening debates for the whole class- each tutor gives a different experience but a good one. One thing I noticed though is that some tutors are not the best in getting back to your emails, while some will answer as fast as they can. However, I have never experienced a disorganised tutor they do try their best to give your tasks, set and mark your essays and even give constructive feedback. With your academic advisor, they are the ones you go to if you're struggling with your academics. If you are struggling with a concept, you should ask your tutor however, if you are struggling to keep up and need support you do to your academic advisor. My academic advisor is really lovely, and very understanding however, sometimes late with email responses in a time of need. There is student support out there for you, and you do get many emails reminding you of this.

The cost of living is different for everyone however for me, I do find it an expensive place to live since many companies know there are loads of students and want to take advantage of that. But if you do your best to budget you can avoid the problem of spending too much. Public transport is really good, some places give you bus cards (depending on your accommodation) and the train station is near, do suggest getting a railway card to save money on train costs. You receive loads of emails on job opportunities, and you can sign up for loads of opportunities there. Safe environment, I do feel safer here than in my hometown however like every place there are precautions you must take like being careful when walking in the dark (there are taxi companies listed on the board of Elvet riverside if you don't want to walk back, and there are also ubers). The uni really needs to work on diversity, it is full of elitist people who look down on working-class individuals. You will find your people, but as someone from a working-class background, there were loads of comments I did not feel comfortable with- but with reporting them things have been resolved.

I belong to Hild Bede college but I wanted self-catering and an en-suit, so they have a contract with 'The Ernest Place' for people like me, and the rooms are fantastic. It is in Gilesgate, which is near Hild Bede college but far out from many lecture buildings. But I have a studio apartment here, with a beautiful kitchen and en-suit with the place having study rooms, a gym, laundry room and even a sauna. So the facilities make up for how far it is.

All of my contact hours have been online this year, which the lecturers/tutors have dealt with well. However, the university has failed to recognize the extent covid has affected our uni/teaching experience

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