Durham University - Student Life

Housing: Most college accommodation is reasonable standard, but varies hugely eg Collingwood, ensuite rooms fully catered; University College, living in a castle(!); John Snow College, all single ensuite self-catering. For those living out, excellent SU accommodation office and estate agents.

Eats: SU serves food all day and some evenings. Food varies in colleges. For something a bit special try Hide, Hollathans, Lau's Chinese in Durham; Borges, Eat Street, the Rocket in Stockton.

Drink: Most colleges have their own student-run bars, prices reasonable (£1.50 a pint). Local pubs good but expect to pay more. Popular student hang-outs: the New Inn, the Hogshead, Colpitts in Durham; Speakeasy, Bambooza, Dubliners (good Sunday lunch) in Stockton.

Nightlife: Regular SU events including weekly sell-out Planet of Sound. Two clubs have achieved almost a cult status: Klute with as much cheese as you can handle and Rixy's/Elysium/DH1(whatever it's called that month) for a more conventional dance night. In Stockton, Zanzibar is a must, the Rocket, Speakeasy, O'Casey's have late licences. The famous Tall Trees is nearby if you are a hard-core groover.

Locals: Variable, find a local student and learn the language quickly!

Sports: College sports teams, most facilities on Durham site. Team Durham enjoys deserved success. All levels so there will be a team to suit you.

Travel: STA travel bureau. Subsidised travel between sites. Jobs: SU Job Shop for part-time and one-off work.

Best features: Opportunities to get involved in whatever interests you.

And worst: Cobbles, hills and cobbled hills! Good news: New faculty of health, medicine and the environment.

More info: Contact SU on Tel 0191 374 3310, Fax 0191 374 3328, email enquiries(at)dsu.org.uk, www.dsu.org.uk

Past students: Judith Hann (presenter, Tomorrow's World), Harold Evans (newspaper editor), Will Carling (England rugby captain), Nasser Hussain (England test cricketer), Hunter Davies (writer), Jonathan Edwards (world triple jump record holder), Mo Mowlam MP, George Allagiah (journalist).