First-class honours

Oct 1 2005 By Graeme Whitfield, The Journal

Staff and students at Durham University were celebrating yesterday after it was named University of the Year.

The award is based on scores across eight areas, including teaching quality, student satisfaction, assessments by head teachers and research.

The university was rated ninth best on the overall table, but was awarded the University of the Year title because of its improvement across all areas of the survey.

Judges for the annual Sunday Times competition highlighted international quality research at a number of Durham departments, including applied maths, chemistry, English and geography.

The university also gained one of the top satisfaction ratings in the recently-published National Student Survey and has highly-rated housing and welfare services through its 15 colleges.

Durham has also been rated the top university of the North-East ahead of Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside and Sunderland.

The university's vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "This underlines the quality of our work as a higher education provider in many contexts.

"In particular, it confirms Durham as the North-East's premier university and a leading player on the national and international scene.

"I am immensely proud of all the staff - and also the students - who together are responsible for our achievements and our standing with schools and elsewhere. It is mainly about academic achievement in teaching and research, but our quality also extends to our residential colleges and how we engage with schools, business, culture, sport and in other ways as part of the wider community."

Durham Students' Union president Nick Pickles said: "Winning this award goes to show just how good the Durham student experience is.

"A unique college system, excellent departments and a vibrant student community all contribute to make this such a truly excellent university."

Part of the poll saw the Sunday Times contact more than 1,100 at top-performing state and private schools to ask which universities provided the best courses. In addition, more than 2,250 university heads of department and admissions tutors were asked to rank their peers.

Newcastle University was ranked second in the North-East, though it slipped seven places in the national rankings to 26.

Northumbria's position at 54 - up five places from last year - saw it ranked as one of the best new universities in the country. Teesside and Sunderland were rated 86th and 94th respectively.

Why Durham is best

1. Some of the best university accommodation in the country, including rooms at Durham Castle.

2. The chance to have your degree conferred at Durham Cathedral, a World Heritage site...

3 ...and have it conferred by author Bill Bryson, the university's new chancellor.

4. Top-rated research in applied mathematics, chemistry, English, geography, history and law.

5. One of the top satisfaction ratings in the recently-published National Student Survey for the teaching and learning experience.

6. A supportive residential, social and welfare environment through its 15 colleges and the services of its Students' Union.

7. One of the lowest drop-out rates in the country.

8. More than £150,000 is raised every year by the Durham University Charities Kommittee (COR) to be donated to local good causes.

9. Durham is one of the top sporting universities, with more than 170 British University Sporting Association titles in the last 30 years, including 2004 championships in cricket, rowing and rugby union.

10. The university's Botanic Garden, Oriental Museum and the Museum of Archaeology attract visitors from around the world.