Student life

While at the International Study Centre, you can take full advantage of the multi-million pound sports centre based at Queen’s Campus, Stockton-on-Tees.

Facilities include:

• a fitness suite
• exercise classes
• sports hall
• floodlit Astroturf pitch
• spinning room
• multi-activity studio.

A gym membership from September 2019 – June 2020 only costs £100 (including all exercise classes). These include badminton, basketball, boxercise and HIIT. Check out our Queens Campus Sport Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit teamdurham.com for more information.

If you'd like to try something different, there is also an Olympic-standard white water course just 15 minutes' walk from Queen's Campus. 

International Study Centre staff organise trips throughout the year to introduce students to new UK places and experiences. In the last year, these have included street food markets, gigs and sports events.

You can now travel on the X12 bus for just £1 per day or £5 per month, making it easy to explore the local area. The bus route connects nearby cities including Middlesbrough, Teesside Park, Sedgefield, Newcastle and Durham.

 Find more information and view timetables here.

The Student Leadership Programme at Durham University International Study Centre gives you the opportunity to meet new people and develop key skills to help you at university and in your career beyond. You can apply for any of the following roles:

• Student Representatives
• Student Digital Leaders
• Student Mentors
• Student Language Exchange
• Student Ambassadors.

Ask staff at the International Study Centre for more information on these roles.

Our annual progression event celebrates International Study Centre students successfully completing their programme with us and moving on to their degree at Durham University. Staff and students gather together to share highlights and awards are presented to high-achieving students.

As an undergraduate student progressing to Durham University, you can start your Durham Inspired Award during the summer before beginning your degree at Durham.

To start the award, you will have:

• Volunteering opportunities
• A Personal Development Coach
• Live Sessions, and more. 

Find out more on the University website. 

Durham has 16 colleges, each with its own character and values, and you will normally be able to choose which you apply for. During your time at the International Study Centre, you will be guided through your options and everything you need to know to make your decision. Find out more about Durham's colleges.

When you move to study at Durham City, you can make the most of the 200+ student clubs and societies. You can get involved in everything from art and music, to fundraising and theatre productions.

Get involved:

• Student Community Action –volunteer with one of the 84 outreach projects.
• DUCK – Durham University Charity Kommittee raises money for more than 120 charities.
• Palatinate – the University’s award-winning student newspaper is published every two weeks.
• Purple Radio – the University’s student-run radio station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week during term time.
• Durham Union Society – the debate society is the University's oldest society.
• Music Durham - join one of 79 music societies including orchestras, choirs and bands. 
• Durham Student Theatre - Durham's 26 theatre companies produce 90 shows every year.

The University has 650 different college teams, playing 18 different sports. Sports include football, volleyball, rugby, rowing and tennis.  

University sports facilities in Durham City include:

• an indoor rowing tank
• a world-class fencing piste
• indoor cricket nets
• a performance analysis suite
• football pitches
• rugby pitches
• squash courts
• 4-lane athletics track
• floodlit Astroturf
• netball courts
• tennis courts
• cricket pitches.