Durham University has become one of the UK's fastest-growing universities, with UK admissions rising by more than 50% over the past two years, which has eased competition for places from over 7:1 in 2023 to around 5.5:1 now. The historic cathedral city university remains a particularly popular choice for students from London and the South East and from private schools, prompting Durham to run outreach schemes aimed at widening access, including initiatives targeting North East pupils and students of Asian heritage.

The university has invested heavily in facilities, including refurbishments at Trevelyan College, a £1m upgrade to teaching rooms and audio-visual equipment, remodelled bioscience laboratories, and a new riverside home for its Business School. Financial support is extensive, with roughly one in three students receiving help; the main bursary offers up to £2,721 a year to those from households earning under £30,000, with tapered support extending to incomes as high as £62,410, and around 3,700 students benefited in 2025-26 from £8.3m in total support. Accommodation across its 17 colleges comprises over 7,300 places, with self-catered rooms for 2026-27 costing between £7,217 and £11,631 and catered options ranging from £9,810 to £12,020.