About Durham
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), Durham’s popularity among international students has been rising at a rate of 6%. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Durham:
Undergraduate: 22%
Postgraduate: 35%
Research: 48%
Nowadays, there are a total of 29,000 international students interested in Durham University’s prestigious status as a strong research university. Many students choose the city thanks to Durham’s cost of living, its vibrant student population, and its beautiful campuses.
Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Durham
Durham is divided into four administrative zones: Darlington, Hartlepool, County Durham, and Stockton-on-Tees.
Popular Durham areas include Crossgate & Old Durham, Gilesgate & Neville's Cross, and Durham City Centre.
1. Students living in Crossgate & Old Durham will be near Durham University (almost a 6-minute walk), and purposely-built accommodation would cost around £100-£450/week.
Travel time from Crossgate & Old Durham to the city centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 5-10 minutes
Taxi - 5-10 minutes
Walking - 15-20 minutes
2. Students living in Gilesgate & Neville's Cross pay approximately £80-£350/week.
Nearby universities include the Durham University-Natural Sciences Department.
Travel time from Gilesgate & Neville's Cross to the City Centre by different modes of transportation:
Bus - 15-20 minutes
Taxi - 10-15 minutes
Walking- 35-40 minutes
3. Students living in Durham City Centre would pay around £175-£400/week. The nearest campus to the university is Durham University.
Best Student Accommodation in Durham
Durham has a vast choice of student room options in proximity to their colleges and budgets.
Popular student housing in Durham are Chapel Heights Roost, Duresme Court, and Ernest Place.
Discover Student Room Types in Durham (Approx. £510- £3,000/ month)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Durham typically includes a variety of amenities included in the bills; it varies according to the provider's terms & conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions.
We have categorised the room types below based on preference and budget to help you in your decision-making. These are the following options:
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Durham:
These cost around £130- £700 per week on average and are recommended for students who are comfortable sharing space. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments.
Twin room
Amenities: these often include two single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for two. They often have en-suite bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £780-£1300/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £810-£1340/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £860-£1500/ month
Triple rooms
Amenities: these often include three single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for three. They often share bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £630-£1170/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £660-£1340/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £710-£1325/ month
Quadruple rooms
Amenities: these often include four single beds, study areas, and storage spaces for two. They often share bathrooms. These also share social areas with flatmates, as well as the kitchen.
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £510-£990/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £540-£1020/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £570-£1125/ month
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Durham with privacy: These rooms cost around £360- £87 5 per month.
Student Single Room (non en-suite)
Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £530-£945/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £660-£1340/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £710-£1325/ month
Student Single Room (en-suite)
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, shared kitchen
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £765 - £1170/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £780 - £1200/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £830 - £1325/ month
Room Type 3: Durham student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and near the city centre cost as little as £850 up to £1500 per month.
Durham Student Flats (One-bedroom)
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £850 - £1,200/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £900 - £1,300/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £1,000 - £1,500/ month
Browse through Durham student flats, such as Durham Castle Apartments.
Durham student studio rooms
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
Crossgate & Old Durham avg. Rent: £700-£1,000/ month
Gilesgate & Neville's Cross avg. Rent: £900-£1,300/ month
Durham City Centre avg. Rent: £1,000-£1,500/ month
Browse through Durham student studios, such as Chapel Heights Roost.
- Room Type 4: Amenities over budget
- Student penthouses in Durham cost around £2000- £3000 per month. The median rent is £1200 per month.
These are suitable for students who prefer private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, privacy, spacious rooms, and a top floor over budget.
Cost of Living in Durham for Students (Approx. £550- £1,060)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Durham student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Durham as a student:
Food: £200-£300/month on average.
Daily recommended budget: £7 - £12 per day.
Shop from grocery stores such as Aldi, Tesco, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose.
Try the Casita Dry Essentials box worth £36 at a discounted rate of £32. The box contains edible items. T&C applied.
Transportation: £120-£150/month on average
Buy a GoDurham Bus Pass for £45/month (unlimited transportation through Durham’s public buses).
Buy a GoDurham Student Bus Pass for £120/year (provides unlimited travel at a 30% discounted travel rate).
You can also buy a second-hand bike for as little as £50.
The monthly bike rental scheme from Durham University is £20 per month.
Kitchen Essentials: Market worth around £20-£50.
Former students generally leave their kitchen essentials on the property while leaving the city due to airport luggage weight restrictions. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bedding Essentials: Market worth around £20 - £50 (For basic bedding).
Only a few providers include bedding packs in their tenants' bills or offers. Otherwise, after move-in, students have to buy on their own.
Due to airport luggage weight restrictions, former students generally leave their bedding essentials on the property while leaving the city. You can find someone in your friend's circle and reuse the stuff.
Bathroom Essentials: Market worth around £120 to £320
While booking a student room, the focus remains on whether it has shared or private bathrooms, but forget about bathroom essentials. Students can check online, where some websites provide discounted prices from market prices.
Cleaning Essentials: Market worth around £70 to £190
