Palatinate • 14th October 2022

Overworked and underpaid: how Durham treats its Postgraduate Researchers

From leading seminars to marking first-year essays, Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) form the backbone of Durham University’s teaching provision. Even though they face the additional challenge of balancing their teaching duties with a full-time degree, many PGRs are extraordinarily passionate about their work, and without them the University would likely cease to function.

However, a recent Palatinate investigation has uncovered a series of issues surrounding the working conditions of PGRs. Over

Palatinate • 12th March 2022

Most Durham students are not Oxbridge rejects

‘Oxbridge reject’ is one of Durham’s most recurrent stereotypes. Due to Durham’s relatively high rankings in the UK university league tables, coupled with its college system and traditional quirks that replicate that of Oxford and Cambridge, for those not quite lucky enough to get an offer at either of the more famous universities, Durham is seen by many as the natural second-best alternative.

However, the perception that Durham is overrun with ‘Oxbridge rejects’ appears somewhat unwarranted.

Palatinate • 27th October 2022

Durham made almost £2million annually through vacation trading before pandemic

Durham University made almost £2million in revenues per year through trading during the University’s vacation periods before the Covid-19 pandemic, a Freedom of Information request has found.

The University offers a range of venues — such as college bedrooms and meeting rooms — for hire through its Event Durham service. External agencies are able to book with the service to utilise these facilities throughout the year, including using college bedrooms for accommodation during residential confer

Palatinate • 2nd October 2022

State school pupils less likely to get offers, and prefer to live in self-catered or hill colleges

Palatinate has obtained data showing that, compared with the national average, independent school applicants have a greater chance of receiving an offer to Durham University than state school applicants. Data also reveals that state-educated students who enrol at Durham are more likely to select a college that is self-catered or located on the ‘hill’.

Over a five-year average, Durham made 28% fewer offers to state school applicants in comparison to the total applications made by such students,

Palatinate • 26th January 2022

Highest number of UK Durham students come from London

Data obtained by Palatinate via Freedom of Information request shows that, on average, the British county which sends the highest number of students to Durham each year is London.

Between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 academic years an average of 1409 home-fee status students enrolled at the University came from London, closely followed by Surrey which averaged at 906.

Counties in the north of the country also figured highly, with an average of 915 students from County Durham, 577 from North Yorkshi

Palatinate • 21st October 2022

PalTV Reports |Postgraduate working conditions at Durham University

PalTV investigates the insecurities faced by postgraduates, including managing a demanding workload, delayed pay during a cost of living crisis and their contracts with Durham University.

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Palatinate • 18th June 2022

University’s rising accommodation prices outpace Durham Grant financial support

While the cost of living and Durham’s accommodation prices have risen steadily over the past ten years, the University’s main financial support programme has reduced in value.

In 2012/2013 the Durham Grant paid for 35% of the rent of a standard catered room for a year, but for 2021/2022 it fell to 20% of the annual rent of a standard catered room.

The University generally raises accommodation prices in accordance with RPI (the Retail Price Index), apart from the year 2022-23 in which the rise

Palatinate • 15th January 2023

MEQ response rates fall sharply as University seeks to reform process

The average response rate for Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) fell to a new low of 35% last academic year, which represents a 21% drop in the average response rate since MEQs were adopted in their current format in 2017.

Data obtained by Palatinate through a Freedom of Information request reveals that there has been a downward trend in the number of students who complete their MEQs across all year groups and most subjects.

It comes as the University is implementing a new MEQ process wh

Palatinate • 11th February 2022

Health in County Durham “remains worse than England average”, says annual report

An annual report into public health in County Durham has revealed that despite improvements and local policy efforts, overall health in the County remains worse than the England average, with high levels of health inequalities and deprivation being the main driving factors.

The report written by Director of Public Health Amanda Healy reveals that County Durham lags behind the rest of England on several health indicators, both in early and adult life. In early life, 16.8% of newborns are deliver