Pathways & Possibilities: A Cheltonian Journey to Durham

Almost one quarter of Upper Sixth pupils this year have been offered a place to study at Durham University, ranked third in the UK for 2026 and named University of the Year two 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times. Pupils have applied to study a diverse range of undergraduate subjects including Accounting and Finance, Natural Sciences, Criminology, Geography, History, Psychology, Biochemistry, Visual Arts and Film, Business and Management, General Engineering, and Classics.

Durham has long been a popular destination among Cheltonian leavers. As a collegiate university, where pupils are based in one of seventeen colleges, it offers a distinctive sense of community alongside academic excellence. The University has twenty-seven academic departments and offers more than one hundred and twenty undergraduate courses, including integrated Master’s programmes, study abroad opportunities, and industry placements. Teaching is research-informed and led by dedicated academics, many of whom are world-leading experts in their fields. Beyond academic study, sport and societies are central to undergraduate life at Durham, with eighty-five per cent of pupils involved in sport, music, theatre, volunteering, or student enterprise.

Beyond the lecture theatres and examinations, Durham is ranked sixty-fourth in the QS World Rankings for its reputation with employers, reflecting how highly regarded its graduates are in the workplace.

Harry, an Old Cheltonian currently studying Geography at Durham, shares his experience:

“Durham is fantastic and attracts many College pupils for its strong academic reputation, extra-curricular opportunities, and collegiate feel, which makes the transition from College to university a smooth one. Aside from consistently finishing high in the leaderboards, the North East, its people, and Durham itself make it an amazing place to spend three or four years of your life, if not longer. Getting involved with the rugby club has given me some of my best memories here, and certainly friends for life.”

Our Pathways & Possibilities series celebrates the journeys of our pupils as they take their next steps beyond College, while supporting current pupils and parents with expert guidance along the way. Each week, we will share a mix of success stories and practical advice from our Higher Education and Careers team to help inspire and inform future pathways.

Our Pathways & Possibilities series celebrates the journeys of our pupils as they take their next steps beyond College, while supporting current pupils and parents with expert guidance along the way. Each week, we will share a mix of success stories and practical advice from our Higher Education and Careers team to help inspire and inform future pathways.

If you would like to learn more about Sixth Form at Cheltenham College, please click here.

If you would like to find out more about the College’s Higher Education & Careers department, please click here.

Image courtesy of Durham University