In this episode, Tian sits down with Waseem (4th Year Combined Honours BA) and Gabriella (1st Year Politics & International Relations BA) to explore what it’s like to study Social Sciences at Durham.
We begin by unpacking the differences between single, double, and combined honours before diving into their personal journeys into Durham, their academic choices, and how they’ve navigated university life.
From expectations versus reality, to choosing modules, balancing workloads, and finding community through societies and college life, Waseem and Gabriella share open insights into both the challenges and rewards of studying social sciences here. They also reflect on important issues like Durham’s diversity, year abroad opportunities, and the advice they’d give to prospective students.
Timestamps
0:00 – Durham student introductions
12:26 – Studying Politics at Durham
14:55 – Pros & cons of choosing your modules
15:48 – First perceptions of Durham
17:10 – Applying despite Durham’s lack of diversity
24:24 – Deciding on a college
32:39 – Year abroad opportunities (4th year perspective)
38:26 – Societies & extracurriculars
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Durham student introductions
Welcome back to the dumb student. I'm Tianne and I'm here joined by my two friends from the social science
department to talk about what is it like to study combined social science and politics. So I'll let them introduce
themselves first by just giving us their durm stat and where is home for them.
Hello everyone. Uh my name is Wasim. I am a fourth year combined honors student. I specialize in politics and
geography and I originally hail from East London. Nice. And which college are you from? I am at Gray College which is
objectively the best college because it's right by the science site so I can run out of lectures 5 minutes before they start.
Great. And then Gabrielle. Uh hi everyone. My name is Gabrielle. I'm a first year politics and
international relations student. I'm in Hildead and I come from North London.
Perfect. I feel like you guys both live to the London stereotype, but it's okay. I'm from Leeds. We've got people from
from north. Um, I guess the first question is what was your route into Durham? For example, what A levels did
you do? And yeah, what was the process behind deciding Durham as the university choice for you? Uh, so I first heard
about Durham through the step residential. um it's a summer school that just wanted to encourage more black
students to um come to Durham because I think a lot of people know that it is not a very diverse uni. So yeah, I
applied I got into the summer school and yeah since then Darham was just you know the uni that I wanted to go to. So um
for my A levels I did politics, economics and English literature and yeah pass my A levels and I'm here.
I wish it was that simple for me. Up until the first year, well, the first
term of year 12, I wanted to go into engineering. Politics, geography
was way off my radar. So, my initial A-level choices were politic. No, not
politics. They were geography and then maths, further maths, and physics. It was only until the first term of year
12 that I realized that actually I hated further maths and physics was not my forte. Um, so I quickly emailed my sort
of my academic adviser at the time and sort of wondered, okay, what subject would I would would I be interested in?
I always chose geography as like my fourth subject because like I knew that if I wanted to go into engineering, I needed a backup and I initially picked
geography because I liked studying it. I really enjoyed it in secondary school. And then I looked through my options. I
thought, okay, if I'm going to drop further math, what would be interesting? Oh, I'll do politics. I've always been interested in politics growing up. I
just never thought there was like a career path at the end of it or like a path at uni. So, I never really thought about it, but then I realized in year 12
that actually I should really study something I could actually enjoy. So, why not? Let's drop this further maths thing, swish out for politics, and if I
like it, I like it. If I don't, I don't. Ended up being a good choice because I ended up dropping physics at the end of year 12 as well. So, my final A levels
ended up being maths, politics, and geography, which I was really happy with. But then that had led to a new problem
in year 13, which is like I couldn't decide between geography and politics. So, I've been very indecisive kind of in
my uni choices, my course choices. I sort of lent towards geography um in some of the other universities that I
applied to. So I applied to like Cambridge and UCL and LSSE and I sort of leaned towards geography because I I
felt like I had a good intersection between what you learn in geography and what you learn in politics. There are two separate fields technically but like
there was quite a lot of overlap. But then I was sort of researching other universities and I sort of came across Durham's like combined honors course and
what I really liked it straight away was that you could pick and choose your modules essentially and pick between multiple subjects. Did you find this out when you were in
year 13? pretty much. Yeah. I mean, I was so absorbed in like researching universities like there wasn't a lot of
outreach from Darham towards my six college specifically. Um, even though it was like a really good six college that had a lot of good university
progression, I noticed that a lot of people didn't really consider Durham as an option. A lot of them sort of stayed around London and the Southeast or
Oxbridge because that was where the focus was. But when actually when I researched this course, I realized that actually I'm surprised that not more
people know about this because Durham is such a high ranking union especially for the subjects I do and this course offers
so much flexibility. So I ended up putting as my third option um because like I couldn't decide between politics and geography but like why not pick
somewhere that let you to study both and does it so flexibly. I think Edinburgh was the other place I applied to as my insurance and they have a geography and
politics course but it's way more rigid in terms of their module structure. So I settled on combined honors and I got my
offer back really early. Um even though the first word in my personal statement was geography, they gave me the offer
for social sciences which is really cool. Um, so I got me offer really early for D and then once I learned more about
what the course offers and what the what it would be like living there and the ranking it had, I felt like it kind of
felt like a natural choice. I sort of at that point I sort of decided I really want to move away from London for university. Um, Dar's a really high
ranking uni. It has a full flexibility and I feel like I made a good choice in doing that but it all really stemmed
from my indecisiveness. Um, which sort of becomes a concurrent theme as I continue through uni as well
which is quite different to Gabrielle. So yeah, what made you want to do politics and IR specifically like from
your subjects? Um, for me, I've always known that I wanted to do something politics related
or international relations related since I want to say I knew properly in year 10. Um, yeah, I knew that when I um
started six form, I wanted to do politics. That was a definite A level for me, you know, that was something that was a non-negotiable to be honest.
Yeah, cuz I just love politics and um and I think the appeal for politics for
me was just just learning about the world and how um other countries, you know, relate to each other, you know,
the interdependence and all the things like that. So, um yeah, politics was
definitely the one. Yeah. Yes, that's great. So, both of you do politics. So, I guess what is the
difference then between studying just politics and IR compared to doing a client honors? Maybe we'll see if you
know much. Yeah. So I mean the main thing with combined honors is that unlike politics and IR where you probably will have a
few compulsory modules in first and second year. I think politics while honors techly has none. I think the only
real big restriction is obviously you have to pick your modules in a way that lets you do a dissertation in your final year. So this is something that get
explained to you when you join Darham and join honors course is that you have to pick your modules in a way that lets
you do a dissertation. combined honors actually does their own dissertation where you can combine subjects, but most students will tend to do one in a
particular subject that they're interested. So, I ended up doing mine in politics, for example. But apart from that, there's basically no real
restrictions on module choices. Um, obviously, some will have prerequisites and co-requisites. So, you might have to
study a module in first year um to do a module second year, for example. But apart from that, and we might have to
have certain A levels to do certain modules, like economics, for example, from what I learned.
But apart from that, you literally it's a free-for-all. It's a pick and it's a pick and choose degree and like Megan
who's the sort of course leader sort of describes as like a pick your own adventure. So you basically get to pick modules based your interest and what you
want to study. So I knew coming into Darham that like for example in politics I really was interested in international
relations and comparative politics but I hated political theory and so I wanted to
that's the opposite of me. That's so funny. I know. But this is the great thing about cards is that everyone has a
unique kind of module choice program. Like I think Megan says something like 90% of students have like a unique
combination of modules in in the year which is really cool. Like very few people will overlap. So like you get to
choose what you're interested in. And I think in first year you sort of choose based on what you're most interested in. Like just pick the modules that you find
more interesting. But then actually as you progress in second and third year you start to realize what themes are interested you're more interested in.
And you pick your modules across subjects based on those themes. I'm really interested in like geopolitics
and international relations like war and conflict studies or um political inequality or social inequality for
example and those are the sort of things that I found ended up becoming really interested in. So in second and third year I sort of picked modules across
politics and geography and IR that really suited those themes. Whereas in first year I just picked the ones that seemed more interested. Like I did
modules in like geographies of crisis and like planet under pressure and geography. And then in politics I did
stuff like international security and global arenas, global affairs and that sort of thing which is really cool. So
it's kind of it's kind of a lot more flexible. You have a lot more open choices. it can make it quite tough because you have to like com you kind of
have to like make sure that there's no like time table clashes or anything but there's a lot of resources on the website that let you do that. Um but
that's the main benefit really is that nothing's technically compulsory apart from a dissertation which we will get
to. So I guess for you Gabrielle like how how has it been like having compulsory
modules like was that something that you knew about? Um was that something that you were looking forward to? And I guess
even within like a degree like politics and IR um I guess what would you even say is a difference between politics and
IR cuz I know sometimes there's a bit of confusion with like IR is just global
politics which yeah not sure if you could expand on that. Yeah. No, so in terms of the compulsory
modules um I think it wasn't something that I was unaware of you know before
coming I did extensive research into what I was getting myself into. So I knew that there were going to be modules
that um I would have no choice but to do but also modules that you know I had the
option to do. So um my compulsory modules were um researching politics and
international relations and to anyone that does politics and IR just be ready to do some coding. You know that was
something oh it was the worst politics getus.
Yeah it's horrible. I couldn't even tell you today that's how bad it was.
But no um to be fair um our lecturers for that module are really helpful. So,
and to be fair, my lecturers um in all my modules, you know, um they always encourage us to use our office hours and
I think that's a really good thing to like um just just remember that if you
do need help, they are there to help you cuz that's literally their job. But no, back to modules. Yeah. So, researching
was compulsory. I think political theory was compulsory. Um comparative
um this is really bad. um and a few more but I know my optionals were
international um security interdependence and organizations and um
I have forgotten the other one but it's okay you know um I just know that I had four um
compulsory modules and two um what do you call them uh two optional yeah two
optional modules for the optional one were you able to choose from other departments or could you also do it within skier Yeah, you
could choose from other departments and that's something I actually regret kind of cuz I feel like first year is the year to kind of explore. So if I could
go back, I would choose an option module for classics cuz I did classic GCSE and I loved it so much. So I wish I could.
So hopefully in second year maybe but yeah. Yeah. So the way it works is that social
sciences we have faculties in Durham and certain subjects fall under social sciences faculty some fall under
humanities which forms a liberal arts um faculty as course rather and I can't
remember all the subject off my top of my head so I'm going to give it my best go but in social sciences basically the main restriction is that half of your
credits must come from the social sciences faculty so you can for example if a lot of people the most common
like subject choice that I've is history and politics a lot of universities offer that as like its own standalone degree
but Durham actually doesn't. So you have to either pick social sciences and liberal arts and you might be confused okay if I'm doing history and politics
for example or like politics and economics like what do I pick basically so the main thing to know is that with social sciences half of your credits
across first second and third year must come from the social sciences faculty and if you're doing liberal arts um half
of your credits must come from the liberal arts faculty at some point. So there's still quite a lot of flexibility. Like you can do your social sciences and only half your credits will
actually ever be in the social sciences faculty, but it's just that main restriction. Like when you get to the end of your degree, it basically what
gets written on your degree certificate is like have you done more in social sciences or more have you done more in humanities and liberal arts? And there
are some cases where I know students have swapped over halfway through their degree. They might have started in liberal arts because because they've
done the dissertation in politics for example, they've end up doing more social sciences credit. So they can switch over. So there is some flexibility there. So don't worry too
much about it. But just know that that may that's the main difference between social sciences and liberal arts. How would you describe what politics is
Studying Politics at Durham
or what it's been like studying politics? Um you know I really enjoyed first year. I think even though I did have more
compulsory modules than um optional modules. It made me realize um um how
much I prefer I to um politics cuz I think it was something that I realized
before but I think um since coming to uni um I've always felt more engaged and more interested in my intro to IR
lectures and my international security lectures. Um can I say what do you think is the difference between politics and IR? Um,
so for me, um, I think that when it comes to politics, you're mainly focusing on UK and American politics.
That's what I've found, especially like when you compare it to like six form as well, cuz that is mainly just um well,
obviously it depends what exam you do. But for me, I did um UK in my in year 12
and US in year 13. So um from that, you could just say it's just UK and US and
like mostly comparative. So the comparative module that we did that's basically what we I did in six form as
well. So that's why I'd say um politics is mainly um UK and US but I it's
literally in the name like international relations learning about the world how countries depend on each other you know
policies learning about organizations such as the UN even things like the IMF the World Bank all of that like it
relates and like you even mentioned war studies like it is broad very broad so I
think that's why I like it cuz it's not just the politics of the international relations actually anything
like just international So I think yeah something I guess I've also even realized is that even within a
subject I think in first year everything seems quite broad because it's supposed to just give you an introduction and
then you can slowly like figure out your passions like said like second year is when you realize like what do I like
what I don't like and I feel like sometimes what I wish I guess cuz I'm in a combined honors as well is sometimes
like when you do have compulsory it's much more structured like you know you get told what to do which sometimes And
for some people that might be better than having to like figure out what you
um enjoy and you don't enjoy because I realized that I still don't even know what I enjoy and don't enjoy.
It honestly depends on your personal preference. Some people like that structure. Some people get really stressed out about picking
modules cuz picking modules and combined honors is stressful. It is. It is because you have to like worry about modules clashing timets because
obviously I suppose one of the big downsides of combined honors is like different departments obviously won't coordinate their timets cuz they don't
Pros & cons of choosing your modules
really talk to each other. Yeah, pretty much. So you do have to do a bit of like juggling in terms of like knowing which modules fit and when. But
it's not too hard. There's like a timetable app on like Durham website that you can search somewhere. I'm sure there'll be a link. Um, so you can do
that sort of mentor arithmetic before you even come to Darham because they do release the time tablet tables quite early. But some people prefer that sort
of structure of like knowing okay this is what you'll be taught in first year. These are your options. This is the list basically and and you still have a lot
of flexibility in second and third year even in like a single honors but combined honors you let you pick from the whole range but there is that is
probably one of the few downsides to the degree. I still love it but one of the few downsides is like when it comes to module selection it is very stressful uh
just because you have to like fit fit things together. Yeah. Okay. Hopefully you guys now know the difference between those two
degrees. So before coming to Durham like was there any perceptions or like you
First perceptions of Durham
had or about Durham before coming or like you know I know you talked about the summer school would love to hear
more about like how that was for you. Yeah. So, as I said, the summer school was to encourage um students of black
heritage heritage, sorry, to apply for Darham. Um because literally, as I said earlier, um the uni isn't that diverse
in terms of race. Going to the summer school, not saying that it gave me a false perception as to what Darren would
be, but because it was just black people, I thought that a lot of black people would apply, but I remember in my
first few weeks and like going to lectures and just walking around town and being like, "Wow, this is really
different." Obviously I grew up in London and everyone knows that London is the most yeah multicultural city in the
UK. So coming here I think being here has made me like this is where I've
really sat down and realized like wow I'm actually the only black person here or like one of like five. I can
literally count how many black people there are. So yeah, I think that was um kind of difficult cuz I've been around
and not even just black people, people of color like in general. I've already I've always been around like people of
color my whole life, primary, secondary, six form. So, I think coming here that was a big change, but you know, it's
just something you've got to get used to. Say to people who might like be put off by it like how did you like take that
leap of faith? Like I know some of my friends were like, I'm not going to apply for Durham at all. So, like what
Applying despite Durham’s lack of diversity
made you still want to come to Durham despite that? Um, as was seam said um earlier, this is one of the highest ranking universities
in the country. like it is top 10, you know, and even despite the name, like I
just think the city is amazing as well. Like it's beautiful. There's a lot to do. People always say that there's not a
lot to do here, but I think you actually have to go out and see for yourself. Even if it's just walking or, you know,
going to babs or something, you know, there's actually always something to do. Yeah. I would say to anyone like
thinking like just worrying about the diversity, don't worry. like and there also there are many societies you have
DEPA which is the people of color association I'm a part of ACS myself which is the African and Caribbean
society and through all of the through all of these society I've been able to meet people who have you know come from
similar backgrounds or we share similar experiences and that's just made it easier to relate to people and yeah just
find meet new people and make new friends how about you well I got a bit unfortunate because I
applied during the covid years so I started university in 2021 which is four years ago now feels like an F feels like
ancient now. But so it made it a little bit tougher applying to universities because obviously I couldn't go and
visit them. Durham did do a very nice thing where when the co restrictions were over they did allow people to who had offers to go on tours which is
really nice. I did get to at least see the university I applied to. But until then I was really much relying on online
information and rankings. So I mean for me like no once I realized that trying
to get into my first choice uni which was Cambridge was not going to happen I kind of like looked at rankings looked at the subjects looked at module choices
looked at kind of what I would be expected to study basically I looked even looked at like reading list because
they're available online for everyone to see and I was looking at the module titles and the lecture titles I was like okay of all of all the
universities I have left which one can I see myself having the most fun having the most intellectually stimulating time
at and that first time. I think other few things did sort of sway my decision like the ability to choose a college for
example I think is really I think we'll get on to colleges soon. Yeah. But I think that was a really good
full factor because it feel it kind of makes it a little bit easier to apply to Darham in the sense that you pick a college as well as the university but
it's not like some other universities where the college kind of dictates your chance of getting in. It's more like the
college helps you settle in. It's like where you'll live in first year. Community pretty much. It's like it's a lot it
makes it a lot less overwhelming like they kind of act as their own communities, their own support systems which are really important. Um so that
was like a big pull factor for me as well. But I was just kind of like just researching like mad in sort of during the co years. I was just kind of like
looking at you know league tables the rankings for my subjects the module options and I sort of settled on DAR. I
think having the the offer given to me quite early as well I got my offer in December which like I mean I didn't hear back from other universities like April
or May. I think that helps me solidify my option as well because I thought at that point well this university is obviously giving me an offer really
early this is surely a sign right like they obviously really want me here and I
think having a textual offer as well I had a slightly reduced offer um as well I think that kind of ultimately swayed
my decision and then have seen the university for the first time in the flesh in the summer was like okay I can see myself you know enjoying my time
here um so yeah it was a bit of a it was a bit of a scuffed kind of decision-m process because I don't have the same
resources that you guys have now um and I really really encourage people is like if you can go to an open day or get to a
post office open day like go to it like the information that they give you and like I feel really jealous for the
people who come so cuz I work in the open days now like I feel really jealous for those people who get to have those conversations because I didn't have that
opportunity I was very much relying on online stuff but I still feel like I made a good shoot there's uni buddy and those are actually
live students behind that cuz I know cuz they're my colleagues and so yeah feel free to use that if you do actually not
definitely as well be able to make it to open day there wasn't a lot of outreach reach from Durham University to my 61 as well.
So something I noticed as well and then this is something that you experienced as well being both Londoners um is that we come from really diverse backgrounds
and my sixmon college was like really highly ranked like I was really fortunate to go I had to like work
really hard to get the grades to get in there but even there I was like I noticed like Durham was just not the
option for most people and not just like very few people even if they were capable of going to Durham just didn't go and something of a bit of a culture
shock as well is like knowing that there's a lot of people that I know could have gone to this university but didn't and I feel like partly that's
because there wasn't enough outreach but maybe when I was just during co but I also feel like people might be put off
by over stereotypes or the distance was probably a big factor as well on the cost of living um but I feel like if there was more
awareness on Durham side like I feel like there's so much opportunity for people like us and like I feel like yeah we belong like
we have worked just as hard as you know all the other students from grammar and like you know private schools to be here
and like we deserve to fill up those spaces and fill up the lecture halls as as much as anyone else like
I feel like I feel like we need I feel like it's not just diversity for the sake of it. It's like more it's having those
perspectives, having those backgrounds in there because they can really influence you know, you're learning like some of the conversations you can have in seminars, some of the conversations
you have in lectures. And you know, I feel like lecturers really appreciate when you make those contributions to like really bring those ideas in. And
something I've really pushed for is like knowing that okay, looking at who I'm competing with, who looking at some of the backgrounds of the people that I've,
you know, done worked even harder to get into. It's like I know that I have to stand out somehow.
I don't want to make make that thing be like my skin color like my background or my accent. So like know using my
experience to like make those contributions, bring those ideas. I think it's been really really important. I feel like I've had a better experience
academically because of it. For sure. Yeah. Add to that. Of course. Come on.
Go for it. No, it's um like that's actually such a great thing to say because um for me I
was the only person in my six form who got into who went to Darham at all. So I think the thing that you said about
outreach was really like important as well because um I think Darham themselves are they've made it known
that they want to um like encourage more people from um different backgrounds to
apply. So I think um if they could work on their outreach and like actually talking to um schools in areas that um
they don't really get students from I think would re be really beneficial cuz even though it is one of like the best
unis in the country not many people know about it to be honest. I don't know if it's because of the distance or because
of the lack of outreach or things but yeah I think they could benefit a lot from just like ly outreach and things
like that. So, no, that was like a really great thing to say because I agree. And like I feel like just to summarize before what you said about like being
different. Like you're different is a strength like genuinely like when you're in those seminar rooms, you're going to
be able to contribute stuff that other people like just from different walks of life, different lived experiences just
won't understand or know. So like yeah, just be encouraged guys to apply. Um,
and then yeah, I guess I guess moving on, um, going to talk more about your
college life, which I feel like people underestimate the amount of fun you can have in Durham. Like, um, both like how
I found Durham is like it's quite good academically, like we said, but also,
yeah, the collegiic life um, the college life like you said, that's where you find your community. So I guess how did
Deciding on a college
you go about choosing your college and how have you found the social aspect of university?
Oh great question. I mean so I was picking colleges based on like material
needs if that makes sense. Like I was looking at you know whether I want to be catered or self-catered in first year was a big deal because obviously makes a
big cost difference to your f to first year of living and I knew I wanted to be catered because I wanted to remove that stress from because the Durham catering
package compared to some other unities actually really good. Really it's free meals a day seven days a week. Does some
universities not even do that? I think so many others I've seen don't like either works on like a meal ticket system or you just don't get 21 meals a
week. Um so like compared to Yeah. starving students.
I know right. Like um so like compared to some of the other uns like I actually really like that idea and I knew it
would remove the stress from first year. Um I also wanted to be in a college that was like not too close to the city center but
also not too far away. I wanted to be like very close to the science site which is where a lot of the lectures are happening. If you ever seen a picture of like the TD TLC or the Bill Bryson
Library, a lot of my lectures were happened in that sort of area. So I wanted to pick a college that was very
close to it. I wanted like how far is um Gray from It's literally down a hill and you're
there like 5 minutes 5 minutes to the science site. Even less if you're if you're going to Is it the closest?
It's either Battle or Mary's. I think Vat or Mary's are like the closest ones to the science site. But Gray's even better cuz like it's on a hill. So like
it's closer to like the maths building and like the ones on the upper cuz the science is kind of on two different hills and like gra kind of in the middle
of them. So it's like really really well located. So like I could literally wake up at like 5 10 minutes before my lecture. I'm
literally roll. Do you? Well I have to have breakfast first. So I don't but theoretically you can. Um
and also just like to the library is like a 5 minute walk. To town is only like a 15 20 minute walk. Um like it's a
really good central location. Very good facilities as well. like we have we recently got our um like our sports
pitch renovated so now we can hire it out and like play tennis, football, basketball, all sorts. Like that was
very really good that we had that renovated. Um it was also relatively modern. I didn't want to like live in a
college that was maybe too old or like too historic. Um I always kind of wanted to live in like a more modern college
and Grace kind of in that nice little middle zone. Uh and it was really good location, really good facilities, a
really great support system as well. like I really I really needed that support system um a lot during my
college life and like I I think that's a really big benefit of Darham if you're thinking of applying is that it if you go to like a bigger university
like it's a lot more centralized like it it can be really scary like know okay if I'm struggling who do I ask for help
whereas actually D has a lot of multiple avenues and college can be a really big advocate for your needs if you need them
um so I I'm really grateful that Gray's support system was really really good and really supportive when I really needed them and I'm support most of like
I'm sure he'll be I'm sure Chad's as well it's very similar as well. Um, so that's a really big plus of going to Darham.
And most people like who I've spoken to, even if they don't get their college choice, you somehow like just find your
people and like you everyone just reps their college in the end. Like everyone says theirs is the best. Obviously, I
know Chad is the best, but anyway, Gary on Hillbead, Hillbe's interesting cuz people say that Hillbead is not a Bailey
or a Hill College. Yeah. Um, I think on the website it's actually listed as a river college. So
that's that's very interesting. But no um hbe is very funny because it wasn't my first choice. My first choice was
actually Jon Snow. Um Hillbe was sixth. But do you know it wasn't too bad. It wasn't thing. But
yeah, I think the thing with Hillbe is before coming I think a few days before
um a first year started. I actually came to Darren with my dad and we saw
Rushwood court and it said college of St. Hild and St. Bead but obviously I was a bit confused cuz obviously everyone knows that Hild is actually in
Jgate. So, um, even though I was confused, I was thinking, okay, this is actually quite good cuz, um, if anyone
knows where Russia court is, it's literally 1 minute and you're in town. So, I think it's a great location in terms of
it used to be in Jay. Yeah. Well, yeah, the old site is they're renovating it now, but the old
site is in Jay, but it's not deep jouge. It's literally where Rushwood Court is. I think if you go past a roundabout, I
want to say like 10 minutes. So, it's not Durham is quite small, so you'll be able to find stuff. Yeah, it's not that far. But yeah, um Rushwood
Court great in terms of location. They recently um just finished I think it was Jan January that they finished um like
finished building the college. So yeah, I've it's been nice to see it like be done in real time cuz you know my view
is literally I remember when it was just scaffolding and now like it's all complete. So yeah, I think it's really
good location in terms of town, you know, literally one minute from Babs as well. Um yeah. Um and to get to lectures
um it is about 25 minutes which is quite far like compared to a five minute walk but um you know it's not too bad from
September to now I think I can get there in like I want to say 15 if I'm really like really pushing it. So yeah, but no,
I do love it's literally like you said, I do love Hillbe even though it wasn't my first choice. I think if I was reapplying again and I know like I know
about the way I know I would have put hillbe first. I do love you know self-catered on suite double bed like
what more could I ask for? Like I only got I only got a free quarter in
first year. Wow, that's so good. But no, yeah, I do I do love. How do you find like I guess the
transition to like cooking for yourself, sharing a kitchen? Um cuz I feel like I don't know. I feel
like being self-catered is much more independent. Like being a catered I'm feeling like oh this feels like a bit
like boarding school or something. Like I feel like next year is real challenge for adulthood. But yeah. How have you
found it? No. Um to be fair, I found it really great. I put all the cater to colleges um last. like I wanted to be
self-catered mainly because um I I just wanted to learn how to cook for myself and you know the summer before uni um my
mom and I we tried out different recipes you know we cook together it's a really good tip before coming so yeah I think um
self-catered and catered they both have their pros and cons you know self-catered as much as you can cook for yourself it can get very long so I do
understand why people spend a lot of money on takeaways cuz sometimes you just can't be bothered like no it's it's
actually so true like after a long day. Like um on Mondays I had three lectures.
I start I think my first one was at then I end at 5 then going home having to cook all of this. Who knows how long
it's going to take. That's why sometimes um to be fair I I do very good with takeaways. I'm not a takeaway person at
all. Like but you spending your money. Yeah. But there are some days where you know you just can't help it. So cheeky,
you know, naked bird. Who can say no to a naked bird? So yeah. No. But no, I do
love um cooking for myself. It's just it's a life school, you I'm going to have to do it at one point. So,
yeah. And I guess like on the flip side, how do you find like the communal aspect of eating together in a catered college?
I mean, I see it all the time cuz I live in college and final year now. Um, and I still I am still catered in final year,
which you can do, by the way. Like, if you if you don't like the idea of living out in private accommodation in second and third year, or you don't like the
idea of having to go selfcated, you can really stay. If you belong to a catered college, you can stay in living in the
second and third year. especially you have like if you have any disability requirements or anything like that, they do prioritize prioritize. You will be
prioritized. So if if you are overwhelmed by that option, do know that that's still an option for you. Um but I see it all the time like all the
freshers will like they'll come together, they'll eat together. Some people eat alone and that's totally
fine. Like there's no obligation to there's no pressure to like you can just eat when you need to like if you have
flexible requirements as well. But I do notice that like a lot of people use that as a time to catch up on each other like if they have exams at the moment
and kind of like they use meal time to like catch up on that and kind of talk about what they went through. Uh dinner
time as well like you get your genuine quite groups together. So it really just depends on like who you socialize with. It's a really good way of like keeping
up with each other, finding people to sit next to. But you know if you want to eat solo you're perfectly entitled to and there's literally no pressure. Like
facilities are amazing. Like the halls like recently got renovated so like loads of seating available. I'm sure most other colleges are like that as
well. It's really what you make of it, I think, of catering. These are coming out a good time. A lot of places are getting renovated.
Yeah. Yeah. No, great. Grace's gone through a lot of renovations. We had our dining hall renovated. Our bar got renovated. Sports
court's got a new bar. The whole everything sports sports court's got renovated now.
Like it's a good it's a good time to be a great student. Not to be biased, but yeah. Okay. Oh, I just realized you guys might
Year abroad opportunities (4th year perspective)
be confused why we're seems like a four year student. Yeah. So, do you want to tell them why? Yeah. So technically social sciences
like all most other degrees in the social sciences are three years long but I'm a fourth year because I went abroad
last year. Oh. Where did you go? I went to the Netherlands. I went to Amsterdam. Wow. So how did you make that choice?
How did you find your year abroad? Give us all the tea. Right. Well, I wanted to do a year
abroad pretty much when I started university. Like I've never properly gone abroad in my life. And I was like
you if this if there's a chance where I want I'm going to live abroad independently like university is going to be that time. I think social sciences
is really good in that regard because actually the flexibility in terms of module choices in Durham actually goes go transcends abroad as well. So you can
actually choose between your main subjects kind of what you want to specialize in on year abroad. So do you
want to do a exchange in politics exchange in geography whatever. If you do like a modern language as your one of
your main degree um subjects, do be aware that like you'll have to do a European at some point and it'll usually
be tailored towards either going to university and studying that language or doing like a like a work abroad and like
working in like the countries that speak your language and doing have sort of experience. But I was just a study abroad student. I could basically choose
between politics and geography. Ended up going with politics. It had more concrete exchange options and there was
a lot of English- speaking universities that had options available. I settled on the Netherlands because I really like
Dutch culture. Um, it was also really easy to get to from my house in London. Like I could get a Euro Star and be
there in four hours which was really good for moving in. Didn't have to worry about planes or anything like that. Um but also just like the actually the same
skills that I learned from social sciences in terms of like choosing modules and flexibility actually really helped me in Amsterdam because the way
it worked over there was that I had the same thing like I could I I was basically had all the options available in social sciences open to me and I
could choose modules in like sociology and communication studies as well as politics and actually the requirements
the requirements for year abroads especially for study abroads are quite relaxed. You don't have to do all your modules in like a certain subject if
you're doing like a combined honors course. So I didn't have to do all my majors in politics and I make sure to make a lot of use of that. Um and
there's a lot of flexibility as well like you only have to technically pass your year abroad to make it and it you it still gets put on your degree
certificate at the end. They'll make sure that it's clear that you've done your year abroad and it will say on your degree certificate when you graduate
which is really good. And also you just learn a lot of skills out there like my dissertation that I just finished writing a month ago was actually
inspired by the traveling I did whilst I was on my year abroad. So like my dissertation probably would not have come about in its current form unless I
maybe gone on that year abroad and gone to other countries and like which is really really big ambition of mine was like you know visit other countries I've
studied you know kind of how do other countries do things like I was there when like the Dutch elections were kicking off and like that was really
interesting to study to sort of go in the lecture room the next day and be like oh Ders has won the election what
does this mean for all of us like that was a really strange seminar but it was really good and also it's just a really different way of learning like it's so
it's so unique and dime does offer a lot of support as well for going on year
abroads. So your maintenance loans or your tuition fee loans still could carry over and actually get more maintenance loan for going abroad compared to what
you usually get when if you were to study at home and there's like a reduced tuition fee so you don't have to pay the whole 9k for the year. I think it's like
one and a halfk at the moment. Um and you also get the chewing grant so I got about extra three and a halfk for the
year. Um and if you go to like a more expensive country as well you can even get more than that. So, you actually get
quite a lot of money thrown at you um to go on your year abroad, which is really handy. Um so, I mean, that's basically
why I ended up staying for an extra year was basically because I did that year abroad. But I wouldn't have had it. You don't regret that choice?
Absolutely. No, I think I actually needed that year abroad. I feel like I needed it to like, you know, reset myself, see other countries, see
something new, do something, live independently as well. It's a very different way of living out there in the Netherlands. um really different like the way even
even like the minute things of how they designed their cities and where their bike lanes are such a big culture shock but
I would not have had it any other way and I'm so glad that I did it like and I really encourage you that like if you
want to do it like just go for it there's so many options there's so much support it it's a lot of less pressure
on you like you just have to pass that year to have it mentioned on your degree certificate so like you know just do it
pick it like if you're going to go abroad if you if you're going their own website there's like a section called go abroad if you go on there now you can
actually research some of the options that you have you don't have to start thinking about it until second year but you can go on there now and sort of like
okay if I'm studying geography for example what university could I go to um
it works on two levels so like Darham has like institutional wide agreements so like you can just go to so D has
agreements with other universities and you can basically study any subjects there and then some other department specific so like the politics department
of Durham will have an agreement with the politics department of Amsterdam or Zurich or exam and provance for example and and that's how the exchange works.
So there's a lot of options. Do do your research. It's not just Europe as well. You can go international. There's a lot of places in America, China,
Australasia. Like there's so many options. But you know if it's something you're into like definitely
feel free to go on the Goro board website and have a quick look now because like there's so many options. It just shows you like how much opportunity like there is in Dura. Like
I feel like that's something I probably underestimated like how much you can get out of being here. And I feel like
similar to like what you an earlier point you made Gabrielle is like how much you get is how much you put in as
well. Like you know you need to be active, be proactive. Like I think that's the biggest step in going to
university is the independence of just being proactive. Like there's not going to be a teacher spoon feeding you like
what are you going to do? Like you know there's not someone that's checking up on you doing your reading list. Like
it's really like up to you how much you want to get out of your degree, how much you want to get out of university life. And I know Gabrielle, you are part of
two really cool societies. Um, woman in politics and the diplomacy society. Why did you wanted to join a society? Um,
why was it these two that you are passionate about? And how has it been um being part of those societies?
Societies & extracurriculars
Me personally, I'm not really big on going to clubs as much as I've made jokes about it this um in this podcast.
Yeah. Um I'm not a club goer at all. I just find it Yeah, it's just not for me. So I just thought okay I want to find
something else to fill up my time um by actually doing something that I enjoy and I feel like will be fulfilling. So
yeah obviously as a politics student I'm very interested in you know as I said earlier the international relations
side. So I was really happy to find out about the diplomacy society because obviously um for me the end goal was to
be a diplomat one day God willing. So yeah, I think that was a very obvious
choice and I think that society is really great because um what they do is they bring in speakers from um different
um um political fields. So I know they've brought in like the former head of the MI5 and like GCHQ
um also different ambassadors to different countries. I remember I went to a talk with um one of Donald Trump's
former advisers. So yeah, they bring in like a big people and they also held a
trip in the Christmas holidays in London where we got to go to different offices. So we went to parliament, we went to the
foreign office, we went to the times, you know, it's actually like a great society and I think that's one good
thing about Durham Black you know all these societies are studentled. So literally like you said like 2 minutes
ago it just shows the opportunities that you can get involved in and it's not like adults doing that. It is students
who are part of the university doing it. So it just and it also inspires you cuz like um once um that's why people you
know join execs because they've seen somebody do something and they feel yeah I want to do this as well. And yeah also
women in politics as well that's a really good society. It is a new one. I think it only started this year but um
even Tian can talk about as well. They've done a lot. They do trips to parliament. Um they even did a CV workshop that I found really helpful. Um
the president of women in politics. Yeah. She helped me with my CV and the template she gave me. This is the one
I'm using today. So yeah, all these societies are great and just because they are they have politics in the name.
It it is is wider than that cuz see I'm talking about a CV workshop that's not related to politics but
any degree that would be helpful. Yeah. So yeah, I just think um get involved in as many societies as you can
like that's just too I'm also part of badminton public speaking as I said as well. So yeah, just do a lot of things
that you know, one that um you enjoy, but also um that you just want to know
more about. Yeah. Try something new. That's what university is for. Mhm. Yeah. I my story is a bit different because RA
compared to you where you've done like multiple societies. I basically did one big one and made it my whole personality
trait, which I don't know if I would regret that comment going forward, but I mean my whole career path is now set on it. When I when I was queuing up to get
my food one day in college, I was noticing that Platinet, which is our student newspaper, were handing out free newspapers. And I took on it because I
came into university having my indecisiveness about my college, my course choice being solved. And now I
didn't know what wanted to do after I graduated. And I didn't know, okay, do I want to go into the civil service, work for an MP, like what do I do with this
degree? And I picked up a newspaper, started reading it. I can't remember the exact process that made me do this, but
then I got interested, applied to be a news reporter in first year, started writing articles for that newspaper and
just fell in love with it. I don't know how to explain I can't I can't quite fathom the experience of how I ended up
going from picking up a newspaper in college to making it my whole personality,
but it somehow happened and I think I just really got attached to it and really started loving it. So I mean
platinum has been you know it's basically made my D experience what it was and I wouldn't have the experiences afterwards if it wasn't for that paper.
So I kind of started as a news reporter then got promoted to news editor in my first term which was really good. Um and
just wrote a bunch of stories about like you know really holding the university account you know I did a story online
like you know there was this student from Ukraine that was in Ukraine when the war kicked off in back in 2022. Um,
and I got to interview her and sort of tell her story and that was really emotional. I did like a story like postgraduates and sort of the working
conditions they were going through. I've also done some really wacky stories like how many Oxbridge rejects this university have which I know is a very
pertinent stereotype that I wanted to challenge. Uh, spoiler alert, there's actually less than you think there is. Um, so go
some people just apply for Durham because Durham is great. Yeah, exactly. Like Durham is good at university in its own right, but I mean
I just fell in love with student media. Like Durham I mean I feel like there's so many specialisms that Dar's really good for. Like student media is one of
them. I mean in the purple radio studio as well which won various awards but also PAL TV's was like for three years
in a row was like the best student television station in the country for three years in a row and even this year they were second. So like even like that
I've done a couple of broadcast with them and they're really good. Platin is so professional as well. Um like the
editors that you know hired me on one still doing his PhD in direct but the other is now like a political sort of
the times. So that's kind of like the caliber of like you know student reporting and it's all student led but that's kind of the caliber of talent
that goes through that paper which is like incredible and I was just surrounded by these really ambitious guys and so being able to have my own stamp on that was really really
important to me and really made my uni experience what it is. But it's not just student media. I think theater as well is such a big thing here. So many
theater companies that I know my friends have gone up to. Uh sport both on like a college level and like a I don't really do any sports. Like I do it for fun but
I do it on a club level cuz I'm not really competitive. There's college and like DU. Like if you want casual, go to
college. If you want serious go. Um so I mean Diamond's really good for sport as
well. And I think like there's so many things that Diamond's very good at and like it's all studentled. It's all
through the university and through the SU like you'll find something that you like. Yeah. You you will find some something. For me
that was student journalism. I think for you was more like you know the political societies more like heritage society as
well. Like you will find something that you like. It's just knowing where to look basically. And like definitely go
to the freshest fair in first year. Fresh week. Freshest week. Yeah. And you'll be able to learn more about these societies. But
like you'll find something like for me like I didn't go into university wanting to be a journalist. And I'm leaving
university having written for like the spectator, the Guardian, you know, My London, like all these really great
newspapers that I wouldn't have been able to write for and have internships with if I didn't join my student newspaper. If I didn't join Platinum. I
mean it I probably should have tried other things as well. That's probably something I do regret is like I think I spent so much time in student media that
like I didn't broaden my horizons a little bit. Um but that doesn't mean doesn't mean I regret not doing platin
like genuinely like I wouldn't be here now without it and I wouldn't be applying for the jobs I'm applying for
now without it as well. And also in terms of societies um don't think that it's only first year that you
can join societies. You can literally join societies any year. Second year, third year. There's no limit on trying
something new to joining Yeah. joining new society. So a lot of societies are very friendly and
very cheap to join as well. So like I think we have a lot of them are free. Yeah. A lot of them are free or like very low cost. So like again it's just like you
can go on the SU website right now like there's a list of all the societies that are currently active. I think over 200. Yeah. So you can definitely go on there
right now and again have a look have a browse see what takes you fancy then sign up. Oh you can even sign one up. I mean
create one yourself. If you don't if there's not one like you said women in politics is quite new. Yeah. Like I think when I joined there
was no F1 society for example in first year and then there and then by the time I'm graduating there's like the big F1
society and like university level but there's also like so many college ones as well. I've been to quite a few college watch alongs and like again like
that wasn't a thing in first year but people have gone and made the effort to you know it's really I think it's not that hard to ratify in your society like if you
have a exec together and you have an idea like they will listen to it and you know maybe run with it. So, you know,
don't be afraid of doing that as well. Yeah. And definitely like use any exact like opportunities to like just go for
it. Like I know people are like, "Oh, but I've like never done this." But like university like
I feel I feel like what I realize is no one cares. Like you yourself is probably the biggest barrier and like you just
need to put yourself out there and like um both of you guys just said there's so many amazing people around you and like
just work with them. like when are you ever going to get a time when you're surrounded by people similar age with similar ambition and like similar
passions. So yeah, I just go for it. I guess the final question that we have is
if you could go back to like your former self before you came to Durham, what advice would you give or like go a bit
forward with your offer holder, what advice would you give? So for those two different people, hopefully that makes
sense. Don't be scared I think is the main thing. Don't hold yourself back because
of things that you might think are limiting you. You might be limited by, you know, your
financial background, your racial background, you know, your personality, I think, is a big thing as well. Like you might feel like because you're very
introverted or, you know, you like certain things that you might not find your place. It might take a bit of
effort, but you can find it. Don't try and come in with this like massive pressure. Don't put pressure on yourself
basically to feel like by the end of first week, you'll have your big group of friendship circles. you know, you'll be in part of far society. You hope
you're on top of all your lectures, all your seminars, all your readings. There are a few students that are like that and you'll be in awe of them or maybe
jealous of them. But don't let that intimidate you. Some people have had that head start in life and they'll know
they'll find the transition to university more natural because of that experience that they've had. Others won't. I start the experience for me
like it was a really big culture shock coming to university be like, "Oh my god, what do I do myself now?" If you come in with your principles, you come
in with your interest, you come in with like with an open mind of like what you want to do and like realistically knowing what you want to achieve, you
can go far and you will go far. Like don't hold yourself back. And it's something that I sort of think about myself like could I have done more if I
didn't hold myself back. Um like don't don't let those thoughts limit you and
definitely make most of the support that Dar gives you. I think even I'm now like so surprised at all the support that Dar
still offers. Like I've mentioned college at the start, but like career support is a like a thing like a big thing. I got check email now being like
here are the vacancies for coming up for next for next term. Like use that, use your lecturers, use your
seminar leaders, like go to office hours, you know, speak to them, be interested in your degree. Like ultimately here at university to learn
and be interested in your degree like you know it'll be a lot of trial and error. You you'll find out by the end of first year like especially you know this
is how I study the best. This is what society's interested in. These are my boundaries. these are the people that like you know I can hang around with and
these ones are probably I don't want to like you are you can take ownership of those things like do take ownership of your time at university it can be a bit
of a weird transition I think especially if you've not had that experience it can feel like some people are ahead of you and by the end of the day it's like it's
not a race like you're just competing against yourself you're you know are you a better person going into university
than you are going out of it graduating now like I I I've definitely grown a lot I've definitely seen things and you know
learned things that you know have taught me a lot about myself, what I like, what I don't like, how I adapt to different environments. And I think that's going
to be really important going forward going into the world of work. I feel like some people at H High University be like this romantic idealized experience
of like, you know, you you'll find your people, you know, find your partner. Apparently, that's a
big thing. Um, you'll find you'll find your romantic partner, you know, you'll be on top of all these actors. You'll go
to all these sport societies. Like, it's not going to be like that for everyone. And it doesn't have to be like that for
everyone. It it has to be like what you want it to be, whatever it is. Like, you know, if you if you want to like, you
know, stay in at p.m. and watch a movie every night, go for it. Honestly, no one's going to judge. Like, genuinely, like, you have like be
open to new things, try new things, but don't compromise your entire personality just to fit in. Like, there's so much
beauty in standing out and you shouldn't shy away from that. So, I feel like I've woed on for a little bit, but I think I
think I think the TLDDR is like be yourself, try new things, but don't but don't push yourself and don't compare
because like some people will find this thing easier. Some people find it difficult, but it's not a competition.
It's literally what do you want to make out make out of university and that's all that matters really. If you know
what that if you know what that is for you, you will go far. You will go far. Yeah, I genuinely agree with everything
that you said. I think while you were speaking the two things that came to my mind were um put yourself out there and
don't change who you are for anyone you know um I feel like me personally before coming to university I would say I was
much more confident than um I am now I don't know I think since coming here I felt so overwhelmed by um you know just
how many people there are here and just just by a lot of things and I think yeah there are times where I have thought
about like the differences is between myself and somebody who went to private school. But I think it's all about just
um reminding myself that even though they had more opportunities and they had this, we are in the same place at the
end of the day. Like there's nothing like if you put me next to somebody that went to private school, I don't think
you could really tell the differences cuz we at the end of the day we're in the same place. You know, I've worked hard to be here and so have they do, you
know? And yeah, I just think that you should just try everything. You know, literally
what you said, don't compare yourself because you are like you are so special. You are special. So, um yeah, put
yourself out there. Try everything. Don't change who you are for anyone. And yeah, just just enjoy university to the
best you can, you know? Yeah, just enjoy it. And it's okay if you don't feel that as
soon as you come to Durham and you find your feet. Like me and Yel, we just finished in first year and it's gone by
so fast, but like you really Yeah. you fall in love with a place. Yeah. And don't sorry, don't be scared
to do things alone. You know, um you may feel as though um it's going to take a while to meet um your people. I know I
definitely felt that a couple of times, but you know, it hasn't stopped me from going to the theater by myself, going to
the cinema by myself. Literally, yesterday I went to watch the New Karate Kid by myself. like don't be scared of
doing things by yourself cuz at the end of the day, you know, by maybe by going somewhere by yourself, you might leave
that place meeting somebody new. So yeah. Yeah. Don't don't be scared to do things on your own. I think that's a good thing
as well. I think people have this misconception that Darham's small, but actually especially it's massive. There's a lot to do within Dar. There's
so many cafes. It's so close to Newcastle if you do ever get bo. Yeah, I mean Newcastle, but also like I've been going out on a few day trips
as well recently now. I've graduated. Well, about So many good walks. So many good walks. So many York
Edinburgh is only 2 hours away. Even less than that. Like all you Londoners, welcome to the north.
Yeah, it's a big place. It's a lot more culturally diverse than you think it is. I I think like a lot of
people I know regret not exploring Durham more in their time at because people talk about the bubble quite a bit, but I
think one of the biggest things to talk about is like or think about is like don't just constrain yourself to the Durham bubble. Do get out there. Do go
see places. Go to the beach, you know, go see a show in Newcastle. Go go go go walk around Dean's village in Edinburgh.
Like go go go go go walk the coast. Like do what you want to do. Don't be afraid to do it alone and really make the time
because you might not be you know you might so for a lot of people you might not live in the northeast again but such a culturally and you know really rich
region that you just don't realize and I think a lot of people should be more aware of that. So definitely make the most of it and that's something I'm
trying to do now a lot as well. That's such a good way to end the podcast. Thank you guys so much for your time and we really hope you guys found
this useful. Thank you guys so much for those of you who have stayed till the end which was about like an hour almost.
Oh wow. Yeah, it has been. But yeah, I really hope you guys have find that helpful and
then yeah, I'll put any extra episodes down below any more resources that we mentioned. But yeah, thank you for being
on here and um good luck with everything and hope to see you in Duro. Bye bye
bye. Thank you.
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