University of Durham

Durham University

Arms of the University of Durham
Latin: Universitas Dunelmensīs
Motto	Latin: Fundamenta eius super montibus sanctis
Motto in English	"Her foundations are upon the holy hills"
Type	Public
Established	1832
Endowment	£67.6m (exclusive of Colleges) (as of 31 July 2016)
Chancellor	Sir Thomas Allen
Vice-Chancellor	Stuart Corbridge
Academic staff	1690 (2014/15)
Administrative staff	2735 (2014/15)
Students	17,595 (2014/15)
Undergraduates	12,870 (2014/15)
Postgraduates	4,725 (2014/15)
Location	Durham and , England, UK
Student Newspaper	Palatinate
Colours	Palatinate Purple
Athletics	Team Durham
Affiliations	Russell Group Wallace Group ACU Association of MBAs EUA EQUIS AACSB N8 Group Universities UK Matariki Network of Universities Virgo Consortium University of the Arctic Coimbra Group
Website	www.dur.ac.uk

Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate public research university in Durham, North East England, with a second campus in nearby . It was founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837. It was one of the first universities to commence tuition in England for more than 600 years and claims to be the third oldest university in England (which would make it the seventh or eighth oldest in the UK), although this is disputed. The Durham University estate includes 63 listed buildings, ranging from the 11th-century Durham Castle to a 1930s Art Deco Chapel. The university also owns and manages the Durham World Heritage Site in partnership with Durham Cathedral. The university's ownership of the World Heritage Site includes Durham Castle, Palace Green, and the surrounding buildings including the historic Cosin's Library.

The chancellor of the University is Sir Thomas Allen, who succeeded Bill Bryson in January 2012. As a collegiate university, its main functions are divided between the academic departments of the university and 16 colleges. In general, the departments perform research and provide lectures to students, while the colleges are responsible for the domestic arrangements and welfare of undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and some university staff. The university is a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities after previously being a member of the 1994 Group. Durham is also affiliated with several university groups including the N8 Research Partnership, the Matariki Network of Universities and the Coimbra Group.