This is a list of social activities at the University of Durham, including details of clubs, societies and other common leisure activities associated with Durham University. Over 200 student clubs and organisations run within Durham Students' Union.[1]
Sports
General
College Varsity, a sporting competition between college teams from Durham University and the University of York held alternately at York and Durham in the Lent term since 2014.[2]
Durham University Athletic Union, a student-run organisation responsible for sport at Durham University. In 2006, the Athletic Union was rebranded "Team Durham" to signify a more modern approach to sport at Durham. In contrast to most British universities, it is a separate organisation with the status of a students' union, rather than a part of Durham Students' Union, the primary student representative body at Durham University.
There are many college sports teams which allow for participation in sport at a less intense level than the university sports teams. There are leagues or tournaments between colleges in most major sports, with many colleges having multiple teams covering a wide range of ability levels. This is a contributing factor to the high participation in sport at the university.
The Durham Union Society (DUS), commonly referred to as the Durham Union, is a debatingsociety, founded in 1842, by the students of the University of Durham, which then comprised only Hatfield Hall and University College. Commonly referred to as the Union, or the DUS, it is the University's largest society, with over 3,000 members in residence, and 24,000 worldwide. Until 1899, when the Durham Students' Union's ancestor was founded, the society acted as the University's students' union.
Academic societies
Arthur Holmes Geological Society
Durham Astronomical Society
Durham Spaceflight
Durham University Accounting and Finance Society
Durham University Anthropology Society
Durham University Archaeology Society
Durham University Biological Society
Durham University Business Society
Durham University Business Psychology Society
Durham University Chemistry Society
Durham University Classics Society
Durham University Combined Honours Social Society
Durham University Computing Society
Durham University Economics Society
Durham University Education Society
Durham University Engineering Society
Durham University English Literature Society
Durham University Finance Society
Durham University French Society
Durham University Geographical Society
Durham University German Language and Cultures Society
Durham University History Society
Durham University Law Society
Durham University Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) Society
Durham University Marketing Society
Durham University Mathematical Society
Durham University Medical Society
Durham University Natural Science Society
Durham University Women in STEM
Durham University Philosophy Society
Durham University Psychology Society
Durham University Palaeontological Society
Durham Physics Society
Durham University Politics and International Relations Society
Durham ELSA
Durham University Society of Applied Social Science
Durham Student Theatre (DST, formerly Durham University Student Theatre, DUST) is a student-run organisation responsible for theatre at Durham University, with performances put on every week of term at the Assembly Rooms Theatre.[12]
DST acts as an umbrella organisation for the many theatre companies based at the university, such as Durham University Light Opera Group (DULOG).[13] There are also numerous college based theatre groups, run by the Junior Common Room of the individual colleges, some of which are college members only, with others being open to all.[13]
Durham Revue
The Durham Revue is an established sketch comedy group. In 1974, four students founded 'DUST' (Durham University Sensible Thespians), which initially produced comedy revue shows exclusively for Durham student audiences.[14] However, in 1977, under the presidency of Arthur Bostrom, DUST took their first show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[14] This inaugural Fringe show included John Inge (Bishop of Worcester) and Jennie Campbell (former BBC comedy producer).[14] The group changed its name to the 'Durham Revue' in 1988.[14]
Its members write and perform all material themselves and shows are put on annually at the Assembly Rooms Theatre, and the professional Gala Theatre where they perform alongside the Cambridge Footlights and the Oxford Revue.[15] The Durham Revue also travels yearly to Cambridge, Oxford, and the Edinburgh Fringe where they perform for the full run of the festival.[15]
The Durham Revue membership generally consists of six writers and performers. Membership is based upon audition and interview, and these take place just once a year during Michaelmas Term. Former members include Jeremy Vine, Nish Kumar, Ed Gamble, and Alex Macqueen.[16]
Music Durham
Music Durham (formerly Durham University Music Society, DUMS) is a student-run organisation responsible for the majority of student music activities at Durham University. Performances take place in university venues such as the Great Hall of Durham Castle, the Mark Hillery Arts Centre in Collingwood College and the Margot Fonteyn ballroom in Durham Students' Union, as well as external venues such as Durham Cathedral, Durham Town Hall, the Gala Theatre and Sage Gateshead.
Music Durham is an umbrella organisation for the many ensembles based at the university. It currently consists of 28 university ensembles, including the Orchestral Society (DUOS), Palatinate Orchestra (DUPO), Choral Society, Big Band, Chamber Choir, concert band, brass band and gamelan.[17] There are also many college music groups, including chapel choirs, chamber ensembles and function bands which perform at college events.
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