Discover history, heritage and academia at our Durham student accommodation.
Close to the universities and Durham's beating heart, make this historic city yours at our Durham student housing.
We have more than 600 student rooms across Durham, all within easy reach of the city’s universities including Durham University, New Durham College and more.
A perfect blend of small city life and a modern reflection of a historic town, Durham is popular with students from across the world. With a population of just 43,000 – over half of which are uni students – the city is a mecca for academics. You’ll find plenty of culture, history, nightlife and entertainment options to keep you busy throughout the year.
Book with confidence
Steeped in history and home to famous landmarks like Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, it’s no wonder the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 995 by Anglo-Saxon monks, Durham is also a famous university city. Students can realise their potential at Durham University, which has 17 colleges offering specialised facilities, events and communities. New Durham College is a modern college in the city, offering sixth form and foundation degree-level courses.
Durham is located in the heart of the Northeast of England, within easy reach of other vibrant northern cities like Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesborough. Then there’s the natural beauty of the North Pennines National Landscape to the west and stunning sandy beaches to the east. Plus, Durham has a direct train line connecting to London and Edinburgh, making exploring iconic UK cities or visiting family easy for students.
Unite Students offers an exciting range of modern and high-quality student accommodation in Durham in convenient locations. Choose student housing close to your place of study, exciting attractions and UNESCO world heritage landmarks.
We have three student accommodation options in Durham:
Book now for 2025/26 to lock in the price and avoid disappointment.
Choose your property and room type.
Book a viewing or watch a virtual tour.
Choose your length of stay.
Enter your personal details.
Enter your guarantor details.
Submit your payment details.
Choose your instalment plan of one, three or seven payments.
To book student accommodation in Durham you must be at least 16 years old and a student in education.
We offer as standard:
A 7 Day Cooling-Off Period – if you change your mind you can cancel your booking within seven days.
No Place, No Pay – if your offer is withdrawn or you choose a different university, you can cancel your agreement at no cost.
You can pay for your Durham student accommodation in the following ways:
Direct Debit
Card payment
UnionPay for international students.
All bills are included with Unite Students, so there are no extra hidden costs. Pay in one, three or seven instalments to suit your finances.
We don’t take deposits, but advance rent may be required. This is a small part of the full-year amount, and we put this towards your first rent instalment.
You may need a guarantor for your student accommodation in Durham. This must be someone over 25 who can make payments if you’re unable to pay rent on time – for example, a parent or legal guardian.
Our en-suites are the best for a communal living experience while having the privacy of your own bedroom and bathroom.
Solo rooms, with your own bathroom and kitchen. The ultimate comfort for people who prefer to live alone, our studios provide the perfect blend of privacy and comfort.
Our Durham student housing comes in three grades: basic, classic and premium.
Classic - get more space and storage with our Classic rooms.
Premium - better views, more space and larger beds when you opt for Premium.
Features may vary by property – browse our Durham student accommodation for further details.
Find out what’s included in your room and what you need to bring.
You can book your student accommodation in Durham for the next academic year from the first week in November. Durham is a popular city for students, and accommodation does sell out. The sooner you get your application in the better. Book now to lock in prices and avoid any unexpected rises in costs.
If you’re applying for university through clearing, there may still be rooms available if other students don’t get their desired grades or drop out. If there aren’t any rooms at that time, you can join our waiting list. And, if you don’t get your place, you can cancel for free with our No Place, No Pay policy. (Applicable to first year students only).
Despite regularly fluctuating prices, generally student accommodation in Durham ranges from budget lettings further away from the city centre to more high-end offerings that are a stone’s throw from the universities and places to unwind. So, keep your eyes peeled for a price that suits you.
Safety and security are of utmost importance at Unite Students. CCTV keeps an eye on all our properties and the only entry to them is with our key cards. You can trust us to be here for you, whenever you hit a snag with your housing. Our call centre is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year and you can also get support on the Unite Students app.
Although Durham is a compact city, there are still popular student areas. Around the city centre or in the areas of Claypath, Neville’s Cross, The Viaduct and The Bailey have lots to offer students. Our Houghall Court property is located next to Durham University Fitness Centre, making it ideal for students using these facilities regularly.
Yes, you can book in a tour of the available rooms so you can be sure of your choice. If you can’t make it in person, you can always use the 360-view interactive video tour available on the accommodation pages for remote viewing.
Although uni housing can be convenient, you don’t have to stay in Durham student halls. The university’s colleges offer their own halls of residence close to the campus, but there are also independent Durham student flats and privately run halls with Unite Students, as well as group housing. It’s up to you to choose as private housing and private halls can often give you more accessibility to the city.
At Unite Students accommodation in Durham, we provide all the essential furniture in your room. You’ll get a comfy bed, desk, chair and storage. In your shared or studio kitchen, you’ll find all the essential appliances like an oven and hob, microwave, kettle and toaster. But you’ll need to bring any individual items yourself – like cooking pans, crockery and bedding. You can find a full list of what’s included and what you need to bring on our website. Our Uni Essentials Shop offers bundles to help you move in with everything you need.
Yes, Durham is excellent for student living. It’s home to Durham University and New Durham College, and houses around 22,000 students. There’s a lively combination of history, culture and nightlife in Durham, and with students making up around 50% of the population, you’ll find plenty of affordable options to make budgeting easy.
Although the north of England is generally more affordable to live than the south, Durham is one of the more expensive northern cities. In general, however, the cost of living in Durham is slightly lower than the national average. Durham students will find plenty of shops, bars and restaurants geared towards a student budget.
Durham has reliable public transport, including buses and trains, which are well-connected and affordable for students. The city is compact, so walking and cycling are also easy and popular. It’s easy to reach cities like Newcastle and London directly on the train – and Newcastle Airport is also within easy reach for international students.