A few years I embarked on a 2 year National Diploma course at New College Durham, studying a couple…read moreof A levels alongside. I was a terrible student and played truant constantly - but even so, I received a lot of support from the lecturers on my courses, and eventually passed everything. The courses were all expertly laid out, something that I've since found doesn't apply to all learning institutions, and even now, I remember the gist of my modules studied, and just how much the lecturers put up with. In one of my modules, the lecturer would drone on and on whilst the entire class surfed the internet and talked amonst themselves. I wonder if he cared - he must have known. He was obviously knowledgable about his subject, so I don't quite understand why he even bothered with a class that wasn't paying attention. Many of my lecturers had a lot of qualifications - PhDs and Doctorates and the likes. The college offers many courses of further education, from GCSEs and A levels to vocational courses in Computing, Beauty Therapy, Health and Social Care to day release NVQ schemes and has dedicated areas for most of them. The facilities are excellent - there is a library the size of a university's, a large refrectory canteen as well as a few coffee kiosks and a shop for purchasing stationary. The college also offers part time courses and now, higher education as well. The college is set among some large playing fields and has many sporting societies. There are a few pubs, cafes and supermarkets in the street immediately to the outside of the college, and Durham city and the Arnison Centre are about a mile either side of it.

Durham University like Oxford and Cambridge is a Collegiate University in that it is made up of…read morecolleges each with it's distinct backgound and traditions. Collingwood is my favourite but having spent a big part of my life there I'm perhaps biased. Collingwood opened its doors in 1973 well, actually, it didn't, it was still a sea of mud when it was supposed to open and the first lot of students had to be farmed out to another College, Van Mildert. It was set up as the first mixed college slightly to the alarm of the more conservative members of the University Senate. It has always seen itself, from the very beginning, as very informal so it doesn't have gowns, or graces, and relations between students and staff are always very warm . The College was originally designed for around 260 students, all in individual rooms (which was very unusual at the time); it was set in nice grounds on the outskirts of the city, just next door to the University's Botanical Gardens, with a little lake, and a tennis-court, and good gardens. Students liked the idea of being coeducational: they flocked to Collingwood, now of course all colleges have followed suit. In the early 1990s, the University wanted to expand and Collingwood took the decision to double its size. It built a series of new wings around a croquet-lawn and an amphitheatre (which is used as a turning-circle, and occasionally to put on plays and other events). In 1992, the new wings opened with nicely spacious en-suite rooms for every resident! And by now it housed 570 of them What didn't happen was a new dining-hall, so it's still a bit short of space there but there is new and much more spacious JCR which can house a shop, a pizza-shop, a coffee-shop, a games area. There's a very large and luxurious bar (the best in Durham: renovated by a generous alumnus who's really enjoyed himself in the bar!). And a red telephone-box and how it got in and down the stairs is difficult to imagine! Traffic cones I can understand but it's amazing this hasn't been missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Collingwood has always been very successful academically, and in sports a previous principal, Gerald Blake, still coaches the rowers and they perform quite remarkably! and in things like drama. The College has quite a lot of smart public space which is also available for students and believe me it is used. If you or someone you know has the opportunity of attending this wonderful place of learning please grab it. Collingwood is unique and holds a place in my heart for all time- Collingwood, I toast you!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the best schools in Britain until recently the QE6 was led by a man who cared very much for…read morehis charges and who has now been given a job advising on a national basis. A great computer room with ideal air conditioning making the room feel cool to work up sets the standered for the rest of the college. A wonderful old building with lots of history, it sits next to the Art Centre in one of the oldest parts of Darlington where in the time of King James an army of 10,000 camped on their way to fight the Scots.

The Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College is a very striking building and has a great reputation as a…read morecollege with its results from students. I attended this Sixth Form College for two years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it was probably some of my best years in education so far. The teachers are very warm and welcoming and always have time for you. The atmosphere is slightly more laid back than secondary school and they give your more responsibility and begin to treat like adults. There is a wide range of courses available from business studies to Film studies to biology and fashion! I would recommend this establishment ten times over.

One of the most bizarrely shaped colleges in Durham (and well loved by students and alumni for…read morethis), you will be challenged to find a right angle within these walls. Based on hexagons, the corridors bend and twist and allow old hands to play 'confuse the interviewee', although after a very short time the logic of the place sinks in. The bar is easy to find, situated close to the entrance or cobbles, and the rest of the blocks spread out from there. Trevs was originally an all women college, before becoming mixed in the late 1980s.

Been to see this Uni twice now, as I plan to go here, and I can say it really is fantastic! The…read morefacilities look amazing, and are very state of the art. The people are really friendly, and all of the teaching staff seem really enthusiastic about the course(s) they teach. The student accommodation is really good here as well, as all of it is really close to the Uni itself (I think the furthest is about a 5 minute walk)! It's definitely worth a look as in my opinion I think it's a top Uni. Even if you are going to Uni here, it's worth a look just to see the buildings!

Northumbria university is a great place to study. I was graduated from this great university. It…read morehas great quality education. The library is great. The lecturers are all qualified. The fellow students comes from different backgrounds, which are great. The class rooms are modern and well equipped. This university expands so fast in the last 10 years. It has just built a new campus in new bridge street (central newcastle), which is absolutely state of the art building. The new building in new bridge street is well architectured and modern. The student union is fun as well. The problem is just the exams and the assignments are not easy, which is good as it shows the quality.