We are incredibly grateful to all of our alumni and friends who choose to support University College.

Support your College

Over the years, gifts from our alumni and friends have made an enormous difference to our community, from unlocking opportunities for those otherwise unable to attain them, to encouraging academic and personal growth through our awards and bursaries scheme. Your continued support is also helping to ensure that the beautiful Durham Castle, which we are proud to call home, is able to inspire the next generation of students and visitors.

Opportunities Fund

We hope that you enjoyed your time at Castle, whether it was just a few months as part of a DU fellowship, or as a student for a year, three years, or even longer pursuing your university degree.

Being a member of the College gives staff and students access to opportunities to learn and develop, the tools to make a positive impact on our community, and a chance to gain important skills in a supportive and respectful environment.

We know that for some of our students it can be hard to access these opportunities or to join professional networks. For this reason, we have introduced the Castle Opportunities Fund.

The Castle Opportunities Fund plays an important role in supporting students by enabling them to pursue internship possibilities, attend academic conferences, take part in charitable activities, travel for academic pursuits, set up modest businesses or non-profits, and more.

By supporting the Fund, you help us ensure that our students feel empowered to participate in College life and are able to access the career and academic enrichment opportunities available, both in College and more broadly.

Support the Castle Opportunities Fund

Hardship Fund

We all know that personal, career and family circumstances can change. Over the past couple of years, we received a number of enquiries from students who reported financial hardship, either because of the strains that the pandemic put on their own finances or their families’.

We believe that money should not be a barrier to accessing world-class education and the co-curricular activities Castle has to offer. Together we can make sure that our community feels supported and all our students can reach their full potential, irrespective of their financial situation.

To discuss making a gift, or for more information on any of these funds, please get in touch at castle.alumni@durham.ac.uk.

Support the Hardship Fund

How can you give

University College is very fortunate to have its own independent charitable fund, the University College Durham Trust (Registered Charity no. 1151821).

You can support us in many ways, including giving financial gifts of any size or by donating your time.

Give online
Access Fund (UG & PG) (limited financial means)

Access Fund helps to address unexpected financial difficulties our students find themselves facing during their time at University College. Its aim is to redress challenges which would prevent current Castle students from participating in their course or continuing their education. Hardship funds have been provided to assist students with textbook purchases, accommodation fee shortfalls, and essential travel (for example to and from lectures and academic placements).

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, and in addition to the support available from the college office, we are able to provide a small number of named awards for students in the most dire circumstances. These include:

  • The Worswick Hardship Fund
  • The Eva Schumacher-Reid Fund

Eligibility: 

The Access Fund is open to current University College students who had a sound financial plan in place at the beginning of the academic year, but who found themselves facing unexpected financial hardship thereafter. 

Award Range: Up to £300. Additional named funding of up to £500 may be available in extraordinary circumstances. 

Frequency of Award Panels: Once every academic term 

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students each academic term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College Student Support Office representatives.

Founded in 1844 in memory of John Pemberton to support University College students. Pemberton bursary is an opportunity fund which assists University College students access opportunities in College and beyond and reach their full potential. The award has broad eligibility criteria and supports employability, travel or academic research in the broadest sense, as long as these would make a considerable difference to the applicant.

Award Range: We will invite applications for grants up to £500, higher awards may be considered at the discretion of the panel in extraordinary circumstances

Frequency of Award Panels: There are up to five awards available each term 

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

Established through generosity of Canon Geoffrey Williams in 1986/87 to support student academic advancement. The bursary is open to University College postgraduate students seeking support for the costs of academic research or conference attendance.

Award Range: Two awards of up to £400 

Frequency of Award Panels: Usually awarded during the Epiphany Term

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

The Michael McCarthy Memorial Fund at University College was established by Michael and Mary McCarthy in memory of their son, Michael. The fund supports travel bursaries for University College students to visit the USA as a means of enhancing their academic development. During the selection process, preference will be given to postgraduate applicants.

Award Range: Up to £500 towards the costs associated with travel; higher awards may be available in extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the panel

Frequency of Award Panels: Usually awarded during the Epiphany Term

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

Established by an alumnus of University College, John Crowther, to support a University College undergraduate student in their final year of a Maths degree, on track for graduating with a First-class degree, and who is involved in college sport.  

Award Range: One award of £750 available

Frequency of Award Panels: One award made annually in the Easter Term. Students should apply in their penultimate year of study.

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

Set up by University College alumnus, Hunter Davies, the award recognises the best piece of investigative journalism in the Palatinate over the course of the academic year. Award is open to all Durham University students. We accept one submission per student journalist. We are also happy to receive nominations and recommendations from current students who are not involved in writing for the palatinate, but who find any articles published particularly insightful. 

Award Range: One award of £500 available

Frequency of Award Panels: One award made annually in the Easter Term

Application Process: Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the College’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). 

Founded in 1962/63 by David Loveday, Bishop of Dorchester, in memory of his brother, John Loveday, an alumnus of University College (1900-1904). There are two awards one each to: 

  • Support a University College Student who is reading Classics and who can demonstrate a strong academic record in the subject. 
  • Recognise a University College student who has served the College community with distinction  

Award Range: Two awards of £300 each

Frequency of Award Panels: Usually awarded in the Easter Term

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

 

The Bythell Travel Bursary is a monument to Duncan Bythell, long time SCR member and Castle resident serving as Senior Tutor until 1996. The fund supports student travel for a wide range of purposes including, research, conference, cultural exchange and enhancing their academic development.

Award Range: Up to £500 towards the costs associated with travel; higher awards may be available in extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the panel

Frequency of Award Panels: Usually awarded during the Easter Term

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

This bursary commemorates the lives of Godfrey Stephen Thomis, student of Music at University College who graduated in 1956, and Marjorie Cecille Thomis. It supports student travel to any destination outside of the UK to enrich their university experience through research, volunteering, sport, music, theatre, language learning or other cultural exchange. This award would be well suited to students pursuing a year abroad.  This award is open to all University College undergraduate and postgraduate students with a preference for undergraduates studying Music or History.  

Award Range: Two awards of up to £1000 towards the costs associated with travel; higher awards may be available in extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the panel

Frequency of Award Panels: Usually awarded during the Epiphany Term

Application Process: Information relating to the application process will be sent out to all current University College students during the relevant term. Applications will be assessed by a panel of University College staff and, where relevant, representatives of the college’s external bodies (such as the University College Durham Trust, Durham Castle Society or the College Advisory Board). Please note that for some of the awards above, we may take your academic achievements into consideration. We will request any information we require from your academic department. 

Donating Online

You can make single and recurring donations to University College Durham Trust via our online donation page. 

We trust Enthuse to process our donations for us. They don’t charge us a platform fee, but they will ask you if you would like to enhance your donation to make their work possible. This is totally up to you. In order to help us process donations enthuse charges us 5% of Gift Aid (if you make a £10 donation this is £0.125 and it doesn’t come out of your gift) and the payment provider fee. This covers the processing of gifts and collecting Gift Aid on our behalf.

Because we pay a small fee to process donations, we ask that gifts over £5,000 are made directly to us via our bank. To donate in this way, please email us at castle.alumni@durham.ac.uk or telephone us on +44 (0)191 334 4104 and we’ll be very happy to help you.

Cheques can be made payable to ‘University College Durham Trust’. Write to us at:

University College Development Office
University College
The Castle
Palace Green
Durham University
DH1 3RW

We kindly request that you include a copy of a completed Gift Aid declaration (PDF) alongside your gift. 

Leaving a gift in your will is a meaningful way to honour your connection to University College and the friendships and experiences that shaped your time here. Whether you choose to support scholarships, sports, societies, or the preservation of our heritage, your legacy will make a lasting difference for future generations.

Legacy gifts enable us to plan confidently for the years ahead — ensuring we can care for our historic buildings, nurture our vibrant community, and continue to offer exceptional opportunities to our students.

We are deeply grateful for gifts of any size. You may choose to direct your gift toward a specific area of our College’s work, or leave it unrestricted so that it can be used where it is most needed at the time it is received.

Please note that University College Durham Trust cannot provide legal advice or guidance on the wording of your will. We strongly recommend that you speak with a qualified legal professional. However, to ensure your gift reaches us smoothly, we suggest referring to UCDT in your will as follows:

University College Durham Trust

Registered charity number:1151821

Address: University College, Durham Castle, Durham DH1 3RW

Before meeting with your lawyer, you may find it helpful to review the section on Making a will on the Law Society’s website, which outlines key topics to consider.

If you are thinking about leaving a legacy or would simply like to learn more about our future plans, we would be delighted to hear from you. Meeting our legacy pledgers is always a pleasure — it gives us the opportunity to thank you personally and to learn more about your connection to University College. 

If you live in the USA or Canada you can give tax efficiently to University College through

DunelmUSA: https://www.dunelmusa.org/how-to-give/

You can make a regular gift to the University College Durham Trust through your payroll. Making donations from your gross salary is the most tax-efficient method of making charitable donations. The scheme is available to those working for UK employers.

Example: Payroll gift of £20 per month.

  • Donor’s monthly pledge: £20
  • Cost to basic rate taxpayer (20%): £16
  • Cost to higher rate taxpayer (40%): £12

Your employer must have payroll giving in place in order for you to make a donation in this way. If they do, your payroll administrator can arrange for your gift to reach us.

Other ways of supporting the college:

You can support University College by making a donation through our dedicated Durham University page.

We value your time and expertise just as much as a financial gift, and there are a number of ways that you can support the University. You can visit our volunteer page to find out more about the current opportunities available.

If you have any questions about giving to University College, please contact us and we will be happy to help.