Durham / Interview
The Durham interview
No admissions interview. Here is how it works and how to prepare.
No admissions interview
No interviews offered for standard undergraduate admissions; a small number of specialist courses (e.g. Music performance, Medicine through partner colleges) may require an audition or interview separately
How to prepare for Durham
- Your UCAS personal statement carries the most weight , Durham's system asks three structured questions totalling 4,000 characters, so craft each answer with specific evidence of academic passion.
- Demonstrate subject enthusiasm through wider reading, projects, or relevant experiences in your personal statement; Durham selectors look for genuine intellectual curiosity beyond the A-level syllabus.
- If applying to a competitive college within Durham (e.g. St John's, University College), research that college's character and mention it thoughtfully in your application communications.
- Check your specific course page on durham.ac.uk for any subject-specific requirements , a small number of programmes (Music, some joint honours) have audition or portfolio components that replace a traditional interview.
Practice before the real thing
Rehearse real admissions-interview questions and get an honest read on your answers, what an interviewer hears, where you sound generic, and what to sharpen. We coach you; we never script you.
Practice interview questionsStill building your Durham application?
Back to Durham