Durham University is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the UK and the top 100 institutions in the world. Founded in 1832 around Durham Castle, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Castle and Cathedral, today its estate
includes buildings both ancient and modern. Its world-class research spans the sciences, social sciences and business, and arts and humanities.

As a leader in civic culture and heritage, Durham University is proud to sponsor the NE Culture Awards, building on its long commitment to promoting culture in the region. Other cultural events the University has recently played a leading role in include:
~ The Light Years project, a three-year programme of dynamic art-science collaborations celebrating the 1,200-year history of space science in County Durham as part of the City of Culture project Into the Light
~ The Summer of Shakespeare Festival, which celebrated 400 years of Shakespeare in Durham through world-class theatre performances
~ The Durham Book Festival, a long weekend filled with over 35 events and guest appearances by famous contemporary authors
~ The UPNorth forum, which brought together thought leaders from across the North East to discuss how to unlock the region’s potential.

The University has just launched its Transformative Humanities framework, which brings together distinctive approaches to humanities research and education across a wide range of partners and communities.