Durham University
Training
Durham University offers 3 training opportunities:
Endangered Archaeology: Using Remote Sensing to Protect Cultural Heritage
MOOC (Online) by FutureLearn, University of Leicester, Durham University, University of Oxford, and British Council · Free
Discover how to use satellite imagery to identify and assess endangered archaeological sites in the Middle East and North Africa.
Space Optics: Systems and Applications
Workshop (Durham) by Durham University · Free
This inaugural event has been organised with the primary goal of fostering cooperation, collaboration, and coordination in the field of space optics, spanning academia, research, and industry. Additionally, it aims to underscore the broader significance of optical design and manufacturing capabilities within the UK.
Space Leadership Programme
Short course (Durham) by Durham University · £1999
Whether you’re entering the space economy or already working within it, this five-day course builds strategic understanding of key technologies, applications, industry dynamics, international relations, law, and how to manage uncertainty. You’ll explore where the opportunities lie - and how your organisation can pivot, grow or lead in this rapidly evolving sector.
Degrees
Durham University offers 3 degrees:
Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (Astrophysics)
Master's (1 year) at Durham University
**Course details** Developments in many areas of science and engineering are increasingly driven by experts in computational techniques. Those with the skills to write code for the most powerful computers in the world and to process the biggest data sets in the world can truly make a difference. Our suite of Masters in Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (MISCADA) offers an application-focused course to deliver these skills with three interwoven strands: *Computer Science underpinnings of scientific computing *Mathematical aspects of data analysis and the simulation and analysis of mathematical models *Implementation and application of fundamental techniques in an area of specialisation (For further details please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.) The MISCADA specialist qualification in Astrophysics is designed to equip you with the background knowledge and skills to address some of the biggest research questions in fundamental science, such as how we can use large surveys and supercomputer simulations to probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy. **Why Durham University?** The Department of Computer Science’s academic fusion of technology and independent thinking places it firmly at the cutting edge of computer learning. We bring innovative applications together with critical thought processes to give you the skills to play a key role in the data-led future. The Department is at the heart of the fast-paced world of applications and algorithms. We maintain an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of computation and are fully up to speed with the latest technologies that emerge at an ever-increasing rate. Learning from academics who lead cutting-edge research provides valuable insight into high quality projects, and gives our postgraduate community the opportunity to play a role in shaping a future in which crucial developments in society are supported by technological innovation. **Facilities** The Department is located in a £40 million purpose-built building in the heart of Durham at Upper Mountjoy and features open-plan work areas, breakout spaces for collaboration projects, laboratories and computer rooms. We are fortunate to have supercomputers for High-Performance Computing and for data analysis and machine learning as well as access to several visualisation and data postprocessing laboratories. **Career Opportunities** Qualifications in computer science are highly sought after by employers across the globe and an award from our Department provides the academic skills, industry insight and research-informed approach that sets postgraduates up for careers in a broad range of sectors. Many postgraduates have gone on to work as software engineers, analysts, consultants, programmers and developers. Some have founded their own start-ups or work in leading software companies, high-technology consultancies, banking and finance, retail, engineering, the communications and IT industry. The Department has strong research links, spanning both industry and government, including the automotive sector with Jaguar Land Rover and Renault, the defence and security sector with QinetiQ and Boeing, with government in the Civil Service and at GCHQ and in the manufacturing sector with Procter & Gamble. Other high-profile employers include BAE Systems, Google and BT...
Engineering (Aeronautical)
Master's (4 years) at Durham University
**Course details** Enter the exciting world of engineering and gain the skills you need to plan, design and analyse engineering projects aligned to the needs of local, national and global industry. This degree delivers the breadth and depth that you will need to succeed in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on to lead engineering teams. A common first two years in General Engineering provide you with the broad knowledge required to effectively work on multi-disciplinary engineering problems. The course structure offers a huge amount of flexibility – you could join us on a civil engineering pathway but decide to pursue aeronautical engineering at the end of your second year. We believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions that would best serve their future careers. **Why Durham University?** Engineering at Durham is designed to develop talented, modern engineers who are equipped with the skills to solve problems across traditional discipline boundaries – from offshore wind turbines to electro-mechanical devices manufactured on a microchip. We consider Engineering as an integrated subject so, whichever degree you choose, you will study a common General Engineering for the first two years. After this time, you will have developed enough knowledge to make an informed decision about your future, both in terms of your discipline and the length of your degree, with transfer possible between the courses up to the end of the second year. All courses are accredited by the relevant professional institution. Our MEng programmes fulfil the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status. **Facilities** We are one of the most comprehensively equipped engineering departments in the UK with dedicated teaching laboratories and advanced facilities, including the newly refurbished electrical laboratory, wind tunnels, microelectronics clean rooms, a geotechnical engineering laboratory and powerful computers for computationally demanding projects. **Rankings** **3rd** in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 **5th** in the Guardian University Guide 2026 **5th** in the UK Complete University Guide 2026 **Top 100** in the QS World University Rankings 2026 **Careers Opportunities** We have an outstanding reputation for employability. Our students have a dedicated careers contact who is available to offer advice and carry out mock interviews. Our Industrial Partnership Committee of around 20 local, national and international companies will ensure you have access to the best employment opportunities. With subject specific skills, industry knowledge and transferable skills, such as problem solving, information technology, teamwork, presentation, project planning and management, you will be attractive to employers across many sectors. Our graduates are employed in many sectors across the world including roles in civil, mechanical, electronic, electrical, manufacturing, design, aeronautics and systems engineering, and as consultants, technology analysts and software developers. Examples of high-profile employers include BP, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems...
Physics and Astronomy
Master's (4 years) at Durham University
**Course details** With recent ground-breaking discoveries in astronomy, the Universe, subatomic particles and nuclear fusion there’s never been a better time to study physics. If you are fascinated by the relationship between mathematics, the cosmos and the scientific world this MPhys could be for you. This integrated Master’s degree is the first step towards Chartered Physicist status. It will suit those looking for an accredited course that leads to higher level education or a research role in physics, while also providing the knowledge, analytical and problem-solving skills for a career in the sciences, engineering, finance or IT. Course content ranges from fundamental topics, such as elementary particle physics and cosmology, to applied areas which include material physics and biophysics. **Why Durham University?** When you study physics at Durham you will work with experts across a range of specialisms to explore subjects such as the Big Bang, black holes, the Higgs boson, high-temperature superconductors, lasers, cold-atom Bose-Einstein condensates, biophysics and more. Our undergraduate physics degrees offer outstanding teaching, learning and employability outcomes for students. We offer four Institute of Physics accredited BSc and MPhys qualifications which share a common first year. **Facilities** We also have state-of-the-art scanning electron microscopes (SEM), transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and focused ion-beam microscopes (FIB) that are accessible to staff and students from physics, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering and biology areas. The main department building houses all the lectures and teaching laboratories as well as some of our world-class facilities such as our Cosma 8 supercomputer, which has the processing power and memory of about 28,000 home PCs. The Department also includes the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, which is home to the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology. **Rankings** **3rd** in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 **5th** in the Guardian University Guide 2026 **5th** in the UK Complete University Guide 2026 **Top 100** in the QS World University Rankings 2026 **Career Opportunities** We seek to develop the practical and intellectual skills sought by employers and we are regularly ranked among the country's top performers for graduate employment. Our graduates have progressed to careers in business, industry, commerce, research, management and education, and typically more than fifth of our graduates go on to study for higher degrees. The Department also has an impressive track record of spin-out technology companies that commercialise our knowledge in areas of semiconductors, composites and advanced instrumentation. Examples of high-profile employers include BT, Procter & Gamble, Rolls Royce and BAE Systems...