It’s a refrain I’m sure that everyone has heard before: ‘Durham University is full of Oxbridge rejects!’. This year, however, Durham students can finally hold our heads up in pride, as The Sunday Times bestowed upon our humble institution the title of University of the Year. Is it finally time for Durham to step out of Oxbridge’s looming shadow, and into the spotlight?

For some, the Oxbridge reject cliché has been a thorn in Durham’s side for too long: Vice Chancellor Karen O’Brien complained of this “tired stereotype”, telling The Sunday Times “We ask for very high grades, very ambitious students. That doesn’t equate to ‘reject’ in my mind.”. O’Brien’s opinion appears to have been backed up, as in its University League Tables for 2026, The Sunday Times placed Durham third, just pipping both Oxford and Cambridge, who were placed joint fourth. Furthermore, due to Durham’s achievement in climbing two places from its ranking last year, we have earned the title University of the Year, confirming our stature as one of the top institutions in the country.

For some, the Oxbridge reject cliché has been a thorn in Durham’s side for too long

In order to reach this conclusion, The Sunday Times compiled data on indicators such as student experience, graduate prospects, and research standards. The data from these indicators was then transformed into a score: Durham received a score of 906, with the highest score possible being 1,000. Among the many reasons for Durham’s high score are its excellent graduate job prospects, and the plethora of societies that enhance student life- The Sunday Times specifically commends the university’s extensive sports facilities, citing that three quarters of Durham’s student body is a part of a sports club or physical activity.

Furthermore, it is not only through University League Tables that Durham is setting itself apart: The Telegraph recently published an article (contentiously) titled ‘Bright private-school pupils are choosing Durham over ‘discriminatory’ Oxbridge’. Durham University is attractive to applicants for many reasons: the college system, centuries of history and tradition, the UNESCO world heritage site that a select few students get to live in; for some, another appealing factor is that Durham admits the highest rate of privately educated students amongst the Russel Group Universities. This tendency might convince pupils to skip applying to Oxford or Cambridge altogether, as both universities have been under pressure in recent years to demonstrate that they don’t favour students from private schools. However, this part of Durham’s reputation does raise concerns over inclusivity, and the alienation of students from working class backgrounds.

Although I am proud of the recognition Durham has received as University of the Year, I can’t help but consider this title in light of the somewhat tumultuous year Durham has had. Earlier this year, University management planned to slash £15 million from professional services staff; while the majority of this sum was saved through voluntary measures, the University still warned that forced redundancies could cover any shortfall. In May of this year the Durham faction of the University and College Union (UCU) members voted for strike action if management didn’t rule out job cuts, as staff feared soaring workloads and a breakdown of morale. This saga left many wondering about the priorities of the University, and the value it places on its staff and students.

I can’t help but consider this title in light of the somewhat tumultuous year Durham has had

I feel I should confess something before I conclude: I am, myself, an Oxbridge reject- I suppose I’m not doing my part in helping to break down any stereotypes! In all seriousness however, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Durham, and aside from a few tongue-in-cheek remarks, have not felt the black mark of rejection looming over me. Durham still enjoys the reputation of being one of the most prestigious universities in the country, and it is a feat worth being proud of to be admitted here. With this new accolade under its belt, I can only hope that the University continues to improve, working alongside students and staff to create an institution we can all be proud of – Oxbridge reject or not.

Image: Megan Beach