Durham University
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1837
- HeadquartersDurham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Durham University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Durham University
- Legal name
- The Warden, Masters and Scholars of the University of Durham
- Website
- https://dur.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1837
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Durham University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- STEM-Focused Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAE)
Keywords
Where Durham University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Durham University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition Fees: Home undergraduate tuition fees set at the UK government maximum of £9,250 per year, payable for every year of the course including placement and study abroad years.
- Foundation Programme Fees: Foundation year tuition fees of £5,760 for classroom-based subjects and £9,535 for laboratory/ractical subjects in 2025/26 academic year.
- Postgraduate Tuition Fees: Taught and research master's programmes generating revenue with varying fee structures based on programme and residency status.
- Research Grants and Funding: Substantial research income from UK research councils including EPSRC, as evidenced by £7 million MoSS programme grant and £9.99 million quantum simulation programme.
- Charitable Status and Endowments: University operates as an educational charitable corporation under Royal Charter RC000650, with 18 identified paragraph 28 charities. Receives donations and manages endowment investments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Undergraduate Tuition - Home Students |
| Subscription | Annual | Foundation Year Programme Fees |
| Other | Annual | Durham Undergraduate Bursary |
| Other | Annual | North East Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Durham University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Durham University is a collegiate research university delivering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (taught and research), a Foundation Year, and executive education through Durham Edge. It supports a global student community of around 20,000 across 17 colleges and conducts research across physics, engineering, biosciences, and social sciences, supplemented by research council grants and industry partnerships.
Product overview
Durham University is an educational institution offering undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research), foundation programmes, and executive education through Durham Edge. The university operates through a collegiate system with 17 colleges and provides access and participation programmes for widening participation. Research activities span multiple disciplines including energy, quantum science, data science, and health sciences, supported by various research institutes and centres.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programmes Full-time undergraduate degree programmes across arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, engineering, and business delivered on-campus through Durham's 17 colleges and academic departments; home tuition fees capped at £9,250/year.
- Foundation Year Programme One-year Foundation Programme preparing students for undergraduate study, with classroom-based subjects at £5,760 and laboratory/practical subjects (Biology, Computer Sciences, Archaeology, Geography, Sports Science, Psychology) at £9,535 in 2025/26.
- Postgraduate Taught and Research Degrees Master's and doctoral degree programmes (PhD) with varying fee structures by programme and residency status, delivered through Durham's academic departments.
- Durham Edge Executive Education Executive education hub connecting academic expertise with business needs through professional upskilling programmes, including AI and finance/accounting training delivered with industry partners.
- AI Skills Centre of Excellence A training hub delivering practical and responsible AI skills to students, staff, businesses, and the public sector, established in partnership with Microsoft as part of the North East AI Growth Zone.
- Young Regulators Development Programme An annual two-week training programme delivered in Kuala Lumpur for early-career capital market regulators from ASEAN and IOSCO member countries, delivered in partnership with Securities Commission Malaysia.
- University Research and Grant-funded Programmes Research activities spanning quantum simulation, molecular science, sustainability, AI, neglected tropical diseases, and other disciplines, funded by grants from UK research councils and partners including EPSRC.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% first-class degree achievement rate (2024-25)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Durham University
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Durham University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Durham University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and strategic.
- MicrosoftcoreDurham University partnered with Microsoft at London Tech Week 2026 to establish an AI Skills Centre of Excellence, the first of its kind. The collaboration supports students, staff, businesses, and public sector in developing practical and responsible AI skills, contributing to the North East AI Growth Zone initiative.
- Durham County CouncilcorePartnership with Durham County Council for Durham Innovation District development at Aykley Heads. The project includes redevelopment of County Hall and aims to create thousands of jobs, attract investment, and leverage the North East AI Growth Zone initiative.
- NESCA (North East Space Communications Accelerator)supportingNESCA distributed almost £490,000 across 13 space communications projects, with five led by women researchers at Durham, Northumbria, and Newcastle universities. Durham projects span optical intersatellite links, crop surveillance, launch-vehicle communications, and CubeSat technology.
- Forth UKsupportingCumbria-based engineering company Forth UK appointed as industry partner to FARMAR project, a four-year international project coordinated by Durham's Department of Computer Science, awarded €1.79 million through Horizon Europe. Forth will prototype ground vehicles and drones that learn from real farming practices.
- Low Carbon North: Sustainable FuturesstrategicRegional partnership launched in North East England to strengthen workforce for growing low carbon and offshore wind industries.
- SagecoreExpanded AI and digital skills partnership with Sage Group plc, a $2.6 billion enterprise software company. Partnership encompasses joint curriculum development, research projects, internships, and professional upskilling programmes through Durham Edge executive education hub, targeting the North East England AI Growth Zone.
- IIT Madras (Indian Institute of Technology Madras)strategicPartnership to establish a research center in Durham, UK through IITM Global Research Foundation. Collaboration aims to advance joint research, academic, and innovation initiatives across UK and Europe, focusing on sustainable technologies and healthtech.
- Snowfox Discovery LtdsupportingDurham University researchers co-founded Snowfox Discovery Ltd to commercialize natural hydrogen exploration research. Scientists from Oxford, Toronto, and Durham developed systematic exploration strategy for locating natural hydrogen deposits, estimating 6 trillion tons globally.
- MusecoreCollaboration agreement with Muse development partner and Durham County Council to develop the Durham Innovation District at Aykley Heads. Project aims to create 4,000 jobs and 38,468 square metres of commercial floorspace, positioning the district as a national hub for research and innovation.
- Securities Commission MalaysiastrategicTwo joint initiatives including Young Regulators Development Programme (annual two-week training 2025-2027 in Kuala Lumpur) and Islamic Capital Market summer school for early-career capital market regulators from ASEAN and IOSCO member countries.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Durham University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Oxford: Top UK research university and Russell Group member with comprehensive graduate and professional schools; most direct comparator to Durham on prestige, research intensity, and collegiate-style structures.
- University of Cambridge: Russell Group research university operating a college system that is structurally analogous to Durham's, competing for the same international undergraduate and postgraduate talent pool.
- Imperial College London: Russell Group STEM-focused university with strong industry partnerships; comparable on research grant scale, employer reputation, and post-Brexit positioning in UK R&D ecosystem.
- University College London (UCL): Large London-based Russell Group university competing with Durham for international postgraduate students, research grants, and QS global ranking position.
- University of Edinburgh: Russell Group research university of similar scale and age, with comparable international student mix and QS ranking band; key peer for UK-wide benchmarking.
- University of Manchester: Large Russell Group university in northern England with strong research income and industry partnerships, comparable on Russell Group funding scale and post-industrial regional economic impact thesis.
- University of Leeds: Russell Group university of similar scale in northern England; partner on the MoSS research programme and direct comparator on widening participation and regional employer pipelines.
- University of Warwick: Russell Group university known for graduate employability and research intensity; comparable on business school positioning, employer reputation, and postgraduate training programmes.
- Newcastle University: Russell Group university and North East neighbour sharing the regional talent pipeline and the North East AI Growth Zone agenda; direct competitor for students and research grants in the same region.
- King's College London: Russell Group university participating in the same national quantum simulation consortium and competing for similar postgraduate research talent in London and the South East.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Durham University social profiles
Digital presenceDurham University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Durham University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Durham University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Durham University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Durham University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Durham University
What does Durham University do?
Durham University is a collegiate research university delivering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (taught and research), a Foundation Year, and executive education through Durham Edge. It supports a global student community of around 20,000 across 17 colleges and conducts research across physics, engineering, biosciences, and social sciences, supplemented by research council grants and industry partnerships.
Is Durham University a public or private company?
Durham University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Durham University founded?
Durham University was founded in 1837. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Durham University based?
Durham University is headquartered in Durham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Durham University make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are foundation Programme Fees, postgraduate Tuition Fees, research Grants and Funding and charitable Status and Endowments.
Who are Durham University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Leeds, University of Warwick, Newcastle University and King's College London.
Does Durham University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Durham University.
What industry is Durham University in?
Durham University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAE, STEM-Focused Public Research Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.