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Ustinov College is the third largest college of Durham University. Founded as the Graduate Society it became a college in 2003 and was named after the university's then chancellor, the late Sir Peter Ustinov.

Contents 1 History 2 Membership 3 The GCR 4 References 5 External links

In 1965, Professor W. B. Fisher of Durham University's geography department, founded the Graduate Society and in its inaugural year, the total membership was 94 students: 86 of whom were men, 8 were women.[1] As more than 50% of its members lived in private accommodation, it retained its status as a society for over 35 years. In this time, the society acquired more accommodation: the Parsons field site off Old Elvet was comprised of Fisher House, the Parsons Field House, Fonteyn Court and the Parsons Field Court; Palatine House; Kepier House and Kepier Court, both at the top of Claypath; 29, 34 and 38 on Old Elvet and Shincliffe Hall in Shincliffe Village.[2]

The society's accommodation has since then been gradually consolidated with the building of new accommodation at Howlands Farm in 1998, and on Dryburn Road in 2005. Since 1965, membership had increased to over 1500 and in 2003, the society was turned into a college and named in honour of the late former Chancellor of the University (1992-2004), Sir Peter Ustinov. The college's offices were moved from Old Elvet to the Howlands Farm site in September 2005.[3]

The Parson's Field site at the end of Old Elvet, was handed over to St Cuthbert's Society in 2005 and Palatine house was transferred to Hatfield College in 2006.[4]

While Durham's other colleges accept postgraduates, Ustinov College admits them exclusively, and is less formal in its structure than the other colleges. There are reported to be over 100 nationalities represented in Ustinov College, including members from Thailand, Greece, the United States and Nigeria. [5]

The Graduate Common Room (GCR) is the student community of Ustinov College and all student members of the college, whether living in or out, are eligible for membership.[6] The GCR committee, made up of elected house representatives officers, represent students' views in meetings with the college officers. The GCR also organises many student social events such as the annual summer ball and barbecue, oversees many clubs and societies within the college and manages the College bar at Howlands Farm.

The first college formal was held in late 2006.[7]

• College Handbook
• BBC News: College Honour for Ustinov BBC News Article on renaming of the Graduate Society.
• Sir Peter Ustinov in his own College Some history in the footnotes.

• Ustinov College The Official College Website
• Ustinov College GCR The Graduate Common Room Website

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