The University

Durham University was founded in 1832, England’s third oldest university and one of its most distinctive. We are proud to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle, which sits at the heart of our collegiate campus and this wonderful city. We are an international community of extraordinary people comprising 26 departments across four faculties, with over 4,000 staff, around 22,000 students and an alumni and supporter community of over 200,000 globally.

We are a collegiate university. Our most established college, University College was founded with the University in 1832 and our most recent, South College, will proudly welcome its first cohort of graduating students this summer. The colleges provide a unique and supportive environment to students to inspire them to become the best they can be, in their studies and beyond. Through our departments and colleges, our students get all the benefits of an enabling, supportive and diverse community. They provide a great source of friendship, wellbeing and pastoral care.

We appoint academics who are leaders in their field to conduct research to empower and inspire and to make an impact across the globe. It is also key to our purpose that the benefits of this global reach are felt locally –here in Durham, our County and region. We offer a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering the Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences and Business. Our degree programmes are informed by high-impact research undertaken by our staff in partnership with policymakers, industry, the public sector and communities around the world.

We combine academic excellence with a commitment to provide our students with the opportunity to develop as highly motivated, well-rounded and socially engaged leaders of tomorrow. Our strong commitment to excellence in sport, music, drama and volunteering means that we offer a host of wider student experience opportunities.

Chancellor of Durham University

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of Durham University. It is a high-profile role which includes official, pastoral, scholarly and ambassadorial duties. The Chancellor’s most public role is conferring degrees at Congregation. However, at Durham, the Chancellor traditionally plays an invaluable role in the life of our University by supporting staff, students and alumni, by presiding at events and promoting the University around the world.

The installation of our Chancellor today concludes an inclusive selection process which involved all of our community: staff, students, alumni, retired staff and members of University Council and Senate. In line with University statutes, a Joint Committee of Senate and Council was convened, and a robust, fair and efficient process completed. The appointment of Dr Fiona Hill as Durham University Chancellor was overwhelmingly supported by Council and Senate sitting in joint session and then at a specially convened meeting of Convocation in November 2022.

Durham University Council

The announcement of Dr Hill’s appointment was made by Joe Docherty, Chair of University Council, who presided over the selection process. University Council is the governing body of the University and its Trustee Board. It comprises University staff, students and alumni, as well as lay members. Council has ultimate responsibility for the affairs of the University.

Fiona is the daughter of a coal miner who attended Bishop Barrington Comprehensive School in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. From an early age she was a high achiever academically with a thirst for learning, telling BBC Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs how she would sit on the stairs at home reading encyclopaedias. She pursued degree studies at St Andrew’s University, Scotland, graduating with a Master’s in Russian and Modern History. She holds a Master’s in Soviet studies and a Doctorate in History from Harvard University, USA, where she was a Frank Knox Fellow. She became a US citizen in 2002 and is married with one daughter.

Fiona served on the US National Intelligence Council from 2006 to 2009 and was a member of the US National Security Council under President Trump.

Fiona is passionate about her County Durham roots. Several generations of her family were miners locally. Fiona has shared the story of her great grandfather who was spokesperson for the Durham Miners’ Association in the 1890s. She tells of how the local mining community was inspired by their proximity to the University and that the miners would often enjoy lectures from University academics.

Having, in her words, moved “literally from the coalhouse to the White House,” she is passionate about social mobility. She visited her former school in June 2022 to give a talk to pupils, inspiring them to grasp “every educational opportunity” they are given and spoke of her desire to “give back” to the area where she grew up.