Academic calendar
Summer 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Spring 2 2026 (Track B) 10-week
- Summer 2026Relevant now
- Spring 3 2026 (Track A) 10-week
- Summer 1 2026 (Track B) 10-week
- Summer 2 2026 (Track A) 10-week
- Fall 2026 Regular Session (11 weeks ground & online)
- Fall 2 2026 (Track A) 10-week
Campus language
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Showing 58 of 58 terms
B
- Billy B
- The Bill Bryson Library, the main university library frequently used by South students.
- Bop
- A large, themed college party, typically featuring fancy dress and a silent disco.
C
- Cardiac Hill
- The steep incline between the Science Site and Mountjoy that students must climb to reach the Hill colleges.
- Centaurus
- One of the residential buildings named after a southern hemisphere constellation.
- College Parent
- An older student assigned to mentor and welcome incoming 'freshers'.
- Concordia
- An accommodation block named after the Roman goddess of agreement, reflecting the college motto.
D
- DUCK
- Durham University Charities Kommittee, the student-led fundraising organization.
E
- Earhart
- A residential block named in honor of the pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart.
- En-suites
- The flat-style accommodation blocks where students have private bathrooms and share a kitchen.
- Exec
- The Executive Committee of the JCR, consisting of elected students who manage college activities.
F
- Fenton
- The Fenton Building, one of the residential accommodation blocks on the Mount Oswald site.
- Formal
- A traditional three-course dinner held in the Hub where students dress up and wear academic gowns.
- Formal
- A traditional three-course meal held in the dining hall where students wear academic gowns.
- Formals
- Formal communal dinners held in the dining hall where students wear academic gowns.
- Frep
- A Freshers' Representative; a student volunteer who helps new students move in and settle during induction week.
G
- Gidney
- A residential block named after a figure associated with the university's history.
- Gillard
- An accommodation block named after Julia Gillard, the first female Prime Minister of Australia.
- Gormley
- The Gormley Building, a residential block named after sculptor Antony Gormley.
- Gowned
- The requirement to wear a formal academic gown over one's clothes for specific college events like matriculation or formals.
H
- Hill College
- A designation for colleges located on the 'Hill' area of Durham, as opposed to the city center 'Bailey' colleges.
- Hub Hall
- The primary dining space located within The Hub where weekly formal dinners are held.
J
- JCR
- Junior Common Room, the student-led organization representing undergraduate students.
K
- Kazu
- A traditional (though originally from Van Mildert) celebratory action performed by newly elected JCR officers involving a can of soda.
L
- Livers-in
- Students who reside in the college's on-site accommodation.
- Livers-out
- Students who live in private housing off-campus.
- Lorde
- A residential block named after the writer and activist Audre Lorde.
M
- Matric
- Short for Matriculation, the formal ceremony marking a student's entry into the university.
- MCR
- Middle Common Room, the organization representing postgraduate students.
- Mount Oswald
- The residential site shared with John Snow College where South College students live.
O
- Oswald
- The name of the college mascot, a tawny owl named after the site's history.
P
- Pitcairn
- One of the primary residential blocks within the South College complex.
- Pitman
- The Pitman Building, one of the primary residential blocks for students.
S
- SCA
- South College Association; the overarching body encompassing the JCR, MCR, and SCR.
- SCBC
- South College Boat Club, the college's official rowing team.
- SCCA
- South College Cricket Association, the college's cricket club.
- Scorpius
- An accommodation block named after the constellation Scorpius.
- SCR
- Senior Common Room, the body consisting of staff, academics, and community members.
- SCSC
- South College Sports and Societies Committee; the body managing college-level extracurriculars.
- Self-catered
- The primary dining arrangement at South, where students prepare their own meals in shared kitchens.
- Shipley
- A residential block named after a pioneering figure, following the college's theme of naming buildings after global pioneers.
- Sirius
- An accommodation block named after the brightest star in the night sky.
- South
- The common shorthand for South College itself, the newest residential college at Durham University.
- Southie
- A common nickname for a student who belongs to South College.
- Southies
- The common nickname for students who are members of South College.
- Stash
- Clothing and merchandise (hoodies, fleeces) branded with the South College crest or owl mascot.
T
- Team South
- The collective name for all South College sports teams and competitive societies.
- The Blocks
- The residential wings of the college, typically referred to by their letters (A-E).
- The Hill
- The area of Durham (Elvet Hill) where South College is located, distinct from the 'Bailey' colleges.
- The Hub
- The central cafe and social space used for informal dining and coffee.
- The Hub Dining Hall
- The central eating area located within the main Hub building.
- The Mount
- Shorthand for the Mount Oswald site, which South College shares with John Snow College.
- The Nest
- The college bar and social space that serves drinks and snacks.
- The Owl
- A reference to the college mascot, the Barn Owl, often used in social media and branding.
- The Owls
- The college mascot and the collective name for South's sports teams.
- The Pitcairn
- The main dining hall and social hub, named after the college's founding principal.
- The South Way
- A term used by the JCR to describe the college's ethos of freedom and responsibility.
- Townhouses
- A specific style of accommodation block at South where students share bathrooms and a large kitchen.
W
- Walkinshaw
- The Walkinshaw Building, a residential block named after the college's first Principal.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Arriva
- The primary bus company in Durham that offers discounted fares for students with a valid ID.
- Banner
- The online university system used for managing student records, module registration, and personal details.
- Campus Card
- The essential student ID used for building access, library services, and meal verification.
- Campus ID
- The physical university card required for library access and to receive student discounts on local bus services.
- DUO
- Durham University Online; the virtual learning environment (VLE) used for course materials and assignments.
- En-suite
- The standard room configuration at South, where every student has a private bathroom.
- Formal
- A weekly gowned communal dinner held in the Hub Hall, serving as a core social tradition of the college.
- Gown
- The academic robe required for attendance at formal dinners and certain college ceremonies.
- Gowned
- Refers to South's status as a 'gowned' college, where academic gowns are required for formal dinners and matriculation.
- Gowning
- The practice of wearing academic gowns for formal dinners and university ceremonies.
- JCR Levy
- An optional one-off fee paid by students to join the JCR, granting access to sports, societies, and cheaper event tickets.
- Livers-in
- Students who reside in the college-owned accommodation blocks.
- Livers-out
- Students who live in private accommodation but maintain membership and access to college facilities.
- Lumi
- The digital platform frequently used by the JCR for secure voting during college meetings and elections.
- Matriculation
- The formal ceremony at Durham Cathedral marking a student's official entry into the university.
- Mount Oswald
- The name of the estate and manor house area where the college is situated.
- MUGA
- The Multi-Use Games Area; an outdoor court used for various sports like tennis and basketball.
- Music Room
- A dedicated practice space for musicians located within the college facilities.
- Non-gowned
- Refers to South's status as a college where academic gowns are not worn for formal events or matriculation.
- parkside_caf
- Parkside Café
- Pidge
- Short for pigeonhole, the physical mailbox located in the Hub where students receive mail.
- Pitcairn
- The main college building containing the administrative offices, the library, and the college bar.
- Pitcairn Building
- The central hub of the college containing the dining hall, bar, and gym.
- Post Room
- The central location in the Pitcairn Building where students collect parcels and mail.
- Self-catered
- The residential model at South where students cook for themselves in shared flat kitchens.
- south_college_caf
- South College Café
- The 6
- The Arriva bus service (Route 6) that connects the Mount Oswald site to the Durham city center.
- The Bar
- The college's dedicated social space and pub, located within the Hub complex.
- The Gormley Building
- A residential building named after the creator of the Angel of the North.
- The Gym
- The college-specific fitness suite located within The Hub.
- The Hill
- The steep geographical area where the college is situated, often accessed by students via the U1 bus service.
- The Hub
- The main heart of the college containing the dining hall, bar, gym, and music rooms.
- The Library
- The college's private study space located within the residential complex.
- The Nest
- The college bar and primary social space for students.
- The Pidge
- Short for pigeonhole; the physical mailbox where students receive their post.
- The Pit
- A dedicated social and recreational space located within the Hub building.
- The Pitman Building
- The administrative and residential building named after Sir David Pitman.
- The Terrace
- The outdoor social and study space adjoining the library that overlooks the college pond.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 58 approved campus terms and 38 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.