Middle Common Room

The Middle Common Room at Van Mildert College represents a diverse body of postgraduate students, some of whom are recent graduates of the College and others who are new to Durham as postgraduates. The primary aim of the Middle Common Room is to provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere for postgraduate students within the College. 

If you are thinking of applying to Van Mildert College and you have any queries, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions which can be found here! 

Van Mildert College's Middle Common Room (MCR) serves as a vibrant and inclusive community for postgraduate students, offering a dedicated space to connect, collaborate, and engage in both academic and social activities. With over 200 graduate students, Van Mildert's MCR is one of the largest and most diverse in Durham and is known for its inclusivity and engagement.

Membership in the MCR provides access to a variety of events, resources, opportunities, and facilities tailored to enhance your postgraduate experience in Durham. Whether you live in college or elsewhere, you’ll be able to access our library, paid gym membership, music practice facilities and bar. You can attend College Formal Dinners throughout the year, which are truly special and memorable occasions. 

The MCR is run by a committee, with its executives elected annually through a democratic election, whose tasks include not only organising the various events but also representing the collective interests of the graduate student body on various College committees. Members of the MCR are also, by virtue, members of both the Junior Common Room (JCR) and the Senior Common Room (SCR) and, therefore, may also explore and enjoy events, privileges, and opportunities offered by them. 

The Middle Common Room (MCR) is a truly diverse and international community of students who are studying a broad range of subjects. As a community, we want to make sure that Durham is a fun place to study and that Mildert feels like home, regardless of how far you have travelled to get here! 

The Mildert MCR prides itself on being one of the most active MCRs at Durham. We organise a wide range of social events throughout the year from impromptu Social Nights to trekking through the mountains. Making and sharing food is a significant and distinctive part of the social experience in the MCR. At several of the largest MCR events, members come together to plan and prepare a shared meal, sometimes for more than 20 people. These events are key fixtures of the MCR social calendar, and include the Takeaway Night, the Welfare Brunches, Barbecues, International Potlucks and Events showcasing national cuisines (such as our Lebanese Dinner), as well as various national festivals like North American Thanksgiving and Iftar, reflecting the diverse culture in our MCR. Movie nights are also an essential part of MCR life, we host one every week. This is usually held by our Events Officer and is a great way to relax after a long day of revisions. This event often comes with popcorn and drinks provided free of charge to members, and there is often a vote on what movie the masses are going to watch. 

Whether you're starting a three-year PhD or even a one-year Master's course, we hope you're going to enjoy your time here at Mildert. The MCR will be your second family in Durham, led by a student committee that takes care of your welfare and organises various events for graduates. We hope you make this community a part of your own, as we have done in the past, and we all look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Durham!