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Europe

Partnerships with Europe

We are a proud European University that is firmly committed to European values. Our partnerships with European counterparts are an integral part of our international activities in terms of collaborative research, training and learning opportunities, and staff and student mobility. Our research collaborations with European institutions are addressing global challenges from environmental sustainability and health to emerging technologies and space.
Discover our work in other global regions
Barcelona

Even before the establishment of the University in 1832, Durham’s scholastic tradition featured strong ties to the continent.  Almost two hundred years later, Durham’s strong tradition of working with European partners goes from strength to strength.  Of Durham’s top twenty countries for research collaboration, twelve are in Europe accounting for 53% all collaboration within this group of twenty.

As a fellow member of the Coimbra Group and Matariki Network, our Vice-Chancellor renewed our strategic partnership with Uppsala University in February 2023. Starting as a connection through the Matariki Network and a longstanding track record of student exchange, the Tübingen-Durham partnership has grown into a robust, bilateral alliance. Research projects with Uppsala and Tübingen have included: Decarbonising Energy systems, Studying the rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Testing and Evaluating Communication Technology for Smart Grid deployment. Durham University Business School also has a strategic partnership with Emlyon Business School, where, together, we run a part-time executive doctoral programme: the Global DBA.

Our membership of the Coimbra Group and the Matariki networks enable us to work with a broad range of European partners to address the global challenges of climate change and energy, health, development and emerging technologies.

Bringing together over two hundred European and global research institutions, the University of the Arctic (UArctic) is Durham’s key international network for facilitating Arctic orientated research collaborations, student exchanges and educational cooperation.  Durham became the first English University to join the University of the Arctic in 2013. DurhamARCTIC Director Prof Philip Steinberg is the UArctic Chair in Political Geography. 

We are proud to be twinned with Zaporizhzhia National University in Ukraine as part of a national twinning initiative, supported by Universities UK (UUK) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education.

 

Collaborating for Impact

Explore a snapshot of our collaborative work with our partners in Europe

Expanding our twinning partnership with Zaporizhzhia National University

On 4-5 July 2024, Durham and ZNU representatives took part in the UK-Ukraine Second International Twinning Conference.
Two women smiling

Durham-Norway Connections Grow with the Exploring Arctic Soundscapes Project

Exploring how a focus on sound could build new transdisciplinary methodologies for researching and communicating the complexities of Arctic and marine environments.
Person playing the violin

Strengthening our partnerships in Germany

In November 2023, we were delighted to welcome the German Deputy Ambassador to Durham to explore how we can enhance our research and education collaborations with Germany
Two people standing together smiling

Durham scientists to map the dark Universe

Our astronomers and cosmologists are involved in an international satellite mission to map the dark Universe.
A satellite in space

Tackling global childhood obesity with ground-breaking research

Research by Sport and Exercise Sciences has made a positive impact on policy and practice addressing the global problem of childhood obesity.
Children playing in a park

Disassembling the power of high-carbon imaginaries

Associate Professor Magdalena Kuchler (Uppsala) and Professor Gavin Bridge (Durham) have secured four-years of research funding from the Swedish Research Council (VR).
A mechanical digger on a carbon landscape

The CLaSS Project

Climate, Landscape, Settlement and Society: Exploring Human-Environment Interaction in the Ancient Near East, funded by an ERC Starting Grant.
A globe depicting the near east countries

REFIT: Resituating Europe’s first towns

A case study in enhancing knowledge transfer and developing sustainable management of cultural landscapes.
Aerial view of the landscape around Mont Beuvray, France. Photo: Bibracte EPCC.

European colonialism is still visible in today’s plant distributions

A study led by the University of Vienna working a with a team of scientists from seven other collaborating institutions, including Dr Wayne Dawson from our Department.
Close up of a Black Locust tree with white flowers

Durham climate expert chosen for prestigious panel

A Durham University expert on climate change has been appointed to the governing body of the European Research Council (ERC).
Climate change protest signs

Durham strengthens ties with twinned Ukrainian university

Universities UK International has announced new funding to support twinning partnerships across the UK and Ukraine. Durham will receive £200,000 to further support ZNU.
Ukraine flag and logos for Durham and ZNU universities

Scientists reveal how mysterious submarine landslides are developed

The research has been done by our Department of Engineering and the Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Foaming sea water

 

 

A map of Europe

Our engagement with European Networks

We are a proud, active member of the Coimbra Group, where we have contributed to publications, policy documents and seminars. Durham is also a member of the European Universities Association, which plays a crucial role in influencing European higher education, research and innovation policy.

More about our International Networks engagement
Berlin city

Partner with us

Europe is our largest partner in terms of research co-authored publications. Our close relationship with our European partners has resulted in world-leading collaborative projects that are in line with our goal to maximise the impact of our research & contribute to International engagement agendas

Interested to partner with us? Contact us

 

 

University student
“I studied MSc Renewable Energy at Durham. I am now working in energy policy research at a Berlin-based think tank. The close and supportive supervision of the master thesis inspired me to keep researching on the topic and follow my career in energy”.

Joshua Meinke
Durham Alumni; class of 2020
2022 Graduation

Alumni in Europe

We recognise the value of an engaged international alumni community and are establishing alumni ambassadors in key countries throughout Europe.

Visit our alumni community

European Students

We welcome over 1500 European students annually. Students come from our Erasmus+ exchange partner universities or as fee-paying study abroad students. We currently have around 250 Erasmus exchange agreements in place.

Explore our exchange agreements with Europe