Stephenson College, Durham


Stephenson College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Formerly one of two colleges located at Queen's Campus in Thornaby-on-Tees, it was relocated to the city of Durham at the end of the 2017-8 academic year, joining Josephine Butler College at the Howlands Farm site. It is named after George Stephenson, the 19th century railway engineer.

History

In 1992 the Joint University College on Teesside of the Universities of Durham and Teesside was established on the site as a joint venture between the University of Durham and the University of Teesside. This was initially intended to grant joint degrees validated by both institutions. However, Teesside, which had only become a university in 1992, had difficulties in taking on its responsibilities for the college and Durham took full control in 1994.
A programme of integration with Durham began, leading to the college becoming University College, Stockton in 1996 — a college of the University of Durham and the only college with teaching responsibilities. Further integration led to the campus being renamed the University of Durham, Stockton Campus in 1998, and the removal of its teaching responsibilities. In 2001 UDSC was split into two colleges: one was George Stephenson College, and the other was John Snow College.
In late 2006 the college name was changed to Stephenson College though the JCR remains George Stephenson JCR.
2010 saw the opening of Stephenson Central, in the middle of the college. This multi-purpose building has a library, games, meeting and TV room with a bar at the centre; it is also the home of the JCR office and is for the use of all students of the college.
Stephenson College and the other Queen's Campus college, John Snow College, relocated to Durham on a phased basis starting in October 2017. They join Josephine Butler College on the Howlands Farm site.