From £30 to £220: Here’s how much every Durham college JCR levy costs

Hatfield College has the highest JCR levy for a three-year degree at £220

1 month ago

If you’ve been lurking on Durfess this summer, you will have seen everyone and their mum complaining about the JCR levy fees. There’s no denying JCR fees – they’re here to stay and they exist for a reason.

I chose to spend a dull Wednesday afternoon collecting data on the cost of the JCR levy at all of Durham’s undergraduate colleges. St. Chad’s, St. John’s, Van Mildert and St. Aidan’s are yet to launch their JCR levy fee for 2024/25 yet, meaning that their levy fee from 2023/24 is used. The current average JCR levy costs £158.28, with the lowest levy being £30 and the highest £220.

The JCR is a few things – it is firstly a physical space where students can meet up, but it is better known as the student body that oversees college life and organises events and sports and societies. To participate in college life, students must be a part of their college JCR and in order to do so they must pay a levy. The Tab has compiled last year’s and this year’s data to compare the JCR levy fee between colleges.

The data for the 2024/25 academic year is available here, while the data for the 2023/24 academic year is available here. All data used in this report is taken from the publicised levy fees above by Durham University.

St. Chad’s: £30 (2023/24)

St. Chad’s JCR have not publicly released their 2024/25 JCR levy fee. In 2023/24, the levy fee was set at £30 for both three and four year degrees, making it the cheapest JCR levy by over £100.

Collingwood: £135

Collingwood’s JCR levy has remained at the previous year’s charge of £135, making it the cheapest JCR levy on the hill. This levy applies to both three and four year degrees.

Trevelyan: £140

Trevelyan’s JCR levy has remained at the previous year’s charge of £140. This levy applies to both three and four year degrees.

St. Mary’s: £140

St Mary’s JCR levy has increased from £95 to £140 for a three year degree. For a four year degree, the JCR levy has increased from £115 to £180.

John Snow: £149

John Snow’s JCR levy has increased from £140 to £149. This levy applies to both three and four year degrees.

Josephine Butler: £156

Josephine Butler’s JCR levy has increased from £146 to £156. This levy applies to three year degrees, with students completing fourth year degrees given the option to pay a single-year MCR levy when progressing into their fourth year.

Hild Bede: £165

St. Hild and St. Bede’s JCR levy has remained at £165. This levy applies to both three and four year degrees.

South: £165

South’s JCR levy has increased from £150 to £165 for a three year degree. Students completing a four year integrated masters degree have a JCR levy fee of £190.

St. John’s: £165 (2023/24)

St. John’s JCR have not publicly released their 2024/25 JCR levy fee. In 2023/24, the levy fee was set at £165 for a three year degree and £220 for a four year degree.

Van Mildert: £165 (2023/24)

Van Mildert JCR have not publicly released their 2024/25 JCR levy fee. In 2023/24, the levy fee was set at £165 for both three and four year degrees.

Stephenson: £170

Stephenson’s JCR levy has remained at the previous year’s charge of £170 for a three year degree and at £225 for a four year degree. Stephenson also offers first-year students the option of paying £65 for a one-year membership and second-year students the option of paying £110 for a two-year membership.

St. Cuthbert’s: £172.50

St. Cuthbert’s JCR levy has increased from £160.50 t0 £172.50. This levy applies to both three and four year degrees.

St. Aidan’s: £180 (2023/24)

St. Aidan’s JCR have not publicly released their 2024/25 JCR levy fee. In 2023/24, the levy fee was set at £180 for both three and four year degrees.

University: £185

University’s JCR levy has increased from £165 to £185 for a three year degree. For a four year degree, the JCR levy has increased from £220 to £240.

Grey: £195

Grey JCR’s levy has increased from £180 to £195 for a three year degree. For a four year degree, the JCR levy has increased from £225 to £235. Despite the cost, Grey JCR does have the widest range of sports and societies of any Durham college.