THOUSANDS of new students marched on Durham Cathedral to officially start their university careers.

Durham University held five matriculation ceremonies today (Wednesday, October 1, for undergraduate and postgraduate students of its 16 colleges.

Dean of Durham, The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, and Mayor John Robinson, attended the ceremonies.

Durham Student Union’s President Dan Slavin urged students to get involved in everything they could, including Duck, the DSU’s charity wing.

The ceremonies were led by the University’s three Pro-Vice-Chancellors, in place of Chris Higgins, the former Vice-Chancellor who stepped down earlier this week. A successor has yet to be found.

Students noisily strided down to the Cathedral, led by Freps – older students who look after freshers in their first week – playing loud music and chanting.

International fresher, Franco Lee, from Malaysia, who is studying Accounting and Finance at John Snow college said: "The cathedral service was really impressive. Overall it gave me a really grand introduction to the university”

Rohan Jain from Birmingham, studying Natural Sciences at Van Mildert college, said: “I definitely enjoyed the matriculation. The building is fantastic.

“It’s been an incredible week, far better than I had expected.”

Chinese student Suki Shang, starting her MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, described the ceremony as “nice and friendly”

Sarika Singh, a frep from Van Mildert college said: "Our role is looking after the freshers, making university their home.

“It's difficult because a lot get homesick and so I really hope the matriculation makes them feel welcome to the university."