DURHAM University expects to buck the recent national trend and have 'no room at the inn' on campus in the coming academic year.

Places at Durham are, as usual, heavily over-subscribed for the term starting in October.

Officials expect 'house full' signs to be up at halls of residence at the 13 colleges and societies, unlike the position at some universities nationwide.

The national admissions' board, UCAS, said latest figures suggest one in six under-graduates now opts for a university near to home to reduce expenditure, due to rising tuition fees.

But, while Durham is actively trying to attract more North-East school-leavers to apply to the university, it expects to comfortably fill available places in the halls of residence from the start of the new term.

University spokesman, Keith Seacroft, said there are 21,000 applications for just 2,200 available first year course places at Durham in October, a similar figure to recent years.

"Durham has always catered for a mixture of residential and non-residential students," said Mr Seacroft.

"But, since it's a collegiate university, the idea of 'living in' halls of residence is very strong, even among local students.

"I don't think there's much danger of there being any accommodation not being filled.

"We have been actively looking to increase accommodation in the last ten years, but the nature of Durham means it's difficult to find suitable sites complying with planning requirements."

Mr Seacroft said a further 150 beds will be available next year at its Stockton campus, taking its total to 500.

It is hoped a further 405 beds can be added at the new Howlands Farm campus of the Graduate Society, off South Road, Durham, opened by Prince Andrew last October.