 University College , informally known as Castle , is a college of the University of Durham in England . Centred on Durham Castle on Palace Green , it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham 's colleges . As a constituent college of Durham University , it is listed as a higher education institution under section 216 of the Education Reform Act 1988 . Almost all academic activities , such as research and tutoring , occur at a university level . 
