I just had a "which uni" conversation with a friend, which included Durham. My eldest two are at the just graduated/2nd year, so here's a rather opinionated view from their perspective:
6th formers obsess about individual courses, but TBH, unless you are looking at something very specialised, most employers don't know and don't care, the order of "appeal" to employers seems to go:
(a) Oxbridge, but from son's mates it's a total sweatshop these days unless you're incredibly bright. (My nephew is having a v tough time at Cambridge). But the reputation is stellar
(b) somewhere very specialised like LSE for economics.or imperial for science and engineering.
(c) any Russel group uni but try to get a first.. ...
Most important thing is to do something and go somewhere where you'll have fun
then specific unis:
Durham (eldest son's ex GF went). Lovely old colleges and good reputation, not entirely convinced it's deserved, but that doesn't matter if employers think it's good. But a very long way away, bloody cold. Also odd relationship with the town, locals hate the students. And bugger all nightlife, they often went out in Newcastle. It's very very small, my son reckoned he bumped into more friends from SW London in Durham every 2 or 3 weeks than in Leeds where he was at uni!
Exeter - nice town, very small, totally full of public school kids that didn't get into Oxbridge! Son reckoned he once went to mate's party there and knew more than 50% of the guests from SW London!
Everyone who goes to a big Northern uni seems to love it. Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, sheffield. Cheap accom & beer. All are pretty big so great facilities, sports, gigs, clubs, etc. son went to Leeds and totally loved it.
Newcastle - like Leeds but turned up to to 11! Amazing nightlife, but a long way away, and cold. Cheap.
Bristol (no. 2 son is there) - lovely city. Sort of half way between Leeds and Exeter, quite expensive, bigger than Exeter, smaller than Leeds. The halls are lovely, and near the uni, but expensive. Full of Oxbridge rejects!
London Unis - don't do it, you'll be totally broke. And lots of students will end up working in London anyhow.
Campus unis - Nottingham, Warwick etc. Very safe break from home, but a bit claustrophobic. Lots of people end up living in the local towns and then having to commute to uni.
it's interesting that once the kids have headed off to uni the detail of the course seems pretty irrelevant. What counts is accomodation (esp in years 2 and 3), price of beer, how many nightclubs, what sports are available and so on.
HTH
Phil