# List of Durham University people

This is a list of people associated with Durham University, divided for user convenience into multiple subcategories. This includes alumni, those who have taught there, conducted research there or played a part in its founding.
Durham University is a collegiate university, so where known and if applicable, they are shown alongside their associated college. Note that college membership was not always compulsory. Staff candidates who have read for higher degrees, like the geologist Gillian Foulger or the historian Jeremy Black, did not join a college either. Alumni who did not take up membership of a college or society are therefore listed as Unattached.
This list is divided into categories indicating the field of activity in which people have become well known. Alumni who have achieved distinction in more than one field are listed in the field in which it is felt they are most associated, or have been involved in more recently.
Durham alumni are active through organizations and events such as the annual reunions, dinners and balls. By 2009, the university claimed 67 Durham associations, ranging from international to college and sports affiliated groups, catered for the more than 109,000 living alumni.

## Academics

Scientific entries who were, or are, Fellows of the Royal Society, have the Post-nominal letters FRS listed after their name

### Astronomers and Physicists

* Karen Aplin (Trevs) – Professor of Space Science and Technology, University of Bristol
* David Axon (Hatfield) – Professor at the University of Hertfordshire and Rochester Institute of Technology
* Gilbert Ronald Bainbridge (Hatfield) – Wolfson Professor of Energy Studies at Newcastle University
* John Barrow FRS (Van Mildert) – Gresham Professor of Geometry (2008–2011); Templeton Prize (2006)
* Richard Christopher Carrington FRS – "Observer" at Durham University Observatory (1849–1852)
* Martyn Chamberlain – Emeritus Professor of Physics at Durham University; Master of Grey College (2003–2011)
* Emma Chapman (Josephine Butler) – Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow at Imperial College London
* Temple Chevallier – Director of Durham University Observatory (1839–1871)
* Roger Davies – Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University; President of the Royal Astronomical Society (2010–2012)
* George Efstathiou FRS (Grad Soc) – Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University (1988–1997)
* Richard Ellis FRS – Professor of Astronomy at UCL; Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (2011)
* Keith Ellis FRS – Professor of Physics at Durham University; Dirac Medal of the IOP (2019)
* Andrew Fisher – Professor of Physics at University College London
* Carlos Frenk FRS – Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics at Durham University
* Nigel Glover FRS (Hatfield) – Professor of Physics at Durham University
* Monica Grady (St Aidan's) – Professor of Planetary and Space Science at the Open University
* Lucien Hardy (Grad Soc) – researcher at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics best known for the Hardy's paradox thought experiment
* Alexander Stewart Herschel FRS – first Professor of Physics at the College of Physical Sciences
* Harold Jeffreys FRS (Armstrong) – Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at Cambridge University (1946–1958)
* Hans Kronberger – Scientist-in-Chief of the Reactor Group at UKAEA (1962–1969); Leverhulme Medal (1969)
* Gordon D. Love (Van Mildert) – Professor of Computer Science and Physics at the University of Leeds
* Alan Martin FRS – former Head of the Physics Department at Durham; Max Born Prize (2007)
* Tom McLeish FRS – Chair of Natural Philosophy at the University of York
* M. A. Wazed Miah (Grad Soc) – Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (–1999)
* Ben Moore – Director of the Center for Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmology at the University of Zürich; Philip Leverhulme Prize (2001)
* A. W. Pryor – Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics; David Syme Research Prize (1964)
* George Rochester FRS (Armstrong) – British physicist known for having co-discovered, with Sir Clifford Butler, a subatomic particle called the kaon
* Graham Ross FRS (Grad Soc) – Emeritus Professor of Physics at Oxford University; Dirac Medal of the IOP (2012)
* Brian Scarlett (Hatfield) – Professor of Chemical Technology at Delft University of Technology (1983–2000)
* Caleb Scharf (University) – Director of the Columbia Astrobiology Center at Columbia University
* James Stirlng FRS - PVC (Research) (2005-2008); Director of IPPP; later Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy at Cambridge (2008-2013), and Provost of Imperial College (2013-2018)
* Paul Sutcliffe (University) – Professor of Theoretical Physics at Durham University; Whitehead Prize (2006)
* Elizabeth J. Tasker (Collingwood) – Associate Professor at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
* Sarah Thompson (Trevs) – Head of Physics Department at the University of York
* Samuel Tolansky FRS (Armstrong) – Professor of Physics at Royal Holloway College (1947–1973)
* Richard S. Ward FRS – Professor of Theoretical Physics at Durham University
* Arnold Wolfendale FRS – Emeritus Professor of Physics at Durham University; Astronomer Royal (1991–1995)

### Chemists

* Cyril Clifford Addison (Hatfield) – Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University of Nottingham (1960–78)
* Jas Pal Badyal FRS - Professor of Chemistry at Durham University; Edward Harrison Memorial Prize (1993)
* Neil Bartlett FRS (King's) – chemist best known for his discovery of noble gas compounds
* Geoffrey E. Coates – Head of the Chemistry Department at Durham University (1953–1968)
* Jacqui Cole – Head of Molecular Engineering at Cavendish Laboratory
* James Feast FRS – President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2006–08), Royal Medal (2007)
* Rebecca Goss (Hatfield) – Professor of Organic Chemistry at University of St. Andrews
* Peter J. H. Scott - Professor of Radiology and Pharmacology at University of Michigan
* James Finlay Weir Johnston FRS – Professor in Chemistry and Mineralogy, first Durham FRS (elected 1837)
* Judith Howard FRS – Professor of Chemistry at Durham University
* Jeremy Hutson FRS – Professor of Physics and Chemistry at Durham University
* Rachel McKendry (Trevs) – Professor at London Centre for Nanotechnology
* Friedrich Paneth FRS – Professor of Chemistry at Durham, 1939–1953
* David Parker FRS – Professor of Chemistry at Durham (1992–); twice Head of Department

### Classicists and Archaeologists

* John Atkinson (Hatfield) – Emeritus Professor of Classics at University of Cape Town
* Eric Birley – Master of Hatfield College (1949–1956)
* David Breeze (Castle) – Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Historic Scotland (1989–2005)
* Martin Carver – Professor of Archaeology at the University of York
* Robin Coningham – Professor of Early Medieval Archaeology; UNESCO Chair in Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage
* Brian Dobson (Hatfield) – Reader Emeritus of Durham University; President of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
* Alan Greaves (Grey) – Lecturer in Archaeology at University of Liverpool
* William Greenwell FRS (Castle) – archaeologist, canon at Durham Cathedral
* Birgitta Hoffmann (Ustinov) – Director of the Roman Gask Project
* Michael Jarrett (Hatfield) – Professor of Archaeology at Cardiff University
* Iain MacIvor (Hatfield) – Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Scotland (1980–1989)
* Charlotte Roberts - Professor of Archaeology at Durham University (since 2004)
* J. E. H. Spaul (Hatfield) – British epigrapher
* Malcolm Todd – Principal of Trevelyan College (1996–2000)
* Leslie Peter Wenham – Head of History at St. John's College, York
* Tony Wilkinson – Professor of Archaeology (2006–2014)

### Computer scientists

* Sue Black – Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University
* Leslie Blackett Wilson (King's) – former Chair of Computer Science at the University of Stirling
* Keith Clark (Hatfield) – Emeritus Professor in the Department of Computing at Imperial College London
* Simon Colton (St Aidan's) – Professor of Computational Creativity at Queen Mary University of London
* Max Garagnani (Grad Soc) – Lecturer, Department of Computing, Goldsmiths University of London
* David Gavaghan (Grey) – Professor of Computational Biology at University of Oxford

### Economists and Political scientists

* Ewan Anderson – Emeritus Professor of Geopolitics at Durham
* Alexander Betts - Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at University of Oxford
* Luiza Bialasiewicz – Jean Monnet Professor of EU External Relations at the University of Amsterdam
* Philip Booth (Hatfield) – Senior Academic Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs
* Thom Brooks – Professor of Law and Government; Dean of Durham Law School; incoming Principal of Collingwood College
* Gordon Cameron (Hatfield) – Professor of Land Economy at Cambridge University; Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (1988–1990)
* Neil Carter (Hatfield) – Professor of Politics at the University of York
* Anoush Ehteshami – Professor and Joint Director of the ESRC Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World, Durham
* Anthony Forster – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex
* Andrew Gamble (Grad Soc) – Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield (1986–2007)
* Mark N. Katz – Professor of Government and Politics at George Mason University; William Luce Fellow (April–June 2018)
* Eduardo Mendieta – Professor at Penn State University; former fellow at Institute of Advanced Study
* Roger Scully – Professor of Political Science at Cardiff University
* Steven B. Smith (Cuths) – Professor of Political Science at Yale University; Master of Branford College (1996-2011)
* Gareth Stansfield (Hatfield) – Professor of Middle East Studies at University of Exeter
* Suha Taji-Farouki – Lecturer in Modern Islam at University of Exeter
* Giles Ji Ungpakorn – Thai dissident; Professor of Political Science at International University of Humanities and Social Sciences (Costa Rica)

### Engineers and Mathematicians

* Julian Besag FRS – Professor of Mathematics at Durham University; Guy Medal (1983)
* Ed Corrigan FRS – Professor of Mathematics at the University of York, Principal of Collingwood College (2008–11)
* H. Martyn Evans – Professor in Humanities in Medicine at Durham University; Principal of Trevelyan College (2008–2019)
* Ian Fells – Emeritus Professor of Energy Conversion at Newcastle University, Michael Faraday Prize (1993)
* Ruth Gregory – Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Durham University
* Julian Higgins – Professor of Evidence Synthesis and Director of Research at the Department of Population Health Sciences
* Frank Kelly FRS (Van Mildert) – Professor of the Mathematics of Systems in the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge; Master of Christ's College, Cambridge since 2006
* Peter Kyberd (Hatfield) – Head of the School of Energy and Electrical Engineering at Portsmouth University
* Nigel Martin – Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at Durham University; Principal of Trevelyan College (2000–2008)

### Geographers and Earth Scientists

* John Anthony Allan (Castle) – Professor in Geography at King's College, London; Stockholm Water Prize (2008)
* Ash Amin – Professor of Geography at Cambridge University
* Richard Arculus (Hatfield) – Professor in School of Earth Sciences at Australian National University
* Gerald Blake – Geographer and Principal of Collingwood College (1987–2001)
* Andrew Blowers (Hatfield) – Geographer known for his work on nuclear waste management
* Martin Bott FRS – Emeritus Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences; Wollaston Medal (1992)
* George Malcolm Brown FRS (Castle) – Director of the British Geological Survey; Murchison Medal (1981)
* William Campbell (College of Science) – metallographer to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
* Mike Crang – Professor of Cultural Geography at Durham University
* Sarah Curtis – Professor of Health and Risk at Durham University
* John Frederick Dewey – Professor of Geology at Oxford University (1986–2000)
* Kingsley Charles Dunham FRS (Hatfield) – Director of the British Geological Survey; winner of the Wollaston Medal
* Ghazi Falah (Hild Bede) – Geographer at University of Akron
* Gillian Foulger (Unattached) – Professor of Geophysics at Durham University; Price Medal (2005)
* Paul Lewis Hancock (Castle) – Editor of Journal of Structural Geology
* Peter Liss (Castle) – Emeritus Professor of Environmental Science at the University of East Anglia
* David Harper – Professor of Palaeontology in Earth Sciences; Principal of Van Mildert College (2011–2021)
* Joseph Holden (Hatfield) – Professor of Physical Geography at University of Leeds
* Arthur Holmes – Chair of Geology at the University of Edinburgh; Vetlesen Prize (1964)
* Claire Horwell – Professor of Geohealth at Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University
* Ray Hudson – Lecturer in Geography; Director of the Wolfson Research Institute (2003-2007)
* Malcolm K. Hughes (Castle) – Regents' Professor of Dendrochronology at the University of Arizona; co-producer of the hockey stick graph
* Basil Charles King (Hatfield) – Professor of Geology at Bedford College; Bigsby Medal (1959)
* Gordon Manley – Professor of Geography at Bedford College (1948–1964); President of the Royal Meteorological Society (1945–1947)
* Stewart McPherson – TV presenter and conservationist; David Given Award for Excellence in Plant Conservation (2012)
* Frank Pasquill (Castle) – Deputy Chief Scientific Officer at the Met Office
* Roger Powell FRS – Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne
* David Sadler (Castle) – Professor of Human Geography at the University of Liverpool
* David Vaughan (Hatfield) - Scientist at British Antarctic Survey; Lead Author of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
* Lawrence Wager FRS – Professor of Geology at Durham University
* Philip Woodworth (Hatfield) - Oceanographer; former Director of the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level

### Historians and Antiquarians

* Michael Aris (Cuths) – Author on Bhutanese, Tibetan and Himalayan culture and Buddhism; Lecturer in Asian history at St John's College, Oxford and later at St Antony's College, Oxford
* Jeremy Black – Professor of History at the University of Exeter
* Richard Britnell – Emeritus Professor of History at Durham University
* Bertram Colgrave (Hatfield) – Reader in English at Durham University; Editor of Early English Manuscripts in Facsimile
* Anthony Crichton-Stuart (St Chad's) – Head of Old Master Paintings at Christie's, New York
* Robin Donkin (King's) – Reader in Historical Geography in Cambridge University
* Jo Fox – Director of the Institute of Historical Research
* Roy Martin Haines (St Chad's) – Professor of Medieval History at Dalhousie University
* James Holland (St Chad's) – Popular historian, author of books on World War II
* Jean Hood – Author of maritime history
* Liz James (Van Mildert) – Professor of the History of Art at the University of Sussex
* Judith Jesch (St Aidan's) – Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham
* Clifford Kinvig (Cuths) – Senior Lecturer in War Studies at RMA Sandhurst
* Deborah Lavin – Principal of Trevelyan College (1979–95)
* Dominic Montserrat (Grey) - British egyptologist and papyrologist
* Jack Ogden – Visiting Professor of Ancient Jewellery, Material and Technology at Birmingham City University; President of the Society of Jewellery Historians (since 2018)
* George Ornsby (Castle) – Antiquarian; editor with the Surtees Society
* David Reeder (Hatfield) – Lecturer in Urban History, University of Leicester
* Nicholas Reeves (Van Mildert) – Egyptologist; Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project (1998–2002)
* James Rutherford - Chair of History (1934–63) at University of Auckland
* Alec Ryrie – Professor of the History of Christianity at Durham University; Gresham Professor of Divinity
* Alan Schom (Hatfield) – Biographer of Napoleon and Napoleon III
* Peter Snowdon (Castle) – specialist in contemporary British political history; contributor to Parliamentary Brief
* Joanna Story (Trevs) – Professor of Early Medieval History at the University of Leiecester
* Michael Swanton – Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at Exeter University
* George Macaulay Trevelyan – Chancellor of Durham University (1950–57)
* Andy Wood, Professor of Social History at Durham University
* Benjamin Woolley (Cuths) – historian and biographer
* Julian Wright – Professor of History at Northumbria University; co-editor of French History

### Language and Literature academics

* Kenneth Allott (Armstrong) – Kenneth Muir Professor of English at Liverpool University
* Thomas Blackburn (Hatfield) – Lecturer at College of St. Mark and St. John
* Philip Bullock – Professor of Russian Literature and Music at the University of Oxford
* Seán Burke – Reader in English at Durham University
* Paul Edwards (Hatfield) – Professor of English and African Literature at the University of Edinburgh
* Mikhail Epstein – Anglo-American and Russian literary theorist; Director of the Centre for Humanities Innovation at Durham University
* Ruth Etchells – Principal of St John's College, Durham (1979–88)
* Gary Ferguson (St Chad's) – Douglas Huntly Gordon Distinguished Professor of French at the University of Virginia
* Clifford Nelson Fyle (Hatfield) - Sierra Leonean Professor of English; wrote lyrics to the Sierra Leone National Anthem
* Eldred D. Jones – literary critic from Sierra Leone
* Malcolm Guite – author, poet (Sounding the Seasons, The Singing Bowl), priest, and singer-songwriter; current Bye-Fellow and Chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge
* Maebh Long – Irish academic, known for writings on the novelist and playwright Brian O'Nolan
* Margaret Masson – Lecturer in English, Principal of St Chad's College (2016–present)
* Patrick O'Meara – Professor of Russian and Russian history; Master of Van Mildert College (2004–11)
* John Robert O'Toole - Professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne
* Ann Moss – Professor of French at Durham University (1996–2003)
* Harold Orton (Hatfield) – Professor of English Language and Medieval English Literature, University of Leeds (1946–64)
* Jennifer Smith - FRSE Professor of Sociolinguistics, University of Glasgow
* Ida C. Ward (St Mary's) – Professor of Linguistics, known for work on African languages

### Life scientists

Entries defined as having backgrounds in Biology and its various sub-disciplines e.g. Botany, Ecology, Neuroscience, Pathology etc.
* David Barker – Emeritus Professor of Zoology
* David Bellamy – Lecturer in Botany; President of The Wildlife Trusts (1995–2005)
* Kathleen Bever Blackburn (Armstrong) – botanist
* John Lawton FRS – RSPB Vice President; previously head of Natural Environment Research Council; the last chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
* Marie Lebour – marine biologist
* Simon Parson – Regius Professor of Anatomy at University of Aberdeen (since 2018); President of the Anatomical Society (since 2019)
* Joe Smartt (Hatfield) – Reader in Biology at Southampton University (1990–1996)
* Mark A. Smith (Hatfield) – Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University
* David H. Valentine - Head of Department of Botany from 1945 as Reader, then from 1950 as Professor. Subsequently at University of Manchester
* Stan Woodell (Hatfield) – Lecturer in Botany at Oxford University (1959–1988); Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford (1989–2004)
* Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock (Hatfield) – Ecologist; contributor to the Journal of Ecology

### Philosophers and Theologians

(See § Religion for theologians better known for their ordained ministry)
* Lewis Ayres – Professor of Catholic and Historical Theology at Durham University; Bede Chair of Catholic Theology (2009–2013)
* Charles Kingsley Barrett – Professor of Divinity at Durham University (1958–1982)
* Joan Bernard – Principal of Trevelyan College (1966–1978)
* Stephen R. L. Clark – Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool
* Dan Cohn-Sherbok – Emeritus Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales
* David E. Cooper – Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Durham University
* Douglas Davies (St John's) – Professor in the Study of Religion at Durham
* James Dunn – Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University (1990–2003)
* Christopher Evans – Lightfoot Professor of Divinity (1959–1962)
* Stanley Eveling – Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University
* Simon J. Gathercole (Hatfield) – Reader in New Testament Studies and Director of Studies at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
* David Jasper (Hatfield and St Chad's) – Professor of Theology and Literature at the University of Glasgow
* R. W. L. Moberly – Professor of Theology and Biblical Interpretation at Durham University
* Tim Crane - Former Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge

### Physicians and Psychiatrists

* Ephraim Anderson FRS – bacteriologist known for his research on plasmids
* Francis Arthur Bainbridge FRS – Professor of Physiology at Durham University (1911–1915), later chair of physiology at St. Bartholomew's Hospital
* George Stewardson Brady FRS (College of Medicine) – Professor of Natural History at the Hancock Museum (1875–1906)
* John Charles – Chief Medical Office (1950–1960)
* Thomas Dutton – dietitian and opponent of teetotalism
* Reginald Hall – endocrinologist known for his research on the thyroid gland
* William Edmund Hick – President of the Experimental Psychology Society (1958–1959)
* Tom Main – doctor, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, coined the term Therapeutic community
* Flora Murray – doctor and suffragist, founder of Women's Hospital for Children
* Claude Nelson-Williams - physician, politician, and one-time president of the Sierra Leone Medical Association
* Ruth Nicholson – obstetrician and gynaecologist
* Thomas Horrocks Openshaw – Victorian surgeon and recipient of a Jack the Ripper letter
* Joseph Stoddart FRS – Consultant anaesthetist at Royal Victoria Infirmary, influenced the development of Intensive Care in the UK
* John Walton, Baron Walton of Detchant – former President of British Medical Association, General Medical Council and the Royal Society of Medicine

### Sociologists and Social Anthropologists

* Gëzim Alpion – Lecturer in Sociology at University of Birmingham
* Robert Burgess (Bede) – President of the British Sociological Association (1989–1991)
* Stanley Cohen – Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics
* Iain R. Edgar – Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at Durham University
* Mathew Guest - Professor of Sociology of Religion at Durham University
* Robert Hugh Layton – Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Durham University
* Tariq Modood (Cuths) – Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy at the University of Bristol (1997-); co-founder of the journal Ethnicities
* Henrietta Moore (Trevs) – William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology (2008-2014)
* Caroline Moser – Emeritus Professor of Urban Development at University of Manchester; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution (2004–2007)
* Sue Scott – Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle; President of the British Sociological Association (2007–2009)
* Ian Taylor (Hatfield) – Professor of Sociology at Salford University (1989–1998); Principal of Van Mildert College (1999–2000)
* Alan Warde – Professor of Sociology at Manchester University (1999-)
* Frank Webster (Cuths) – Head of the Department of Sociology at City University London (2008–2012); Theories of the Information Society (1995)

### Other academics

* Michael Alcorn – Director of the School of Music and Sonic Arts at Queen's University, Belfast
* Robert Allison – Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University from 2012
* Roy Ascott (King's) – Founder and President of the Planetary Collegium at Plymouth University (2003–present)
* Tim Blackman – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Middlesex
* Annette Boaz [d] – Professor of Health and Social Care, Kings College London
* Ernest Bullock – Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow and Principal of the Scottish National Academy of Music (1941–1952); Director of the Royal College of Music (1953–1960)
* Kenneth Calman – Vice-Chancellor of Durham University (1998–2006); Chancellor of the University of Glasgow (2006–present)
* Anne Campbell – Professor of Psychology at Durham University
* John Casken – Professor of Music at the University of Manchester (1992–2008)
* Joe Elliott – Principal of Collingwood College (2011–present) and Professor of Education at Durham (2004–present)
* Peter Evans (Cuths) – Professor of Music at Southampton University (1961–1990)
* Robert Michael Franklin, Jr. – President of Morehouse College (2007–2012)
* David Grant – Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University (2001–2012)
* Sonia Harris (Castle) - Honorary professor of Birmingham University, Director of Birmingham Law School LLM Programme
* Chris Higgins (Grey) – Vice Chancellor of Durham University (2007–2014)
* George Wilberforce Kakoma – Professor of music, composer of Uganda's national anthem
* Richard Ovenden (St Chad's) – Deputy Director and Head of Special Collections at the Bodleian Library
* Hugh Pearman (St Chad's) – architecture and design critic of The Sunday Times (1986–2016)
* Octavius Pickard-Cambridge FRS (Castle) – Clergyman and arachnologist
* Frank Rhodes, President of Cornell University (1977–1995)
* Akilagpa Sawyerr – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (1985–1992)
* Charles Thorp FRS – Warden of the University
* Peter Ustinov – Chancellor of the University of Durham (1992–2004)
* Paul Wellings – Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University (2002–2012)
* Ted Wragg (Hatfield) – Professor of Education at the University of Exeter (1978–2003)
* Zu'bi M.F. Al-Zu'bi (Ustinov) - Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jordan (2013–2017); Director of Development at the University of Sydney

## Business people

* Richard Adams (St John's) – pioneer of Fair Trade and founder of Traidcraft
* Adam Applegarth (Grey) – CEO of Northern Rock bank (2001–07)
* David Arkless (Hatfield) – former president, CDI Corporation
* James Averdieck (Hild Bede) – entrepreneur known for dessert brand Gü
* John Cadman, 1st Baron Cadman – Chairman of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
* Cecil Chao – A Hong Kong billionaire, the Chairman and owner of Cheuk Nang Holdings
* Edwin Davies, businessman and philanthropist
* Steve Easterbrook (St Chad's) – CEO of McDonald's
* Ron Emerson – founding Chairman of the British Business Bank
* Leslie Ferrar (St Mary's) – Treasurer to Charles III
* James Hoffmann - co-founder of Square Mile Coffee Roasters and World Barista Champion
* Tom Hume (King's) – first Director of the Museum of London
* Herbert Loebl (King's) – co-founder of Joyce, Loebl & Company
* John Laurent Giles – yacht designer
* Sir Robert Malpas (King's) – engineer and industrialist
* Lady Edward Manners – manager of Haddon Hall and founder of Beau Bra Lingerie Company
* Ian Marchant (Hatfield) – CEO of SSE plc
* Sir Peter Ogden (Castle) – co-founder of Computacenter
* Peter Owen Edmunds (Hatfield) – telecoms entrepreneur, co-founder of Peterstar
* Richard Paniguian (Hatfield) – former vice-president, BP
* Richard Pease (Hatfield) – fund manager
* Alison Rose – former CEO of NatWest Group
* William Russell (Grey) – former Merrill Lynch banker; 692nd Lord Mayor of London (2019–2021)
* Nick Scheele (Cuths) – president and COO of the Ford Motor Company
* David Sproxton (Collingwood) – co-founder (with Peter Lord) of Aardman Animations

## Judges and lawyers
### Judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

| Name | College | Notes | Ref. |
| Anthony Hughes, Lord Hughes of Ombersley | Van Mildert | Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2013-2018); Vice President of the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal (2009-2013); Lord Justice of Appeal (2006–2013) | |
| Jill Black, Lady Black of Derwent | Trevelyan | Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2017-); Lady Justice of Appeal (2010-2017) | |

### Judges of the High Court of Justice

| Name | College | Notes |
| James Goss | University | Justice of the High Court (Queen's Bench) (2014–) |
| David Maddison | Grey | Justice of the High Court (Queen's Bench) (2008–2013) |
| Andrew McFarlane | Collingwood | Justice of the High Court (2006–2011); Lord Justice of Appeal (2011–2018); President of the Family Division (2018–) |
| Finola O'Farrell | Trevelyan | Justice of the High Court (Queen's Bench) (2016–) |
| Caroline Swift | St Aidan's | Justice of the High Court (Queen's Bench) (2005–2015) |
| Mark Waller | King's | Justice of the High Court (1989–1996); Lord Justice of Appeal (1996–2010); Intelligence Services Commissioner (2011–2016) |
| Sonia Harris | University | Justice of the High Court (Family Division) (2024-) |

### Judges in other countries

| Name | College | Notes |
| St John Branch | Codrington | Chief Justice of Jamaica (1923–1925); Chief Justice of Sri Lanka (1925–1926) |
| Henry Joko-Smart | Fourah Bay | Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone (1998–2005) |
| Kobina Arku Korsah | Fourah Bay | Chief Justice of the Gold Coast (1956–1957); Chief Justice of Ghana (1957–1963) |
| George Lamptey | King's | Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana (2000–2002) |
| Koi Larbi | Fourah Bay | Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana (1970–1972) |

### Lawyers

| Name | College | Notes | Ref. |
| George Gretton | Hatfield | Commissioner of the Scottish Law Commission (2006–2011) | |
| Jolyon Maugham QC | Hatfield | Barrister at Devereux Chambers; Founder of Good Law Project | |

## Broadcasters and entertainers
### Actors

* Delaval Astley, 23rd Baron Hastings (Hatfield) – actor, The Archers
* Arthur Bostrom (St Chad's) – actor, played Officer Crabtree in 'Allo 'Allo!
* Andrew Buchan (Cuths) – actor, All the Money in the World (2017)
* Daniel Casey (Grey) – co-star of Midsomer Murders
* Ian Hogg (St John's) – played lead role in Rockliffe
* Nathan Kiley – stage actor
* Alex Macqueen (Collingwood) – actor, The Thick of It and The Inbetweeners
* Ambika Mod (St Mary's) – actress, This Is Going to Hurt and One Day
* Adam Rayner – actor, Tyrant
* Charlotte Riley (Cuths) – actress
* Patrick Ryecart (Bede) – film and stage actor
* John Schwab – actor and voice artist
* Lily Travers – actress, Viceroy's House
* James Wilby (Grey) – film, television and theatre actor known for Maurice and Howards End
* Christina Wolfe (Van Mildert) – actress, The Royals
* Fenella Woolgar (St Mary's) – actress, Bright Young Things (2003)

### Comedians

* James Cary (Hatfield) – TV and radio comedy writer, Think the Unthinkable and Bluestone 42
* Tim FitzHigham (St Chad's) – comedian, actor and record-breaker
* Ed Gamble (Hatfield) – presenter and performer, The Peacock and Gamble Podcast and Mock the Week
* Liz Kingsman – comedian and actress, Parlement and I, Jack Wright
* Nish Kumar (Grey) – stand-up and host, The Mash Report
* Stevie Martin (St John's) – comedian and podcast host, Nobody Panic
* Nick Mohammed (St Aidan's) – comedian and actor
* Naz Osmanoglu (Van Mildert) – stand-up and former So You Think You're Funny runner-up

### Correspondents and Presenters

* George Alagiah (Van Mildert) – broadcaster; BBC TV News at Six since 2003
* Matthew Amroliwala (St Chad's) – BBC news presenter
* Guy de la Bédoyère (Collingwood) – British historian and broadcaster, Time Team
* Lucy Beresford (Trevs) – broadcaster, host of #MindOverMatterMondays and agony aunt on This Morning
* Lionel Blue (Grey) – rabbi, broadcaster, author; Honorary Doctor of Divinity and Fellow at Grey College
* Allan Cartner (Castle) – Continuity announcer, Border Television
* Mark Durden-Smith (Hatfield) – Channel 5 sports presenter
* Jonny Dymond – BBC Royal Correspondent (2017–)
* Marc Edwards – Welsh and Chinese television presenter on China Central Television
* Jonathan Gould (Hatfield) – Channel 5 television presenter of MLB on Five (1997–2008)
* Judith Hann (St Aidan's) – freelance broadcaster and writer, former Tomorrow's World presenter
* Gavin Hewitt (St John's) – Special Correspondent for BBC News
* Chris Hollins (Hild Bede) – broadcaster, sports presenter for BBC Breakfast
* Nina Hossain (Cuths) – broadcast journalist
* Catherine Jacob – Sky News journalist
* Gabby Logan (Hild Bede) – TV presenter
* Dominic Montserrat (Grey) – TV Egyptologist
* Rory Morrison (Castle) - BBC Radio 4 newsreader and continuity announcer
* Maryam Nemazee – Bloomberg presenter
* Kjartan Poskitt (Collingwood) - TV presenter and author
* Mark Pougatch (Hatfield) – BBC sports presenter and radio host
* Jonny Saunders (Collingwood) – BBC Radio 2 Sports Presenter
* David Shukman (Hatfield) – BBC correspondent
* Gareth Sibson (Castle) – writer and broadcaster
* Kate Silverton (Cuths) – Broadcast journalist
* Bill Steel – presenter and announcer, Tyne Tees Television
* Jeremy Vine (Hatfield) – BBC radio and television presenter
* Tim Willcox (St Chad's), BBC television presenter

### Directors and Producers

* George Auckland (Hatfield) – longtime BBC television and digital media executive
* Simon Ardizzone (Castle) – film editor and producer, Hacking Democracy (2006)
* Biddy Baxter (St Mary's) – TV producer (Blue Peter) and inventor of the Blue Peter badge
* Jamie Campbell (St John's) – documentary filmmaker and producer, 24 Hours with...
* Jonny Campbell (Van Mildert) – film and television director, Alien Autopsy (2006)
* Charles Mark Townshend Colville (St Chad's) – 5th Viscount Colville of Culross, BBC producer and director, elected as hereditary peer in 2011
* George Entwistle (Castle) – journalist, TV producer and former Director-General of the BBC
* John Exelby (Castle) – co-founder and editor of BBC News World Service
* Shelagh Fogarty – host of the BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast show
* Fiona Foster (Van Mildert) – television presenter of BBC Business News and ITV London Tonight
* Alastair Fothergill (Cuths) – BBC Nature producer and co-producer of The Blue Planet
* Pippa Greenwood (Trevs) – plant pathologist, appears on BBC Gardeners World
* Lorraine Heggessey (Collingwood) – BBC One controller (2000–2004)
* Sally El Hosaini (Collingwood) – filmmaker
* Cecil McGivern – Controller of BBC Television Service (1950–1957)
* Roger Pratt (St John's) – cinematographer and Academy Award nominee, The End of the Affair (1999)
* Ian Sharp (Hatfield) – director known for Who Dares Wins (1982) and his second-unit work on GoldenEye (1995)
* Chris Terrill (Collingwood) – documentary maker, writer and adventurer
* Dougal Wilson (Castle) – director; Paddington in Peru (2024)

## Military personnel
### British Army

* Mark Carleton-Smith
* Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt
* Richard Nugee
* Tim Radford
* Alex Taylor
Chiefs of the General Staff :
| Name | College | Notes | Ref. |
| General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith | Hatfield | Previously Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) (2016–2018); Director Special Forces (2012–2015) | |
| General Sir Richard Dannatt | Hatfield | Also Constable of the Tower (2009–2016) | |
Senior personnel :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Major-General Harold Henry Blake | Armstrong | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| Major-General Thomas Brodie | Bede | General Officer Commanding, 1st Division (1952–1955) |
| Major-General Nicholas Cottam | Van Mildert | Military Secretary (2005–2008) |
| Major-General Craig Lawrence | University | Director of Joint Warfare at the Directorate of Joint Warfare |
| Lieutenant General Richard Nugee | Grey | Chief of Defence People (2016–2020); Defence Services Secretary (2015–2016) |
| Major-General Peter Grant Peterkin | Hatfield | Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons (2004–2007) |
| Major-General Edward Phillips | College of Medicine | Director of Medical Services, British Army of the Rhine (1945–1949) |
| Lieutenant-General Tim Radford | St Chad's | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (2020–) |
| Major-General Andrew Ritchie | University | Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (2003–2006) |
| Major-General John Sutherell | Grey | Director Special Forces (1996–1999) |
| Major-General Alex Taylor | Hatfield | Director, Army Legal Services Branch (2019–) |
Other personnel :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Captain Hugh Clark | King's | Won Military Cross for actions during Operation Varsity |
| Captain Nigel Morgan | Hatfield | Irish Guards officer; known for helping to expose the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt |
| Lieutenant-Colonel John Vane, 11th Baron Barnard | ? | Commanded Northumberland Hussars (1964–1966) |
| Lieutenant Michael Osborne Waddell | King's | Won Military Cross for actions during Invasion of Sicily |

### Royal Air Force

* Jonathan Chaffey
* Nigel Phillips
* James Milne Robb
* Garry Tunnicliffe

### Royal Navy

* Andrew Burns
* Alex Burton
* Clive Johnstone
* Timothy Laurence
* David Steel

## Musicians and artists

* Michael Alford (St John's) – figurative painter
* Sir Thomas Allen – operatic baritone, former Chancellor of Durham University
* Ralph Allwood (Van Mildert) – Director of Music at Eton College
* Marian Arkwright (Unattached) – composer, one of the first British women to receive a doctorate in music
* Frederic Austin – English baritone singer, musical teacher and composer from 1905 to 1930
* Edward Bairstow – organist and composer in the Anglican church music tradition
* H. Hugh Bancroft – British organist and composer who was organist of five cathedrals
* Kerry Beaumont – organist and Director of Music at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa (2021–)
* Philip Best – pioneer in power electronics
* Jon Boden (Collingwood) – English fiddle player and folk singer
* Thomas Frederick Candlyn – organist and choirmaster, St. Thomas Church, New York
* Andrew Cantrill (Hild Bede) – organist and choirmaster, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo, New York
* Justin Chancellor – bassist, Tool
* King Charles – indie rock artist
* J. Michael Clarke (St Chad's) – composer and musician
* Rod Clements (Cuths) – musician in folk-rock band Lindisfarne
* (Alfred) Melville Cook – British organist and conductor
* Jonathan Darlington (Hatfield) – conductor and Music Director of Vancouver Opera
* Howard Davies (Cuths) – theatre and television director
* Bryan Ferry – Roxy Music singer (only studied for one year before moving to Newcastle)
* Eveline Fischer – video game composer known for her work with Rare
* Margot Fonteyn – ballet dancer, Chancellor of Durham University
* Noel Forster (King's) – British artist
* Rumon Gamba – conductor, Chief Conductor of Oulu Symphony Orchestra
* Ruth Gipps – British composer, conductor, oboist and pianist
* Malcolm Goldring (Hatfield) – English conductor and oboist
* Dan "Nu:Tone" Gresham – drum and bass musician
* J. P. E. Harper-Scott (St Chad's) – Professor of Music History and Theory at Royal Holloway, University of London
* Ted Harrison – Canadian artist
* Patrick Hawes (St Chad's) – composer and Classic FM's Composer in Residence
* Gwyneth Herbert (St Chad's) – singer-songwriter and jazz musician
* Arthur Hutchings – professor of music in Durham, author of books on Mozart's piano concertos and Jean-Philippe Rameau
* David Jennings (Castle) – composer
* John Joubert – composer of choral music
* James MacMillan (Hild Bede/Grad Soc) – Scottish composer
* Stuart MacRae (Hild Bede) – composer
* Anthony Payne (Cuths) – composer and Elgar specialist
* Giles Ramsay (St Chad's) – theatre director, producer and playwright, Fellow of St Chad's
* Michael F. Robinson – composer and musicologist, faculty member (1961-1965)
* Tom Rosenthal (Cuths) – English singer-songwriter
* Alec Roth (Hatfield) – English composer
* Janet Mary Salsbury - English author, composer and organist
* Malcolm Sargent (Unattached) – English conductor, organist and composer
* Tim "Exile" Shaw (Hatfield) – drum and bass and IDM musician
* Robert Simpson – composer, writer, BBC producer
* Ronald Smith – English classical pianist, composer and teacher
* Alexander Talbot Rice (Cuths) – portrait artist
* Richard Terry – organist and revivalist of Tudor period music
* John Philip 'Jake' Thackray (Hatfield) - singer-songwriter, poet, humourist and journalist
* Alan Walker – musicologist and biographer of Franz Liszt
* John B. Williams (Van Mildert) – drum and bass musician and DJ
* George Dyer - Theatre Musical Director, Supervisor and Orchestrator

## Politicians and civil servants
### Members of the House of Commons

Excluding current members of the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet, who are listed above (if any), and former MPs who went on to be members of the House of Lords, who are listed below
* Graham Brady
* Robert Buckland
* Carla Denyer
* Edward Leigh
* Mo Mowlam
| Name | College | Notes |
| Heidi Alexander | Grey | Labour MP for Lewisham East (2010–2018), Shadow Secretary of State for Health (2015–2016), Deputy Mayor of London (2018–2021), MP for Swindon South (2024–present), Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice (2024–present) |
| Lucy Allan | Trevelyan | Conservative MP for Telford (2015–2024) |
| David Anderson | ? | Labour MP for Blaydon (2005–2017); Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland (2016–2017) |
| Jonathan Ashworth | St Aidan's | Labour MP for Leicester South (2011–2024), Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2023–2024) |
| Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge | ? | Liberal MP for Gainsborough (1895–1900) |
| Crispin Blunt | University | Conservative MP for Reigate (1997–2024) |
| James Boyden | King's | Labour MP for Bishop Auckland (1959–1979) |
| Graham Brady | St Aidan's | Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West (1997–2024); Chairman of 1922 Committee (2010–2019, 2020–2024) |
| Phil Brickell | ? | Labour MP for Bolton West (2024–present) |
| Sir Robert Buckland | Hatfield | Conservative MP for Swindon South (2010–2024), Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (2019–2021) |
| Jenny Chapman | ? | Labour MP for Darlington (2010–2019) |
| Victoria Collins | Van Mildert | Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted (2024–) |
| John Robert Davison | University | Liberal MP for the City of Durham (1868–1871) |
| Carla Denyer | St Chad's | Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales (2021–present), Green MP for Bristol Central (2024–present) |
| Jackie Doyle-Price | University | Conservative MP for Thurrock (2010–2024) |
| Bill Etherington | ? | Labour MP for Sunderland North (1992–2010) |
| Ben Everitt | ? | Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North (2019–2024) |
| Nick Gibb | Hild Bede | Conservative MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (1997–2024) |
| Paul Goggins | Ushaw | Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East (1997–2014) |
| Thomas George Greenwell | College of Medicine | Conservative MP for The Hartlepools (1943–1945) |
| Jane Griffiths | St Mary's | Labour MP for Reading East (1997–2005) |
| Ben Howlett | St John's | Conservative MP for Bath (2015–2017) |
| Mark Hughes | King's | Labour MP for Durham (1970–1983); City of Durham (1983–1987) |
| Andrew Hunter | St John's | Conservative (1983–2002); Independent Conservative (2002–2005); and Democratic Unionist Party (2005) MP for Basingstoke |
| Sarah Jones | Trevelyan | Labour MP for Croydon Central (2017–2024) and for Croydon West (2024–present), Minister of State for Industry and Decarbonisation (2024–present) |
| Peter Kilfoyle | ? | Labour MP for Liverpool Walton (1991–2010) |
| Joseph Leech | College of Medicine | Unionist Party MP for Newcastle upon Tyne West (1931–1940) |
| Edward Leigh | University | Conservative MP for Gainsborough and Horncastle (1983–1997); Gainsborough (1997–present); Father of the House (2024–present) |
| Malcolm MacDonald | ― | Labour MP for Bassetlaw (1929–1931); National Labour MP for Bassetlaw (1931–1935); Ross and Cromarty (1936–1945); Chancellor of the University of Durham (1971–1980) |
| David Mackintosh | ? | Conservative MP for Northampton South (2015–2017) |
| Shona McIsaac | St Aidan's | Labour MP for Cleethorpes (1997–2010) |
| Alan Meale | ? | Labour MP for Mansfield (1987–2017) |
| Piers Merchant | University | Conservative MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (1983–1987); Beckenham (1992–1997) |
| Huw Merriman | University | Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle (2015–2024), |
| Fergus Montgomery | Bede | Conservative MP Newcastle upon Tyne East (1959–1964); Brierley Hill (1967–1974); Altrincham and Sale (1974–1997) |
| Iqbal Mohamed | ? | Independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley (2024—present) |
| Mo Mowlam | Trevelyan | Labour MP for Redcar (1987–2001); Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1997–1999) |
| Oswald O'Brien | St Cuthbert's | Labour MP for Darlington (1983) |
| Tris Osborne | Hild Bede | Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford (2024–present) |
| John Pugh | St Cuthbert's | Liberal Democrat MP for Southport (2001–2017) |
| Nathan Raw | College of Medicine | Conservative MP for Liverpool Wavertree (1918–1922) |
| Lucy Rigby | ? | Labour MP for Northampton North (2024–) |
| Sam Rushworth | Staff | Labour MP for Bishop Auckland (2024–present) |
| Thomas Sexton | Bede | Labour MP for Barnard Castle (1935–1945) |
| Edward Shortt | University | Liberal MP for Newcastle upon Tyne (1910–1918); Newcastle upon Tyne West (1918–1922); Home Secretary (1919–1922); Chief Secretary for Ireland (1918–1919) |
| David Simmonds | Grey | Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (2019–) |
| Sir John Sinclair, 3rd Baronet | University | Liberal MP for Caithness (1869–1885) |
| John Slinger | University | Labour MP for Rugby (2024–) |
| Lisa Smart | ? | Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove (2024–) |
| Rachel Squire | Trevelyan | Labour MP for Dunfermline West (1992–2005) |
| Robert Strother Stewart | Hatfield/Armstrong | Liberal MP for Stockton-on-Tees (1923–1924) |
| Peter Swallow | Staff | Labour MP for the Bracknell (2024–present) |
| Thomas Charles Thompson | University | Liberal MP for the City of Durham (1874 & 1880–1885) |
| Edward Timpson | Hatfield | Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich (2008–2017) and for Eddisbury (2019–2024) |
| Henry Villiers-Stuart | University | Liberal MP for County Waterford (1873–1874 & 1880–1885) |
| Matt Warman | ? | Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness (2015–2024) |
| Thomas Watts | College of Medicine | Conservative MP for Manchester Withington (1922–1923 & 1924–1929) |
| Jenny Willott | St Mary's | Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central (2005–2015) |
| Esmond Wright | Armstrong | Conservative MP for Glasgow Pollok (1967–1970) |

### Members of the House of Lords

* Charles Colville, 5th Viscount Colville of Culross
* Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley
* Dianne Hayter, Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
* Viscount Knutsford
* Sally Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Huyton
| Name | College | Notes |
| Jonathan Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose | ? | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |
| Jenny Chapman, Baroness Chapman of Darlington | ? | Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office |
| Charles Colville, 5th Viscount Colville of Culross | St Chad's | Member of the House of Lords (2011–) |
| Jack Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling | Bede | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1998–1999) |
| Jack Dormand, Baron Dormand of Easington | Bede | Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (1981–1987); Labour MP for Easington (1970–1987) |
| Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley | Collingwood | Lord-in-waiting (1989, 2016–2017) |
| Dianne Hayter, Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town | Trevelyan | Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords (2017–) |
| Henry Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford | University | Secretary of State for the Colonies (1887–1892) |
| Michael Jopling, Baron Jopling | King's | Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1983–1987); Conservative MP for Westmorland (1964–1983); Westmorland and Lonsdale (1983–1997) |
| Herbert Laming, Baron Laming | King's | Chairman of Committees (2015–2016); Convenor of the Crossbench Peers (2011–2015) |
| Massey Lopes, 4th Baron Roborough | Cuths | |
| Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough | ― | Chancellor of the University of Durham (1958–1969) |
| Sally Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Huyton | Van Mildert | Member of the House of Lords (2001–) |
| Fred Peart, Baron Peart | Bede | Leader of the House of Lords (1976–1979); Labour MP for Workington (1945–1976) |
| Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland | ― | Chancellor of the University of Durham (1913–1918) |
| Randolph Quirk, Baron Quirk | ― | Professor of English Language at University of Durham (1958–1960); Member of the House of Lords (1994–2017) |
| John Sewel, Baron Sewel | University | Chairman of Committees (2012–2015); Member of the House of Lords (1996–2015) |
| Maeve Sherlock, Baroness Sherlock | St Chad's | Honorary Fellow and Tutor at St Chad's College; Member of the House of Lords (2010–) |
| Dominic Johnson, Baron Johnson of Lainston | Collingwood | Member of the House of Lords (2022–); Minister of State for Investment (2022); Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party (2016–2019) |
| Edward Short, Baron Glenmara | Bede | Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (1972–1976); Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (1951–1976) |
| Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry | ― | Chancellor of the University of Durham (1931–1949) |
| James Wharton | University | Conservative MP for Stockton South (2010–2017), entered House of Lords 2020, Chair of the Office for Students (2021–2024) |

### Members of devolved assemblies and parliaments

| Name | College | Notes |
| Nick Ramsay | St John's | Conservative Member of the Welsh Assembly for Monmouth (2007–2021) |
| Patrick Roche | Graduate Society | Northern Ireland Unionist Party Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley (1998–2003) |
| Mike Tuffrey | University | Liberal Democrat Member of the London Assembly as the 5th Additional Member (2002–2012) |

### Members of the European Parliament

| Name | College | Notes |
| Paul Brannen | ? | Labour Party MEP for North East England (2014–2019) |
| Alexandra Phillips | St Mary's | Brexit Party MEP for South East England (2019–2020) |
| Jake Pugh | Hatfield | Brexit Party MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber (2019–2020) |

### Ambassadors and High Commissioners

* Fergus Cochrane-Dyet
* Kim Darroch
* Jonathan Wilks
United Kingdom :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Asif Ahmad | St Cuthbert's | British High Commissioner to Jamaica and the Bahamas (2017–); British Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines and Palau (2013–2017); British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Laos (2010–2012); British Ambassador to Thailand (2010–2012) |
| Norman Aspin | St John's | British High Commissioner to Malta (1976–1979) |
| David Carter | Hatfield | British High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2000–2004) |
| Anwar Choudhury | ? | Governor of the Cayman Islands (2018–) British Ambassador to Peru (2014–2018) British High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2004–2008) |
| Fergus Cochrane-Dyet | Grey | British High Commissioner to Zambia (2016–) British Ambassador to Liberia (2013–2015) British High Commissioner to Malawi (2009–2011) British High Commissioner to the Seychelles (2007–2009) |
| Neil Crompton | University | British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2020–) |
| Kim Darroch | Hatfield | British Ambassador to the United States (2016–2019) National Security Advisor (2012–2015) UK Permanent Representative to the European Union (2007–2011) |
| Matt Field | Van Mildert | British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018–) |
| David Fitton | Hatfield | British High Commissioner to Jamaica (2013–2017) British High Commissioner to the Bahamas (2013–2017) |
| Alexandra Hall Hall | Collingwood | British Ambassador to Georgia (2013–2016) |
| James Hennessy | King's | Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (1982–1987) Governor of British Honduras (1980–1981) High Commissioner to Uganda (1973–1976) Ambassador to Rwanda (1973–1976) |
| Paul Madden | ? | British Ambassador to Japan (2017–) British High Commissioner to Australia (2011–2015) British High Commissioner to Singapore (2007–2011) |
| Jane Marriott | University | British Ambassador to Yemen (2013-2015) High Commissioner to Kenya (2019–) |
| Chris O'Connor | ? | British Ambassador to Tunisia (2008–2013) |
| Denis Osborne | University | British High Commissioner to Malawi (1987–1990) |
| William Quantrill | Hatfield | British High Commissioner to Cameroon (1991–1995) |
| Allan Ramsay | ? | British Ambassador to Lebanon (1988-1990) British Ambassador to Sudan (1990-1991) British Ambassador to Morocco (1992-1996) |
| John Richmond | ― | British Ambassador to Sudan (1965–1966) British Ambassador to Kuwait (1961–1963) |
| Michael Scott | King's | British Ambassador to Nepal (1974-1977) British High Commissioner to Malawi (1977-1979) British High Commissioner to Bangladesh (1980-1981) |
| James Lyall Sharp | St Cuthbert's | British Ambassador to Azerbaijan (2019–) British Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2002–2005) |
| Jan Thompson | Collingwood | British Ambassador to the Czech Republic (2013–2017) |
| Jonathan Wilks | University | British Ambassador to Iraq (2017–) British Ambassador to Oman (2014–2017) British Ambassador to Yemen (2010–2011) |
Other countries :
| Name | College | Notes |
| K. B. Asante | University | Ghanaian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Economic Community (1976–1978) Ghanaian Ambassador to Switzerland and Australia (1967–1972) |
| Phyllis Kandie | ? | Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union (2018–) |
| Desra Percaya | Graduate Society | Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom (2020–) Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations (2012–2015) |
| Samir Sumaidaie | King's | Iraqi Ambassador to the United States (2006–2011) Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations (2004–2006) |

### Civil Service

* Ian Chapman
* Kumar Iyer
* Jonathan Jones
* Nicola Spence
Home Civil Service :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Adrian Brown | ? | Director of Parliamentary Archives (2014–) |
| Clare Cameron | University | Director, Defence Innovation, Ministry of Defence (2019–) |
| Ian Chapman | Hild Bede | Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority |
| Shona Dunn | ? | Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office (2018–2021) |
| Kumar Iyer | University | Chief Economist, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2019–) |
| Jonathan Jones | St Chad's | Permanent Secretary, Government Legal Department (2014–2020) |
| Richard Paniguian | Hatfield | Head of Defence & Security Organisation (2008–2015) |
| Graham Savage | ― | Education Officer, London County Council (1940–1951) |
| Nicola Spence | St Aidan's | Chief Plant Health Officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2014–) |
| Mike Tomlinson | ? | Chief Inspector at Ofsted (2000–2002) |
Overseas Civil Service :
| Name | College | Notes | Ref. |
| John Rawling Todd | Hatfield | Secretary for Housing, British Hong Kong (1986–1988) | |
| John Francis Yaxley | Hatfield | Hong Kong Commissioner in London (1989–1993) | |

### Others

Politicians overseas :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Crispin Adeniyi-Jones | College of Medicine | President of Nigerian National Democratic Party; Member of Legislative Council of Nigeria (1923–1938) |
| Aryo Djojohadikusumo | ? | Member of the House of Representatives of Indonesia (2014–2019) |
| Charles Bruzon | Ushaw | Member of the Gibraltar Parliament (2002–2013) |
| Henry Rawlingson Carr | ? | Member of Legislative Council of Nigeria (1933–1944) |
| John Douglas | University | Premier of Queensland (1877–1879) |
| Kinfe Gebremedhin | Hatfield | Chief of Security and Immigration, Ethiopia |
| Kerryann Ifill | ? | President of the Senate of Barbados (2012–2018) |
| Norman Lacy | Ustinov | Minister for the Arts and Minister of Educational Services, State of Victoria, Australia (1979–1982) |
| Eduardo Lopez-Reyes | Ustinov | National Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, United States |
| Maszlee Malik | ? | Malaysian Minister of Education (2018–2020) |
| Milton Margai | Fourah Bay/College of Medicine | Prime Minister of Sierra Leone (1958–1964) |
| Steven Marshall | ? | Premier of South Australia (2018–) |
| Maurice Berkeley Portman | University | Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for East Middlesex (1861–1863) |
| Elsie Tu | Armstrong | Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (1988–1995); Member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong (1963–1995) |
| Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile | Cuths | Governor of the Bank of Uganda (2001-2022) |
Campaigners and activists :
| Name | College | Notes |
| Rodney Atkinson | Collingwood | Eurosceptic campaigner; 1997 general election Referendum Party candidate for North West Durham, 1999 European Elections UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate for the North East Region |
| Tracy Philipps | Hatfield | Secretary-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (1955–1958) |
| Francis Ambrose Ridley | Non-Collegiate | President of the National Secular Society (1951–1963) |
| Charles Andrew Smith | Armstrong | Chairman of the Independent Labour Party (1939–1941); Chairman of the Common Wealth Party (1945–1947) |
| Kevin Watkins | University | Chief Executive of Save the Children (2016–) |

## Religion
### Archbishops and Primates

* Walter Adams
* Josiah Idowu-Fearon
* Henry Ndukuba
* Michael Ramsey
* Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
* Justin Welby
| Name | College | Notes |
| Walter Robert Adams | University | Archbishop of Yukon (1947–1952) |
| Drexel Gomez | St Chad's | Archbishop of the West Indies (1998–2009) |
| Alastair Haggart | Hatfield | Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (1977–1985) |
| Josiah Idowu-Fearon | St John's | Archbishop of Kaduna (2002–2008) |
| James Horstead | University | Archbishop of West Africa (1955–1961) |
| Edward Hutson | Codrington | Archbishop of the West Indies (1922–1936) |
| Henry Ndukuba | St John's | Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria (2020–) |
| Michael Ramsey | — | Van Mildert Professor of Divinity (1940–1950); Archbishop of Canterbury (1961–1974) |
| Theophilos III | University | Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem (2005–) |
| Justin Welby | St John's | Archbishop of Canterbury (2013–) |
| John Wilson | Ushaw | Archbishop of Southwark (2019–) |

### Bishops

* Steven Croft
* Christopher Foster
* Nick Holtam
* Walsham How
* John Inge
* William Stanton Jones
| Name | College | Notes |
| Thomas Makinson Armour | St Chad's | Bishop of Wangaratta |
| Robert Ronald Atwell | St John's | Bishop of Stockport |
| Clifford Barker | St Chad's | Bishop of Whitby (1976–1983); Bishop of Selby (1983–1991) |
| Frederic Beaven | University | Bishop of Mashonaland (1911–1925) |
| James Harold Bell | St John's | Bishop of Knaresborough |
| David Williams Bentley | St Cuthbert's | Bishop of Barbados |
| Richard Blackburn | St John's | Bishop of Warrington |
| John Boys | Hatfield | Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman |
| Ronald Brown | ? | Bishop of Birkenhead |
| Mark Bryant | St John's | Bishop of Jarrow |
| Cyril Bulley | St Chad's | Bishop of Penrith (1959–1966); Bishop of Carlisle (1966–1972) |
| Edmund Capper | St Cuthert's | Bishop of St Helena (1967–1973) |
| Gething Caulton | St Chad's | Bishop of Melanesia |
| Alan Chesters | St Chad's | Bishop of Blackburn (1989–2003) |
| Steven Croft | St John's | Bishop of Sheffield (2008–2016); Bishop of Oxford (2016–) |
| Harold Darby | ? | Bishop of Sherwood (1975–1988) |
| David Edwardes | Hatfield | Bishop of Bangor (1944–1949) |
| Mark Davies | Ushaw | Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury (2010–) |
| Peter Dawes | Hatfield | Bishop of Derby (1988–1995) |
| Michael Doe | | Bishop of Swindon (1994–2001) |
| Arthur Douglas | Hatfield | Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney (1883–1905) |
| Christopher Paul | St John's | Bishop of Bolton |
| Christopher Foster | University | Bishop of Portsmouth |
| George Frodsham | University | Bishop of North Queensland (1902–1913) |
| John Gaisford | St Chad's | Bishop of Beverley (1994–2000) |
| Michael Frederick | St John's | Bishop of Doncaster (1993–1999) |
| John Gladwin | St John's | Bishop of Chelmsford (2004–2009) |
| John Goddard | St Chad's | Bishop of Burnley (2000–2014) |
| Frederick Goldie | Hatfield | Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway (1974–1980) |
| Temple Hamlyn | Hatfield | Bishop of Accra (1908–1910) |
| Clive Handford | Hatfield | Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf (1997–2007) |
| Ralph Hawkins | Hatfield | Bishop of Bunbury (1957–1977) |
| Robert Hay | Hatfield | Bishop of Tasmania (1919–1943) |
| Samuel Heaslett | University | Bishop of South Tokyo (1921–1941) |
| Michael Henshall | St Chad's | Bishop Suffragan of Warrington (1976–96) |
| George Hills | University | Bishop of British Columbia (1859–1892) |
| Nick Holtam | Collingwood | Bishop of Salisbury |
| William Walsham How | University | Bishop of Wakefield (1889–1897) |
| John Howe | St Chad's | Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane (1955–1969) |
| John Taylor Hughes | Bede | Bishop of Croydon (1956–1977) |
| John Inge | St Chad's | Bishop of Worcester (2007–) |
| Michael Ipgrave | St Chad's | Bishop of Woolwich (2012–2016); Bishop of Lichfield (2016–) |
| Francis Johnston | Hatfield | Bishop of Egypt (1952–1958) |
| Thomas Sherwood Jones | Non-Collegiate | Bishop of Hulme (1930–1945) |
| William Stanton Jones | Non-Collegiate | Bishop of Sodor and Man (1928–1942) |
| Donald Knowles | Hatfield | Bishop of Antigua (1953–1969) |
| Libby Lane | St John's | Bishop of Stockport (2015–2019) |
| James Linton | St John's | Bishop in Persia (1917–1935) |
| Evered Lunt | University | Bishop of Stepney (1957–1968) |
| Peter Maurice | St Chad's | Bishop of Taunton |
| Sandy Millar | St John's | Bishop of the Church of Uganda, serving as Assistant Bishop for Mission in the Diocese of London |
| Cecil Norgate | St Chad's | Bishop of Masasi (1984–1992) |
| Robert Paterson | St John's | Bishop of Sodor and Man (2008–2016) |
| Geoffrey Seagrave Pearson | St John's | Bishop of Lancaster (2006–2017) |
| Anthony Russell | St Chad's | Bishop of Dorchester (1988–2000); Bishop of Ely (2000–2010) |
| Mark Rylands | Hild Bede | Bishop of Shrewsbury (2009–2018) |
| Frank Sargeant | St John's | Bishop of Stockport (1984–1994); Bishop at Lambeth (1994–1999) |
| John Saxbee | St John's | Bishop of Ludlow (1994–2002); Bishop of Lincoln (2002–2011) |
| Bertram Simpson | University | Bishop of Kensington (1932–1942); Bishop of Southwark (1942–1959) |
| William Nigel Stock | St Cuthbert's | Bishop of Stockport (2000–2007); Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (2007–2013); Bishop at Lambeth (2013–2017); Bishop to the Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands (2014–2017) |
| Cyril Swaby | St John's | Bishop of Jamaica (1968–1975) |
| Proctor Swaby | Hatfield | Bishop of Guyana (1893–1899); Bishop of Barbados and the Windward Islands (1899–1916) |
| Gordon Tindall | Hatfield | Bishop of Grahamstown (1964–1969) |
| John Tinsley | St John's | Bishop of Bristol (1975–1985) |
| Michael Turnbull | St John's | Bishop of Durham (1994–2003) |
| James Turner | University | Bishop of Grafton and Armidale (1869–1893) |
| Dennis Victor | Hatfield | Bishop of Lebombo |
| Michael Volland | St John's | Bishop of Birmingham (2023–) |
| Martin Warner | St Chad's | Bishop of Chichester (2012–) |
| Martin Wharton | Van Mildert | Bishop of Newcastle (1997–2014) |
| Alison White | St Aidan's/St John's | Bishop of Hull |
| Alan Williams | Grey | Bishop of Brentwood (2014–) |
| Paul Gavin Williams | Grey | Bishop of Kensington (2009–2015); Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham (2015–) |
| Pete Wilcox | St John's | Bishop of Sheffield (2017–) |

### Archdeacons

| Name | College | Notes |
| Henry Carden | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Lahore (1929–1934) |
| Alexander Chisholm | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Carlisle (1947–1958) |
| Richard Blundell Comins | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Northern Melanesia (1900–1910) |
| Herbert Edmonds | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Madras (1937–1940) |
| Hugh Edwardes | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Port Elizabeth (1933–1944) |
| Richard Gillings | St Chad's | Archdeacon of Macclesfield (1994–2004) |
| Glyndwr Hackett | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Monmouth (2001–2008) |
| Thomas Hodgson | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Huntingdon (1915–1921) |
| Robert Jones | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Worcester (2014–) |
| George MacDermott | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Norwich (1921–1938) |
| Henry Marriott | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Bermuda (1925–1951) |
| Frederic Murray | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Belize (1907–1918) |
| Andrew Ritchie | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Surrey (1949–1955) |
| Morris Rodham | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Warwick (2010–2019) |
| Richard Ross-Lewin | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Limerick (1919–1921) |
| Edward Seager | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Dorset (1955–1974) |
| Andrew Spens of Craigsanquhar | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Lahore (1892–1900) |
| Basil Stratton | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Lichfield (1959–1974) |
| Paul Wheatley | ? | Archdeacon of Sherborne (1991–2003) |
| David Williams | Hatfield | Archdeacon of Cardigan (1928–1936) |

### Deans

* Bill Baddeley
* Adrian Dorber
* Jonathan Draper
* John Hall
* Jane Hedges
* Edward Shotter
| Name | College | Notes |
| Bill Baddeley | St Chad's | Dean of Brisbane (1958–1967) |
| John Barker | ? | Dean of Cloyne (1973–1984) |
| Dominic Barrington | Hatfield | Dean of York (2022–) |
| Adrian Dorber | St John's | Dean of Lichfield (2005–2023) |
| Jonathan Draper | St John's | Dean of Exeter (2012–2017) |
| Edward Frossard | University | Dean of Guernsey (1947–1967) |
| John Robert Hall | St Chad's | Dean of Westminster (2006–2019) |
| Jane Hedges | St John's | Dean of Norwich (2014–) |
| Roderick Mackay | Hatfield | Dean of Edinburgh (1939-1954) |
| Geoff Miller | ? | Dean of Newcastle (2018–) |
| John Seaford | St Chad's | Dean of Jersey (1993–2005) |
| Edward Shotter | ? | Dean of Rochester (1989–2003) |
| Michael Tavinor | University | Dean of Hereford (2002–2021) |

### Other clerics

* Ronald Beddoes
* John McManners
* Iain Murray
* David Pawson
* Leonard Sharland
* Stephen Warner
| Name | College | Notes |
| Peter Adam | ? | Principal of Ridley College (2002–2012) |
| Ronald Beddoes | St Chad's | Provost of Derby (1953–1981) |
| Joseph Cassidy | — | Principal of St Chad's College (1997–2015), Non-Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral (2001–2015) |
| George Dragas | ? | Professor of Patristics at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology |
| John Galbraith Graham | — | Chaplain and Tutor at St Chad's College (1949–1952); crossword puzzle writer, 'Araucaria' of The Guardian |
| Robert Hornby | University | Held Curacy at Wakefield and Flaxton, noted antiquarian |
| Francis ffolkes, 5th Baronet | Hatfield | Rector of Hillington, Norfolk, Chaplain-in-Ordinary to King George V |
| Alan Horsley | St Chad's | Provost of St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness (1988–1991) |
| William Kay | Hatfield | Provost of Blackburn Cathedral (1936–1961) |
| John Anthony McGuckin | Ushaw | Nielsen Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary |
| Hugh McIntosh | Hatfield | Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow (1966–1970) |
| John McManners | St Chad's | Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Oxford (1972–1984) |
| Iain Murray | Bede | Founder of Banner of Truth Trust |
| David Pawson | King's | Arminianism minister and Bible teacher |
| Leonard Sharland | St John's | CMS missionary in Southern Sudan; Canon of Khartoum (1951–1958) |
| Richard Turnbull | St John's | Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (2005–2012) |
| Stephen Warner | University | Rector of Holy Trinity, Eastbourne |
| Bill Williams | Hatfield | Provost of Coventry Cathedral (1958–1981) |

## Royalty

* Emmanuel de Merode
* Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
* Faisal bin Mishaal Al Saud
| Name | College | Notes |
| Guillaume of Luxembourg | University | Heir apparent of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg (2000–) |
| Emmanuel de Merode | ? | Prince of the House of Merode; Director of Virunga National Park (2008–) |
| Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi | ? | Emir of Sharjah (1972–) |
| Faisal bin Mishaal Al Saud | ? | Prince of the House of Saud; Governor of Al-Qassim Province (2015–) |

## Sports people
### Olympic and Paralympic medallists

| Name | College | Course | Medal |
| Fiona Crackles | Collingwood | Bsc Sport and Exercise Science | Bronze medal (field hockey) at 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Tokyo |
| Jonathan Edwards | Van Mildert | BSc Physics | Gold medal (triple jump) at 2000 Olympics in Sydney; Silver medal in triple jump at 1996 Olympics in Atlanta |
| Angus Groom | Hatfield | BSc Natural Sciences | Silver medal (Quad sculls) at 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Tokyo |
| Sophie Hosking | Trevs | BSc Chemistry and Physics | Gold medal (lightweight double sculls) at 2012 Olympics in London |
| Stephen Rowbotham | Collingwood | BA Business Economics | Bronze medal (double sculls) at 2008 Olympics in Beijing |
| Lily van den Broecke | Castle | BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics | Gold medal (mixed coxed four) at the 2012 Summer Paralympics |

### Basketball players

* Mike Allison – basketball player for Gifu Swoops
* Monika Bosilj – Croatian basketball player
* Mollie Campbell – basketball player for Great Britain

### Cricketers

* Ajaz Akhtar – Cambridgeshire cricketer
* Paul Allott (Bede) – Lancashire and England cricketer
* Caroline Atkins (Hild Bede) – England cricketer
* Colin Atkinson (King's) – former Somerset cricket captain
* Jamie Atkinson (St Mary's) – Hong Kong cricket captain
* Steve Atkinson (Bede) – Durham, the Netherlands and Hong Kong cricketer (1970s)
* David Balcombe (Hild Bede) – Hampshire cricketer
* Jonathan Batty (St Chad's) — Surrey and Gloucestershire wicket-keeper and opening batsman
* Chaitanya Bishnoi (Hatfield) – Indian cricketer
* Mark Chilton (Grey) – former Lancashire captain
* Holly Colvin (St Mary's) – England cricketer; holds the record of being the youngest Test cricketer of either sex to play for England
* Nick Compton (Hatfield) – Middlesex and England batsman
* Matthew Creese – Middlesex (1999) and Durham UCCE (2002)
* Tim Curtis (Hatfield) – England cricketer
* Lee Daggett (John Snow) – Northamptonshire (2009–2013)
* Yasmin Daswani – Hong Kong women cricketer
* Peter Deakin (Hatfield) – Dorset (1999–2006) and Cambridge University (1996)
* Brian Evans (St Chad's) – Hertfordshire batsman
* Laurie Evans (St Mary's) – English cricketer
* Robert Ferley (Grey) – English cricketer
* James Foster (Collingwood) – Essex and England wicketkeeper
* Graeme Fowler (Bede) – former England and Lancashire cricketer; current coach of the MCC Centre of Excellence
* James Freeling, 7th Baronet (Castle) – represented MCC and Oxford University
* Cordelia Griffith – Middlesex Women batter
* Steve Henderson (Hatfield) – Worcestershire (1977–1981), Cambridge University (1982–1983) and Glamorgan (1983–1985) all-rounder
* Simon Hughes (Castle) – writer, cricket analyst and former Middlesex and Durham bowler
* Nasser Hussain (Hild Bede) – former captain of the England cricket team
* Ben Hutton – Middlesex batsman
* Thomas Jameson (Hatfield) – Warwickshire (1970) and Cambridge University (1970)
* Will Jefferson (Hild Bede) – former Essex country cricketer
* Douglas Lockhart – Scotland wicket-keeper
* Alex Loudon (Collingwood) – Warwickshire and England all-rounder
* Shan Masood - Pakistan Test cricketer
* Gehan Mendis (Bede) – Sussex and Lancashire cricketer
* Oliver Metcalfe – Munster Reds and Ireland A wicket-keeper
* Matt Milnes (Stephenson) – Kent seam bowler
* Gavin Moffat (Hatfield) – Cambridge University seam bowler
* Tim O'Gorman (St Chad's) – Derbyshire batsman (1987–1996)
* Ed Pollock (Collingwood) – Warwickshire batsman (2016–2021)
* Mia Rogers (Collingwood) – wicket-keeper for Berkshire Women and Sunrisers
* James Rowe (Hatfield) – Durham UCCE and Kent Cricket Board batsman (2002)
* Will Smith (Collingwood) – Durham batsman (2007–2013)
* Martin Speight (St Chad's) – former Durham County Cricket Club wicketkeeper
* Alexander Stead – Durham UCCE and Staffordshire cricketer
* Andrew Strauss (Hatfield) – former captain of the England Test cricket team
* Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson (Hatfield) – England fast bowler and Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1956)
* Freddie van den Bergh (Hatfield) – Surrey spin bowler
* Nathaniel Watkins (Hatfield) – Durham MCCU and Jersey cricketer
* Thomas Westley (Cuths) - England and Essex Cricketer, and Essex captain
* James Wilkes-Green (Hatfield) – Durham MCCU and Guernsey cricketer
* Robbie Williams (St Mary's) – Durham MCCU and Leicestershire fast bowler
* Matthew Windows (Hild Bede) – Gloucestershire cricketer

### Footballers

* Thomas Blyth (Armstrong) – centre forward for Newcastle United
* Eddy Brown – Coventry City and Birmingham City centre forward
* Warren Bradley (Hatfield) – Manchester United and England footballer
* Ana Cate – midfielder for Nicaragua women's team
* Oliver Gill (Cuths) – footballer for Manchester United Football Club
* Tommy Jackson – Aston Villa goalkeeper
* Michael King (St Aidan's) – former Burnley winger
* Rory Lonergan – Hong Kong FC left-back
* Matt Perrella – goalkeeper for Utica City FC
* Joe Shaw (Armstrong) – Hull City forward
* Molly-Mae Sharpe – Crystal Palace Women winger
* Jim Shoulder (Cuths) – Scarborough F.C. footballer
* Wouter Verstraaten (Grey) – South Shields defender
* Layla Young – footballer, Brighton & Hove Albion, Doncaster Belles and England

### Field Hockey players

* Jamie Cachia (St Mary's) – goalkeeper for Scotland national team
* Fiona Crackles (Collingwood) – represented Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics
* Steph Elliott (Collingwood) – defender for England women's team
* Tessa Howard (Castle) – midfielder for England women's team
* Ollie Payne (Josephine Butler) – represented Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics
* Sean Rowlands – represented Great Britain at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
* Rui Saldanha (Hatfield) – represented Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics
* Rhys Smith (St Mary's) – midfielder for England national team
* Jack Turner – forward for England national team
* Jack Waller (Hild Bede) – defender for England and Great Britain

### Rowers

* Simon Barr (Hatfield)
* Colin Barratt
* Roger Brown (Hild Bede)
* Andy Butt
* James Clarke (Cuths)
* Philippa Cross
* Suzie Ellis (Trevs)
* Angus Groom (Hatfield)
* Will Fletcher (Hild Bede)
* Alice Freeman (Hatfield)
* Lucinda Gooderham (Hild Bede)
* Wade Hall-Craggs (Grey)
* Naomi Hoogesteger (Hild Bede)
* David Hosking (Grey)
* Tracy Langlands (St Mary's)
* Ian Lawson (Cuths)
* Lindsey Maguire (Ustinov)
* Callum McBrierty (St John's)
* Malindi Myers
* Louisa Reeve (Hatfield)
* Matt Rossiter (Cuths)
* Peter Rudge (Van Mildert)
* Emily Taylor (Hatfield)
* Kim Thomas
* Lily van den Broecke (Castle)

### Rugby players

* Toby Allchurch (Hatfield) – participated in 1979 England rugby union tour of Japan, Fiji and Tonga
* Josh Beaumont (St. Aidan's) – Sale Sharks and England national rugby union team player
* Mark Bailey (Hild Bede) – former English national rugby union player, Professor of Later Medieval History at the University of East Anglia
* David Barnes – Bath prop
* Beth Blacklock (Stephenson and Hatfield) – centre, Harlequins Women and Scotland women's national team
* Richard Breakey (Hatfield) – Scotland rugby player
* Adam Brocklebank (Collingwood) – Newcastle Falcons prop
* Peter Browne (St John's) – Ulster Rugby lock/flanker
* Jeremy Campbell-Lamerton (Hatfield) – former Scottish rugby union lock
* Will Carling (Hatfield) – rugby union player for Harlequin F.C., former captain of the England national rugby union team (1988–1996)
* Fran Clough (Collingwood) – England rugby player
* Jon Dunbar – Scotland flanker
* Phil de Glanville (Castle) – former captain of the England national rugby union team
* P.J. Dixon (Grey) – Captain of England Rugby Union Team 1972; as an uncapped player, played in the Lions' first Test victories against New Zealand in 1971
* Maurice Fitzgerald – England A and Biarritz prop
* Coreen Grant (St John's) – centre, Saracens Women and Scotland women's national team
* Will Greenwood (Hatfield) – England rugby player
* Simon Hammersley – Sale Sharks fullback
* Charlie Hannaford (Hatfield) – England rugby player
* Fitz Harding (Hatfield) – Bristol Bears back row
* Duncan Hodge – Scotland full back
* Charlie Hodgson – England rugby player
* Ed Kalman (Hild Bede) – Scotland prop
* Heather Kerr (St Mary's) – represented England at 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup
* Peter Lillington (Hatfield) – participated in 1981 Scotland rugby union tour of New Zealand
* Stuart Legg (Hatfield) – former rugby union full-back for Newcastle Falcons and Treviso
* Claudia MacDonald (Josephine Butler) – England women scrum-half
* Alan Old – England international and British and Irish Lion, participated in 1974 South Africa tour
* Guy Pepper – Bath flanker
* Max Pepper (Collingwood) – Newcastle Falcons scrum-half
* Ollie Phillips (Van Mildert) – captained England sevens
* Sean Robinson – second row for Newcastle Falcons
* Marcus Rose (Hatfield) – England rugby union international full back
* Peter Rossborough (Bede) – former England rugby fullback
* Andy Mullins (Hatfield) – England rugby player
* Ben Stevenson – wing for Newcastle Falcons
* Tim Stimpson (Grey) – rugby union player and England international (1996–2002)
* Rob Vickers (Van Mildert) – Newcastle Falcons hooker
* Dave Walder (Hatfield) – rugby union footballer, fly-half for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars in Japan
* Peter Warfield (Hatfield) – England rugby player
* Ben Woods (Hatfield) – former rugby union player who played for Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers as an openside flanker

### Runners

* Mark Hudspith (Hatfield) – long-distance runner, 1994 Commonwealth Games medallist
* Colin Kirkham (Cuths) – marathon runner, competed at 1972 Summer Olympics
* Rahul Mehta (S. Mary's) – Indian long-distance runner, most famous for his victory in the 2001 Great North Run
* Jon Solly (Hatfield) – long-distance runner, 1986 Commonwealth Games champion

### Tennis players

* Mallory Cecil (St Mary's)
* Gabriela Knutson (Hatfield and Ustinov)
* Henry Patten (Collingwood)
* Romana Tabak
* Finn Tearney
* Julius Tverijonas
* Filip Veger

### Other sports people

* Peter Elleray (Collingwood) – Formula One and Le Mans Race Car designer
* Katharine Ford (Hatfield) – 4 times world-record holding Ultracyclist and the first ever Briton to ride for 12 Hours or more on an Indoor Velodrome and Static bicycle
* Shirin Gerami – first Iranian woman triathlete
* Michael Knighton (Cuths) – Chairman of Carlisle United F.C.
* Eli Schenkel (born 1992) - Canadian Olympic fencer
* Robert Swan (St Chad's) – Honorary Fellow of St Chad's, Explorer – the first person to reach both the South and North Pole on foot
* Jock Wishart (Bede) – set a new world record for circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel and organising the Polar Race

## Writers
### Authors

* Poppy Adams (Hatfield) – novelist
* Russell Ash (Cuths) – author of Top 10 of Everything
* Oliver Balch (Hatfield) - travel writer
* Simi Bedford – Nigerian novelist
* John Blackburn (King's) – thriller writer
* Edward Bradley (Castle) – novelist and clergyman known by the pen name Cuthbert M. Bede; author of The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green
* Bill Bryson – writer and former University Chancellor
* Barbara Cleverly – author of mystery novels
* William Farquhar Conton – Sierra Leonean author best known for The African
* Tim FitzHigham (St Chad's) – award-winning British comedian, author, and world record holder
* Stephen Davies (Collingwood) – children's author
* Mark Elliott (Collingwood) – travel writer
* Justin Hill (Cuths) – award-winning young author
* Lorna Hill (St Mary's) – children's writer, author of the Sadlers Wells series
* Khaled Khalifa – Banipal fellow at St Aidan's College
* Baret Magarian (Castle) – novelist and freelance journalist
* Allan Mallinson (St Chad's) – military historian and author of the Matthew Hervey novels
* Guy Mankowski – author
* Alice Oseman - novelist
* Katharine Preston (Hatfield) – author and public speaker
* Rosa Rankin-Gee (Hatfield) - novelist
* Ernest Raymond (Unattached) – novelist
* Mary Stewart (Hild) – novelist
* Patrick Tilley – science fiction author (The Amtrak Wars)
* Dan van der Vat (Cuths) – journalist, author
* Annabel Venning (Castle) – journalist, author
* Minette Walters (Trevs) – bestselling author and crime writer
* Peter Watson (Castle) – journalist, author
* Charles Gidley Wheeler – screenwriter (The Sandbaggers) and novelist

### Journalists

* George Arbuthnott – investigative journalist
* Tim Atkin (Castle) – wine correspondent
* Katy Balls (St Aidan's) – political editor of The Spectator
* Dominic Carman (Hatfield) – journalist and Liberal Democrat politician
* Benjamin Cook (Collingwood) – journalist and author
* Adrian Dannatt (St Chad's) – child actor, artist and journalist
* Hunter Davies (Castle) – journalist and author of The Beatles: The Only Authorised Biography
* Harold Evans (Castle) – journalist; former editor of The Sunday Times and The Times; author of The American Century
* Nigel Farndale (Grad Soc) – writer in the Sunday Telegraph
* Jonah Fisher (Collingwood) – BBC journalist
* Alexander Frater (Hatfield) – travel writer, journalist
* Tom Harwood (St Mary's) - journalist, political commentator
* Annabel Heseltine (St Mary's) – editor of School House Magazine
* Graham Hancock (Cuths) – co-editor of New Internationalist magazine, 1976–1979; East Africa correspondent of The Economist, 1981–1983
* Andrew Holgate (Cuths) – Literary Editor, The Sunday Times
* John Kay (Hatfield) – former chief reporter with The Sun
* Christopher Lamb – Rome correspondent for The Tablet
* Colin McDowell (Hatfield) – fashion writer and journalist
* Andrew Norfolk (Hild Bede) – chief investigative reporter for The Times, known for work exposing the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal
* Sebastian Payne (Van Mildert) – journalist
* Manveen Rana – reporter, Today Programme
* Jonathan Wilson (Grad Soc) – football journalist, founder and editor of The Blizzard

### Poets, dramatists and translators

* Richard Caddel – poet, publisher and editor
* Julia Copus (St Mary's) – poet, children's writer and biographer, winner of the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem and the National Poetry Competition
* James Kirkup (Grey) – travel writer, poet, novelist, playwright, translator, broadcaster, Hon. Fellow Grey College from 1992
* Liz Lefroy (St Mary's) – poet, winner of Roy Fisher prize (2011)
* Alan Plater (King's) – playwright and TV writer
* Tina Kover (Ustinov) – translator
* Rachel McCarthy (Castle) – poet, critic and broadcaster
* David Mercer (King's) – English playwright and dramatist
* Michael O'Neill – poet and academic

### Miscellaneous

* Dave Anderson (Collingwood) – cartoon and animation writer
* Lucy Beresford (Trevs) – writer, psychotherapist and media commentator
* John Galbraith Graham (St Chad's) – crossword compiler, "Araucaria" of The Guardian; Chaplain and tutor at St Chad's 1949–52
* Jack Edwards (St Cuthbert's) - YouTuber and author
* Joseph Stevenson (Castle) – English Catholic archivist

## Explorers

* Stephanie Solomonides, first Cypriot to reach both the North and South Poles

## Other notable people

* Stephen Bicknell (St Chad's) – leading British organ builder and lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music
* Patrick Carter, Baron Carter of Coles (Hatfield) – Chairman of Sport England (2002–06)
* E. C. B. Corlett – naval architect and consultant, pivotal in the restoration of the SS Great Britain
* Sarah Everard (St Cuthbert's) – marketing executive murdered by a Metropolitan Police officer on 4 March 2021
* Sir Terry Farrell (King's) – architect (the MI6 Building, Charing Cross railway station, KK100, Shenzhen)
* Harry Faulkner-Brown (King's) – architect, particularly known for his work on Jesmond Library and the Newcastle Metro
* Katharine Gun (St Mary's) – former translator for GCHQ and whistle-blower of information concerning USA activities in their push for the 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Dame Elisabeth Hoodless (King's) – Executive Director of Community Service Volunteers
* Jack Lynn (King's) – architect
* Ian McCafferty (Van Mildert) – member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee
* David Rock (King's) – architect RIBA President 1997-99
* Gordon Ryder (King's) – architect
* Thomas Sharp – town planner, academic in the School of Architecture at King's College 1937–1945, president of the Town Planning Institute
* Tim Smit (Hatfield) – horticulturalist and creator of the Eden Project
* Alison and Peter Smithson (King's) – pioneers of brutalist architecture
* Michael Spurr (St Chad's) – Director of Operations, HM Prison Service
* David Walton (Van Mildert) – economist, member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee
* Rupert Whitaker (Hild Bede) – founder and chairman of the Tuke Institute; co-founder of the Terence Higgins Trust
* Sir William Whitfield (King's) – architect
* Assistant Commissioner Robert Beckley (University) - Police Officer