Collingwood was founded in 1972 as the first purpose-built mixed-sex college in Durham. It now has over 550 bed spaces, and approximately 1000 students allocated to it. Not all students live inside the college during their time at university - all students in their first year and the majority of those in their final year are allocated a place.
Although Durham colleges are not used for teaching purposes, the college is equipped with a moderate library, music practice rooms and public computing facilities. Other welfare and entertainment facilities exist, including a bar, student-run shop, communal area and various provisions for sports.
Being one of the newest colleges in Durham has led to the facility being frequently used for conference trade with external organisation. The money from such conferences is designed to be put back into the colleges to allow improvements, but perhaps unsurprisingly some argue that the need to please conference guests can lead to a conflict of interest.
As with all colleges in Durham, the students organise and democratise themselves by creating and running a body known as the Junior Common Room, or more commonly JCR. All students of the college are JCR members unless they specifically request otherwise. The JCR is a constituent member of the Durham Students' Union which in turn is a constituent member of the National Union of Students. Thus, all student members of Collingwood are NUS members as well.