St John's College is one of the two recognised colleges of Durham University. The college was established in 1909 as a Church of England theological college and become a full constituent college of the university in 1919. The college consists of John's Hall for students studying on any university course and Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college in the open evangelical tradition. All Durham students reading for theology are automatically members of St John's. Started as a men's college, it was the first Church of England theological college to train men and women together and the first Durham college to become coeducational.

The Colleges of Durham University are residential colleges that are the primary source of accommodation and support services for undergraduates and postgraduates at Durham University, as well as providing a focus for social, cultural and sporting life for their members, and offering bursaries and scholarships to students. They also provide funding and/or accommodation for some of the research posts in the University. All students at the University are required to be members of one of the colleges.