The college takes its name from the nineteenth-century Yorkshire physician John Snow, one of the founders of modern epidemiology.

[8] For the 2019-20 year, the college moved to Rushford Court in the centre of Durham, a privately operated hall on the site of the former County Hospital.

The rest of the blocks offer ensuite bathrooms and are divided into cluster flats housing 6-8 people.

By the main gates of the college, in between Bridle and Wardour, resides a replica of the water pump Snow removed the handle from.

[11] The college's motto is "Per scientiam et prudentiam quaere summam", which can be translated to "to seek the highest through knowledge and wisdom".

Consequently, there is no Middle Common Room (MCR), and the JCR instead has a Postgraduate Representative role as part of their executive committee.

[12] The JCR governs sports teams, student societies and arts groups, and organised other academic and recreational activities.

[16] John Snow holds termly formal dinners, in which members of the college attend in their relevant academic dress of Durham University.

Each year the college bugler processes the new intake of students through the city of Durham and announces their arrival at the cathedral, ready for Matriculation.

[citation needed] John Snow College fields teams in 16 sports: Men's Football, Women's Football, Men's Rugby, Women's Rugby, Basketball, Rowing, Lacrosse, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Tennis, Badminton, Cricket, Futsal, Squash, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, and Cheer.