One of the country’s leading research universities, York has space to breathe on 500 acres of parkland at the main Campus West site and newer Campus East. The first students took up their books in 1963 on the outskirts of the historic city with Roman roots, dominated by the magnificent York Minster. Its collegiate structure is a rarity among UK universities — and a draw for undergraduates. With almost a quarter of its rooms catered — plus a weekly college meal as part of the deal in half of the accommodation — it is a strong contender for school leavers looking for academic stretch in a welcoming environment.
What is the University of York’s reputation?
York, a member of the Russell Group, the York Maastricht Partnership, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, has dropped to 20th, three places down on last year. It does take a top ten spot for research quality (9th), following superb results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), when 93 per cent of its work was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Results were best in language and linguistics; education; philosophy; and sociology.
The university’s reconfiguration of academic disciplines in 2022 created three schools for research and teaching: Business and Society; Arts and Creative Technologies; and Physics, Engineering and Technology. York’s ambition to be a university for public good is evident in its research themes and its strength in teaching is recognised with a gold rating overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). Assessors rated York gold for the student experience and silver for student outcomes.
York is two years into a semester structure. The academic year is divided into blocks: a week’s induction, then 11 weeks of teaching and four weeks of revision and assessments. The change was intended to better align with universities abroad and streamline student exchanges.
Feedback in the National Student Survey (NSS) hints at discontentment with the teaching on campus, however. In our latest NSS analysis, York has fallen outside the top 100 (105=) for satisfaction with teaching quality. It has slipped outside the upper half of UK universities for evaluations of the wider undergraduate experience (87=, down 23 places on last year).
Work on a £35 million student centre was paused for a minimum of three years in 2024, as the university took measures to reduce costs. The university’s £6 million deficit in 2024 is only a quarter the size of the shortfall reported in 2023 and Professor Charlie Jeffery, the vice-chancellor, suggested that York is now “less exposed than other universities”.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
York’s ecology degrees (BSc and MBiol) accepted their last intake in September 2025. York is introducing degrees in architecture; liberal arts with French, German, Italian or Spanish; law; accounting; business finance and management,and business and society.
From 2026 it will offer degrees in biodiversity, ecology and conservation; and medical engineering.
What are the University of York’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
York requires A*AA to BBC at A-level. Contextual offers reduce the requirements by up to two grades.
In a record year for demand, York attracted 32,650 applications for 2024 entry, and more than 5,500 undergraduates were accepted onto courses.About 11 per cent were international students.
What are the graduate prospects?
York was one of the first British universities to bring business onto campus. York’s Science Park houses 130 organisations ranging from start-ups to global enterprises across the creative, digital media, IT and bioscience sectors.
Students enter the York Strengths programme from the first year of their degree and learn early on to consider the skills they need. All disciplines offer placement years in industry and host organisations range from the Ministry of Justice to small digital, creative and charity organisations. Our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey shows such initiatives are paying off: more than four in five (82.7 per cent) graduates were in highly skilled jobs or further study 15 months after leaving — a top 25 result for York.
What is the University of York’s campus like?
The university has moved out of its city centre home in the historic King’s Manor (now leased by York St John’s University) to purpose-built facilities at Campus West and Campus East. Modern facilities such as the Church Lane Building are surrounded by lakes, wetlands and landscaped gardens and York has added flexible workspaces for the School for Business and Society and clinical skills facilities for the Hull York Medical School. The £45 million York Institute for Safe Autonomy opened in 2022 with a “living lab” to test innovations such as driverless car technology and robotics.
Colleges named after the LGBT rights champions Anne Lister and David Kato are among the latest additions at Campus East, where Langwith, Goodricke and Constantine colleges opened in 2022. There are more than 5,000 cycle parking spaces on campus, to help cut the 30-minute walking time to the city centre, as well as a free bus service.
When can I visit?
york.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of York’s student life and wellbeing support
More than 2,000 York students are signed up to the university’s sports system, which offers 65 clubs and the opportunity to take part regardless of ability or experience. For those with Olympic rowing potential, York has a British Rowing Start Centre and the university boathouse on the River Ouse is less than a mile and a half from campus. Students can also rocket around the only outdoor velodrome in Yorkshire, or a 1km cycling track. Both campuses have well equipped sports centres and there are 39 acres of playing fields at Campus West.
College music is strong and York is said to have a pub for every day of the year.
Talk Campus provides peer support in 26 languages online, and members of the Open Door Team of psychologists and student wellbeing officers are embedded in academic departments for mental health support. There is also a 24/7 phoneline staffed by clinicians.
A fine-free library helps to ease the financial burden, along with free period products and the occasional free college meal.
What do the students say?
“Community is key to what we do best. Knowing help is at hand — academically, financially, mentally – goes a long way to becoming independent. York for ever.”
Tanisha Jain, University of York students’ union sports officer
What about student accommodation at the University of York?
First-years who apply by the end of July are guaranteed a room.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of York?
The university was the first Russell Group member to sign the Social Mobility Pledge and its programmes continue to target left-behind communities. York ranks 95th in our social inclusion index.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of York
The York Bursary of £1,000 per year is paid to students with a household income below £35,000, and care leavers, estranged students and refugees are eligible for further support. A range of scholarships is offered by academic departments.
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