New students and arrivals
Before you arrive
- Check out the University welcome pages, including information on how to register and what to bring.
- Complete the Derwent pre-arrival survey. We will email your University account with the survey a few weeks before you arrive.
- Whether you are moving into catered or self-catered accommodation, you'll need to think about food for your first evening. Depending on when you arrive, our on-campus outlets may be closed, and if you are moving into catered accommodation, please be aware your meals will only be available on weekdays during the semester.
Your room number
Accommodation Services will email you in September with your room number and block/flat. If you have any accommodation queries, you should contact the Accommodation team.
- The letters at the start tell you which building the room is in
- The next letter is your block/court
- The number is your room number
- The first digit of your room number is your floor: (0 is Ground Floor, 1 is First Floor etc.)
For example: D/M/123 - Derwent, M Block, Room 123. EN/A/014 - Eden’s Court, House A, Room 014.
When to arrive
Your undergraduate arrival day is Saturday 16 September 2023. Accommodation Services will email your University of York email account with a link to the induction module and ask you to book a one-hour arrival slot.
If you are a postgraduate, you can arrive from the date on your room offer. Welcome activities and induction events will begin from Monday 11 September 2023.
Arrivals day
1. Getting here
Find travel information on the maps and parking web page. Once you arrive, this Derwent arrivals map will orient you to the locations mentioned below.
If you are arriving by car, please sign up for an arrival slot via your accommodation offer. This will help our college teams to manage the large number of students arriving on campus. As we have limited car parking spaces, we ask that you follow this process to help minimise congestion.
2. Meet STYCs and collect keys
- Undergraduates: Your goal on arrivals day is the check in at the info point outside the arrivals hall. Our Second and Third Year Contacts (STYCs) will greet you there and show you where to go. You’ll be able to identify them by their dark blue Derwent t-shirts. If you have any questions, just ask them!
- Postgraduates: You can simply report to Derwent reception where college staff and our Second and Third Year Contact volunteers will greet you and help you to move in.
Whether you're an undergraduate or postgraduate, please don't forget your photo ID, you'll need it to pick up your things!
3. Move into your room
Once you’ve picked up your essentials, a STYC will direct you to your Derwent accommodation.
If you travel by car, you’ll be directed to the car park or unloading bay nearest to your accommodation block, so that you can unload your belongings. To help ease congestion, please unload all of your luggage and then return your car to the car park before unpacking fully.
4. Say hi to your flatmates
When you’re satisfied with your unpacking and are happy with where things are, we suggest you say hi to your fellow flatmates. Your kitchen is often a good place to do so.
If you are an undergraduate, your flat’s STYCs will also be on hand to break the ice and provide information about the coming day’s schedule.
Keeping up to date
As we get closer to the start of the semester, we'll email you with information and advice on how to prepare. These emails will be sent to your University of York email account. Find any that you may have missed below.
Your first week
Throughout your first week, Derwent and our Students’ Unions coordinate a programme of welcome activities, led by our student committee, to welcome you to Derwent College, introduce you to your fellow Derwenters and set you on course for living university life to the full.
