Our economic impact
Find out about the economic, social and cultural impact of the University.
As a major employer, we create prosperity and drive economic growth both locally and nationally. Our staff and students live and work in the local area and our expenditure supports a range of businesses and services.
We asked London Economics - one of Europe’s leading specialist economics and policy consultants - to examine some of these benefits in more detail.
The report estimates that the total economic impact of all our activities to the UK economy in 2016-17 was over £1.8 billion.
The report addresses the economic impact of teaching and learning; research and knowledge exchange; international students; and University and student expenditure.
Read the report in full: The economic, social and cultural impact of the University of York (PDF 
, 2,740kb)
This report not only highlights York’s global significance in research, but also the research benefits to local companies, small and medium sized enterprises, and its contribution to new start-ups and spin-outs.
With 17,500 students and 4,000 members of staff, the University expenditure is a significant injection of funds to the UK economy. The effect of this is particularly felt in the city of York and the wider region.
Professor Saul Tendler, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2015 to 2023)
Our total contribution
Economic values were calculated based on the impact of students entering the University in the academic year 2016/17 – both during their studies and in their expected longer-term impact post-graduation - and the impact of research and University expenditure during the 2016/17 academic year.
£487.9m
The impact of teaching and learning.
£537.1m
The impact of research.
£702.2m
Direct, indirect and induced impacts.
£93.1m
Export income generated by international students.
Teaching and learning
Higher education has a transformative effect not just on the student, the graduate, the teacher and the researcher, but also on wider society. The report measures employment, earnings and taxation receipts associated with a higher education qualification.
The Exchequer accrues some 52 per cent of the economic benefit associated with higher education qualification attainment. This figure includes the amount the government receives in additional taxes to be spent on public services including the NHS, education and welfare.
£487.9m
The total impact of teaching and learning.
£232.3m accrued by students
The earning potential of our 2016-17 students.
£255.6m accrued by the Exchequer
The impact of teaching and learning on public finances.
Research
With York receiving almost £90m in research funding in 2016/17, this means that every £1 invested in our research generates £6 for the UK economy.
In 2016-17 the total contribution of our research activity was over £537m.
£537.1m
To total impact of the York's research activity in 2016/17.
£89.1m
The University’s total research income.
£501.6m
The productivity 'spillovers' estimated for private companies in the UK.
International
International students provide a valuable source of export income which benefits the local and national economy.
The contribution from our international students includes £81.4 million from China, Asia and other non-EU countries.
£93.1m
The total income generated by international students.
£41.9m
Net tuition fee income.
£51.3m
Non-tuition fee income.
Regional
We support economic growth throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region by providing jobs and purchasing goods and services.
Of the £702.2m economic impact associated with the University and its students' expenditures, £603.5m occurred in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
£702.2m
The University's contribution to the local and wider economy.
£603.5m
of this total occurred in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
6,325
The number of jobs at the University, plus those supported in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
Community
There are a multitude of non-economic or societal benefits associated with education. During the course of the year we share our knowledge with the public by way of our award-winning Festival of Ideas, YorkTalks, and many public lectures and guest speaker events.
We conducted a survey among our alumni to assess these wider impacts on our students and society at large.
89%
indicated that their level of competency or ability to do their job had increased.
84%
of respondents believed that they were better prepared for their career.
94%
of respondents believed that their analytical skills had improved.