New students and arrivals

Before you arrive

  • Check out the welcome pages, including information on how to register and what to bring.
  • Complete the James pre-arrival survey. We will email your University account with the survey a few weeks before you arrive.
  • If you've decided to live off-campus or commute in, you’ll still be a member of a James College. See the local and commuting students page for extra help and support. Look out for a college email inviting you to a welcome event and orientation session.
  • Parent or supporter? Sign up to our talk for some reassurance and guidance.

Your room number

Accommodation services will email you your room code in September, which includes your room number and block. If you have any queries, get in touch with 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.)
  • If you're in house style blocks (A-F), the second digit is your house number (0 = House 1, 1 = House 2 etc)

For example: J/B/104 is B Block, House 1, First Floor, Room number 104. J/F/114 is F Block, House 2, First Floor, Room number 114.

When to arrive

Your undergraduate arrival day is Sunday 25 September.

We’ll email your University account to invite you to book a time slot once your room number has been confirmed.

Arrivals day

1. Getting here

You can find travel information on the maps, directions and parking web pages.

Car travel

The Campus South car park is next to James College. We recommend that you leave your luggage in your car until you’ve collected your key card and received your welcome information from our college team.

Learn more

Public transport

You will be dropped at the bus stop outside the Library, which is five minutes’ walk from the college.

Learn more

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.

Car parking process

2. Meet STYCs and collect keys

On arrival, you’ll be greeted by our Second and Third Year Contacts (STYCs), recognisable by their black James t-shirts. They’ll show you where to go and can answer any questions.

Your STYC will direct you to pick up your key card and student ID, and be greeted by our college staff. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID with you.

If you’ve booked an arrival time after 5pm, you should collect your keycard from the reception in the Roger Kirk Centre.

3. Move into your room

Once you have your key card, a STYC or STYM (student mentor) will take you to your accommodation. 

If you arrive by car, now’s the time to unload your belongings.

4. Say hi to your flatmates

Once you’ve sorted out your things and are starting to feel a little more at home, why not say hi to your flatmates once they’re done too? Your kitchen is the place to do so. 

Your flat’s STYMs will also be in touch to keep you updated on what will happen in the weeks ahead.

Keeping up to date

We’ll email you with information to help prepare you for the start of term. This will be sent to your University of York email account. If you miss any emails, you can find them below

Your first week

During the first week, James College and our Students’ Union will put on a programme of welcome activities, led by the student committees, to introduce you to the college, get to know your housemates and begin your new university adventure.

Join in at James