Sustainability, Environment & Economic Development Field School

SEEDS@York is a two week intensive introduction to the field skills most critical for building a sustainable future.

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Russell Group University

Experience studying at a leading UK university, rated both gold for teaching and top 10 for research.

Consistently high ranking

In the UK, and one of just six post-war universities to have appeared in the world top 100.

University of the Year shortlisted

Shortlisted for the prestigious University of the Year award by the Times Higher Education (THE) in 2023.

SEEDs Students will join the University of York’s community of researchers to gather, analyse, and develop solutions to environmental, ecological, economic and archaeological evidence in the field - gaining hands-on experience conducting field surveys, mapping changes through time with geographical information systems, and navigating diverse stakeholder interests.

Programme dates

6-18 June

Course details

Sustainability is an interdisciplinary challenge, yet, most university programmes require you to pick a field of study, and it isn’t always clear what skills are best for creating a better future. Researchers at the University of York tackle this problem by working across fields of study, through a solution-oriented approach of evidence and action that inspires transformation, moves governments, creates green businesses and fosters societal change.

SEEDS is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the living history of a mediaeval city and gain hands-on training in building a sustainable future. You will receive intensive interdisciplinary training, learning to gather the historic and archaeological evidence that can reshape landscapes, map contemporary human and physical geographies that aid sustainable development, assess and value environmental resources and ecosystems, and navigate the pressing concerns of stakeholders and how to design sustainable enterprises. As part of each hands-on training session, you’ll gain skills in field survey, historical cartography/GIS, environmental assessment, ecological modelling, environmental valuation and stakeholder analysis. You’ll also learn how to communicate your insights across disciplines, and learn how to assemble teams with the skills necessary to address contemporary sustainability challenges.

Over the two weeks, you will collaboratively tackle one of four UN Sustainable Development Goals: sustainable cities (SDG 11), life on land (SDG 15), climate action (SDG 13), or decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). You will then assemble historical evidence from York and its surrounding areas to develop future-oriented solutions to your chosen challenge, and present your work to key stakeholders. Along the way, you’ll learn about York’s unique deep history, visiting key sites of past transformation within the city as well as its surrounding historical landscapes, and the city’s aspirations to combat our most pressing sustainability challenges.

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What are the academic requirements to apply?

SEEDS@York is open to undergraduates or recent post-graduates with interests in environmental challenges from across the globe.

What level of English do I need to join?

English fluency is required.

How do I apply?

Register your interest for 2027

After you have submitted the application form, please allow five working days for your application to be assessed.

What happens after I apply?

We aim to inform applicants of the outcome of their application within five working days.

If your application is successful, you will receive an Offer Letter by email. This letter confirms the programme and academic option you have selected, the start and end date, and the payment deadline. In order to accept your place on the programme, you will be asked to pay the programme fee in full via the University’s online store by the indicated deadline. Please refer to the terms and conditions regarding payment.

Please allow at least three working days for our team to confirm receipt of your payment and documents. On confirmation of your place, you will receive an Acceptance Letter by email.

Please note, your place on the programme is not confirmed until payment has been received.

Study and Skills

10 full days of intensive training, including hands-on experience building sessions and seminar-based discussion
Designed and delivered by world-renowned experts in multi-disciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges.
Engagement with stakeholders in the City of York, the North York Moors National Park, and the scenic coastal village of Whitby
Combine academic study with real-world experiences!

Culture and Free Time

You’ll spend time in historic York, the coastal city of Whitby, and in the beautiful North York Moors. You’ll also visit well known sites of landscape transformation, like Levisham Village, Byland Abbey, and York Central.

Sample Timetable

Week 1		Week 2
Day 1	Team Building; Definitions of Sustainability; Mapping & qualitative surveys - City Centre	Day 8	Coastal erosion, sea-level rise & climate change - Whitby.
Day 2	‘Rewilding’; Agro-ecology and biodiversity Surveys - North York Moors	Day 9	Ecological Economics, Valuing Ecosystem Services, and Stakeholder Trade-offs - Campus
Day 3	Mapping historic York; GIS & R - Campus	Day 10	Science communication & policy briefs - Campus
Day 4	York Central and/or National Rail Museum; Industrial legacies, material flows, circular economy - City Centre	Day 11	Project development; Presentation Preparation - Campus
Day 5	Team project development - Campus	Day 12	Presentation; Presentation Event - Campus
Day 6 & 7 Free

Assessment and Certificate

A personal learning log to track and reflect on progress.
A video research project to apply skills in a practical, creative way.

Upon successful completion, participants receive a University of York Certificate of Completion, recognising their achievements and providing a valuable addition to their academic portfolio. Students who have completed the course will qualify for a 10% York Graduate Loyalty Discount at the University of York.

Academic credit

Students may be eligible to receive academic credit from their home university for completing the course. Credit arrangements vary between universities, so students should contact their home university directly to confirm whether the course can contribute towards their academic credit requirements. Please note that the University of York does not award academic credit for completion of this course.

Programme fees

Early Bird (31st of March) £875

Tuition fee per session £995

Accommodation and catering

If you book accommodation with us, you will be staying in a single room with shared bathroom (usually one bathroom per 5 to 6 students) in one of our 11 colleges situated on our wonderful parkland campus. Your fellow students will be staying in the same accommodation block, but you will have the privacy of your own room.

Each accommodation block has a shared kitchen and you will be provided with basic kitchen equipment on arrival. There is a small supermarket on campus as well as a variety of food outlets and cafés.

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Getting to the University of York

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the University, including any necessary visas or immigration permissions.

If you need to apply for a passport or renew/replace your passport, you should begin this process as soon as possible after you have been accepted onto the programme.

We advise that you do not start to make travel arrangements until you have received your Acceptance Letter and the programme is confirmed. We also strongly advise that you invest in a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers cancellations, personal possessions and healthcare. Please see our terms and conditions for more details.

Do I need a visa?

If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, you may need immigration permission to enter the UK and take part in the programme.

Overseas students who will be studying in the UK for 6 months or less can do so on a Standard Visitor Visa and this will likely be the most appropriate route for most of our students.

You can check if you need a visa and how to apply at the UK Visas and Immigration website. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct immigration permissions to participate in the programme.

If you need a visa, you should apply after your place on the programme has been confirmed and you have received a Letter of Acceptance. Your Letter of Acceptance will include your passport number so please make sure this is valid and correct.

Terms and conditions

https://www.york.ac.uk/global-summer/terms-conditions/

Register your interest for 2027