Working in Heslington Hall

The aim of the HRC is to create a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment for staff and postgraduates in the arts and humanities Schools/Departments, as well as communities, partners and organisations beyond the University with which we collaborate. We organise and host a wide variety of research events.

These include:

• postgraduate forums
• reading groups
• seminars
• workshops
• research training and development events
• poetry readings
• performances
• public lectures
• conferences and symposia

The HRC also provides work space and dedicated support for Arts and Humanities postgraduate research students.

Postgraduate Study Areas

The lower ground floor of Heslington Hall contains a variety of study areas for all Arts and Humanities PGRs (MRes, Phil, PhD). All desks are equipped with either a PC or a docking monitor. As well as individual desks, there are multiple spaces designed for group working, meetings, and taking private calls (including Zoom pods).

On the wall by each room, you will find an information sheet that describes the type of working zone (silent, quiet, or studious buzz), who can use the space, and the ground rules for each room. Zone information:

Silent Working Zone

• No talking or music (even through headphones)
• No food
• Bottled water is allowed.
• HB/22 (South Wing) and H/B49.b (North Wing) are silent working zones with PCs

Quiet Working Zone

• Quiet conversations are allowed
• No group work
• Food and drink is allowed

Studious Buzz Zone

• Group work is allowed (room capacity does vary)
• Furniture can be moved around
• Food and drink is allowed

To request access to Heslington Hall, you must complete this Google form. You will then be able to open the doors using your University student ID card. Within this form, you will be prompted to read the Fire Evacuation Plan for Heslington Hall. You will also be asked whether you would like access to the bicycle store.

The lower ground floor is split up into the 'south wing' and the 'north wing'. All individual desks within the south wing are hot desks. We encourage you to book these in advance using the University of York's desk booking system. 

All individual desks within the north wing are allocated to specific users. You can view the list of desks on the desk booking system, but if you want to apply for an allocated desk, you must do so through this Google form. Desks will be reallocated at the beginning of each semester. PGRs will be sent instructions on how to reapply for an allocated desk at the end of each semester.

• Map of Heslington Hall Lower Ground Floor

Wider facilities in Heslington Hall

• Social/eating space open to PGT and PGR students.
• Communal breakout spaces open to all building users.
• Bookable team project room available to all building users.
• Wellbeing room available to all building users.
• Gallery space curated by History of Art, including rotating exhibition space for Faculty research projects, open to everyone including the general public.

Help for academic visitors

The HRC offers a lively and dynamic interdisciplinary research environment for both short and long-term research visitors from all over the world. Dedicated working space will be available for visitors, please just ask your academic department. Visitors are warmly invited to participate in the many events the HRC hosts and organises.

If you wish to come to York as an academic visitor, you should first contact the academic department or interdisciplinary centre with which you would like to be associated. If your application is accepted, you will then be offered desk space in the department or in Heslington Hall, according to your preference and availability of space.