Frequently asked questions

Usually our YorkCourse students are a mixture of undergraduate (BA) and postgraduate (MA) students based in Norway. You do not have to be studying on an English programme in Norway to apply for the YorkCourse. We welcome students from any other appropriate academic background (including History, Languages, Linguistics, Literature, PPE, and Social Studies). We also welcome qualified teachers and others who meet the basic entrance requirements. The prerequisites for admission are available here. 

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible to apply, please contact the director, Prof. Knut Øystein Høvik (nsc-director@york.ac.uk).

Currently the three modules offered each semester are each worth 10 ECTS credits each (30 in total) and are taught at the undergraduate/BA and postgraduate/MA levels simultaneously. Assessment expectations and grading practices do, of course, differ between BA and MA level students.

As the YorkCourse is taught entirely in English there is a language proficiency requirement for study. You should have either a 4 or higher in English from your VGS or have passed a language test approved by the University of York. Documentation demonstrating this proficiency will be required for admission. 

If you are an undergraduate/BA student, it is possible to stay for a whole year by taking both of our YorkCourse programmes as the modules each semester are different. If you are a postgraduate/MA student, this is not normally possible due to the requirements of your home institution.

Any undergraduate student who applies for one semester and then later decides that they wish to stay for a second semester, may apply for a second semester whilst in York.

Please note, however, that staying in York for longer than six months will mean that you will need to apply for a student visa. You can find more information about this here.

If you are a Norwegian citizen studying in the UK for six months or less then the answer is no, you can study on the YorkCourse without a visa. You must, however, have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, as you would for any other short-term visit. The same is true if you are a citizen of any of the other nations eligible for the ETA. 

If you are studying in the UK for over six months (i.e., if you are spending an entire academic year studying with us at York), or if you are not eligible for an ETA, then you will need to get a student visa. Paying a surcharge for use of the NHS is also necessary as part of the student visa application process. 

It is possible to apply for at student visa from within the UK, so if you are already studying on the YorkCourse and wish to stay for an additional semester then this is normally possible to arrange but please let the director (nsc-director@york.ac.uk) know as soon as possible.

For more information, please also feel free to consult the University of York's guidance on whether you need a visa to study at York.

Yes - after all it's better to be safe than sorry. If you are studying with us on an ETA (on a Short Course or the YorkCourse) then this is particularly important because free access to the NHS is not included with a valid ETA. 

You will be given full details of who to contact and how to contact them when you are in York. However, health care is provided by the National Health Service (NHS) urgent care centre at York District Hospital and various chemists, dentists and opticians in York. For healthcare you do not have to pay to see the doctor if you have an Europeisk helsetrygdkort, but you will need to pay for medicines prescribed and this should not be seen as catch-all alternative to full health cover provided by travel insurance. You should note that there are long waiting lists for free dentists and unless it is an emergency or you are prepared to pay for private treatment, it is unlikely that you will be seen.

You can also access urgent health advice through the NHS 111 service by dialling 111 from UK landlines and mobile phones (but not for non-UK phones) or using NHS 111 online.  Many local pharmacies can also give advice and treat common illnesses with medicines over the counter, without prescription, or go to the York NHS Urgent Care Centre which is located at the York Hospital next to the Emergency Department.  The Care Centre is open 24/7. The care centre can deal with a range of minor injuries and ailments that require urgent attention or advice. There is no need for an appointment or registration – just turn up and wait.  

In an emergency call 999 for an Ambulance or go straight to the York Hospital Emergency Department.

For the most up-to-date details please see the University of York's Health Care guidance.

If relatives or friends need to contact you and do not speak English, they can speak to the Director, who is available via email (nsc-director@york.ac.uk) and phone (+447591509216 / +4792460183).

If you are in the UK on an ETA then you cannot work (paid or unpaid) for a UK company or as a self-employed person during your time in the UK. 

If you are in the UK on a student visa then you are entitled to work (paid and unpaid) so long as the wording on your visa does not prohibit this. There are, however, restrictions on the amount and kind of work you are able to do as a visiting student.

For more information, please consult the University of York's guidance on working in the UK during your studies. 

Bringing your family/children/partner to York whilst studying on the YorkCourse is likely possible but is increasingly complicated in a post-Brexit environment. Please email the director (nsc-director@york.ac.uk) for further advice and support if you are considering this option. 

For all teaching, all students should come to Quantum House. To find the locations on campus please click here.

The University of York has Eduroam-provided WiFi access around the university campus - including the NSC - and the city centre. You can use this with a University of York computing account (YorkCourse Students) or your account from your home institution (if they are signed up to Eduroam). If you do not have eduroam, you can connect to CityConnect for free at the University and in the City Centre.

The British train system is complex and confusing, with multiple service operators and types of tickets. In the system flexibility is generally expensive (although if you opt for inflexible travel arrangements, it can also be expensive if flight delays, for example, mean you miss your train).

You may save money on train fares by:

1. travelling off-peak (normally after the 9am rush hour, although definitions can differ (particularly with trains into or out of London))
2. booking ahead on "Advance Single" tickets, which are only applicable to the train you specified and offer no flexibility
3. specifying the times/trains on which you’ll travel, rather than opting for an "open return"
4. using a split ticketing app, such as "TrainSplit", which can reduce the cost of a fare by splitting your journey into tickets for different sections (often on the same train)
5. using a railcard (for YorkCourse and master's students, various restrictions apply to each type) 

MoneySavingExpert offers a guide here.