Department of Politics and International Relations
- Politics and International Relations
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Widening Participation
Widening Participation
As a Department, Politics and International Relations are committed to ensuring that students from all socio-economic backgrounds can access study and thrive academically during their time at York.
The vision of the University’s founders in the 1960s was to create an institution that would deliver Oxbridge-level standards of teaching within an inclusive and non-hierarchical environment. We continue to be inspired by this vision and to work towards its achievement.
We currently monitor the educational background of our undergraduate students and benchmark this against other Russell Group institutions. More of our students have been educated in state schools than the Russell Group average.
Hardship Funds
Students can apply to the following hardship funds provided by the University if they find themselves in unexpected financial difficulties:
- University Hardship Fund for UK students
- International Students Hardship Fund for EU and international students
There is an assessment process, which asks for various pieces of evidence in support of the application.
Grants from the hardship funds do not need to be paid back.
Post-16 Widening Participation Schemes
The University of York offers a range of Widening Participation schemes to 16-18-year-old students. Current collaboration schemes and programmes include:
Thes schemes aim to encourage fair access and social mobility of students from under-represented groups. Eligible students do not pay for access and benefits of the schemes include:
- On-campus residential course
- Academic workshops
- Student life sessions
- Mentoring support
On completion of the Next Step York programmes, students will have the opportunity to complete a subject-focused academic assignment. This could be used as an alternative offer for entry to an undergraduate degree at the York which is equivalent to:
- Up to an equivalent of two A level grades below the normal offer
- 2 points below in the International Baccalaureate Diploma
- 1 grade below in a BTEC National Diploma
Students will need to make York their firm choice in order to access the alternative offer.
In addition to working with students aged 16-18, the University has a number of schemes to enthuse and inspire talented young people from all backgrounds about higher education.
Further Information
- University of York: Access and Participation Plan 2019/20
- The Sutton Trust is a foundation which improves social mobility in the UK through evidence-based programmes, research and policy advocacy. In particular, they have provided evidence that comprehensive school students with one-to-two grades lower A-level grades than privately educated pupils, actually perform equivalently at university.