
York Experience Summer School (YESS)
Our immersive summer school gives Year 12 / Level 3 Year 1 students the opportunity to experience the academic and social side of university life.
Applications for the York Experience Summer School will not open in the 2023/24 academic year.
What is YESS?
Our York Experience Summer School gives you the chance to:
- experience the social and academic sides of uni
- make friends with peers and meet current uni students
- discover all the support on offer at York.
You'll stay for four days and three nights on campus, learning what to expect from uni life, with evening activities, support at York sessions and more. You'll meet current students who can answer any burning questions about studying at York. And afterwards, we'll support you through Year 13 / Level 3 Year 2.
YESS is completely free. We cover your transport, food and materials.
Benefits of completing YESS
An unforgettable, brilliant experience. Thank you for allowing me to participate!
If you successfully complete all elements of the programme, you could be considered for a reduced offer (or interview, for subjects that interview) to study at the University of York.
If you are made an offer at the University of York, your offer could be reduced by up to three grades compared to a standard offer.
If you're applying to study at Hull York Medical School, see the contextual offers section on their Entry requirements page.
To retain your alternative offer, you'll need to complete our short transition programme, YorJourney, which runs for four weeks in the summer before you enrol at York. YorJourney is designed to support your transition to York.
As the first in my family to go to uni, YESS gave me confidence to take this next step.
How to apply
Applications for YESS have now closed.
You should meet all the essential criteria:
- Achieved eight A* to C, or 9 to 4, grades at GCSE (or equivalent), including English Language and Mathematics*
- Have completed Key Stage 4 in a UK state school/college
- Have potential to achieve BCC at A level (or equivalent)
- Currently attend a UK state school or college
You should also meet two or more of the additional criteria:
- Entitled to, or were in receipt of, free school meals or discretionary payments at school/college✝
- Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen or Boater background✝
- Seeking asylum in the UK, or granted Refugee status✝
- Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background✝
- Experience of Public Care✝
- Parent/s didn't go to university, or went as a mature student during your secondary education
- Live in a neighbourhood with low progression rate to uni
- School/college achieved below the national average
- Have a disability or long-term health condition
- Household income below £42,875
- From a military or service family
- Estranged from parent/s
- Young carer
✝ indicates priority criteria. If you meet any criteria marked ✝, you don't need any others to be eligible. Places are limited, given based on priority criteria and number of criteria met.
*We understand grades alone don't reflect your potential. We consider other circumstances that impacted your ability to achieve our GCSE criteria. Your school/college referee should reference this in your application. To discuss further, please continue to submit an application, or contact the team.
Guaranteed and priority places
We guarantee places for students who've taken part in Black Access or Realising Opportunities (Uni of York cohort).
Places guaranteed subject to the completion, on time, of the student, supporter and school-coordinator application forms.
We prioritise places for students who've taken part in:
- Realising Opportunities (all UK participants)
- The Social Mobility Foundation
- The Elephant Group
- Roots to Success
- Shine
Postcode checker
You can check if you live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education by entering your full home postcode below.
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