YorWay to York
YorWay to York supports students in Year 12 to reach their higher education goals, apply to the University of York and develop the skills and confidence to begin their university journey.
During 2020/21, our Access and Outreach programmes will be delivered virtually with some face-to-face events. We will be guided by government guidelines and University policy. We will work directly with programme participants and our school and college partners to keep you informed of progress.
Applications for YorWay to York are now open
How to apply
YorWay to York is open to Year 12 students in the Midlands, East of England, London, the South East and South West who want to explore their university options and learn more about the University of York.
YorWay to York is a widening participation programme for students who are underrepresented in higher education. YorWay students may also have experienced personal challenges which make accessing university more difficult.
Contact us
If you have any questions about YorWay to York please feel free to get in touch
Anita Magee
yorway@york.ac.uk
01904 32 3114
YorWay to York hub
Already part of the YorWay to York programme?
Log in to our online interactive hub to book events, take part in online activities and meet your student supporter.
YorWay to York - Live Q&As
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Ask your questions
You and your parents or supporters are invited to join us for a Live Q&A via our webpage on 9 February from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
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Much more than a place to live, you'll be part of your college community from day one.
Live in the north of England?
Next Step York is a personalised activity programme for Year 12 students in the north of England, providing an opportunity to explore university options and receive specialist support with their current studies. It is aimed at pupils who have the potential to progress to university but have experienced barriers that may prevent them from accessing higher education.
What’s involved?
Joining the YorWay to York programme gives you the opportunity to:
- attend events and activities created for you to experience university
- develop the skills and knowledge to support you in your current studies and transition to university study
- explore future careers
- meet other students like you
Hear from our students
By joining the YorWay to York programme, you’ll be welcomed as part of our friendly and supportive University of York community as a pre-entry student. This will give you the opportunity to experience what life and learning is really like at York.
Your Programme, YorWay
Your YorWay programme is designed by you. Every YorWay student is unique so we give you the freedom to personalise your programme. You’ll have your own student supporter who will help you design your own programme ‘road map’, answer your questions and check in with you throughout the programme.
Each activity or event is worth credits and you will be encouraged to build a complete programme of activities that totals 100 credits. A complete programme unlocks lots of additional benefits.
Every event or activity falls into one of our four ‘modules’ to ensure you always know what you will achieve by participating in it.
Please note, depending on the current Covid-19 situation, face-to-face events may be delivered virtually in line with public health advice if required.
Start thinking about your university course. Explore a range of degree subjects through immersive online sessions or courses, undertake an academic project, receive course consultancy appointments for tailored information and advice and meet staff and students from academic departments at York.
Get support with your current studies and help with upcoming exams, including revision and study skills sessions. Find out more about personal skills through wellbeing workshops. Develop ‘uni skills’ to get ahead preparing for, adjusting to and making the most of university life.
Get a real taste of university life with opportunities to visit campus and the city of York to find out what the journey to York is like for yourself! You might shadow current students, stay overnight on campus and attend lectures and societies by participating in one of our residentials. You’ll also have the opportunity to speak to our student mentors and ask them your questions. This module also provides support with your UCAS application and personal statement.
Explore your career options with an appointment with a careers advisor and through our virtual career insights programme. Take part in our work exposure opportunities, find out where our University of York graduates work and ask them your questions.
Key dates
| 21 October 2020 |
Applications open |
| 9 December 2020 |
Applications close for January launch point close |
| 20 January 2021 |
Virtual Launch 1 |
| 24 February 2021 |
Applications close for March Launch close |
| Late March 2021 |
Virtual Launch 2 |
| January to June 2021 |
Get stuck into activities across our four modules. With over 20 activities, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Each month will include opportunities from each module, open for you to register through the Yorway to York hub. |
| Summer 2021 |
Summer Residential
|
| August to September 2021 |
As you begin to make university applications and prepare for final exams, we will be here with online chats, activities and support sessions. |
| May to August 2022 |
YorJourney to York If you decide to apply to York and receive an alternative Widening Participation offer, you’ll move onto the YorJourney programme that will support your transition to university study here at York. |
How to apply
Online applications are now open.
We understand that Year 12 can be hectic and you might not be ready to start thinking about university straightaway. To give you the flexibility you need to match your own pace, we have two start points for the YorWay programme, January and March.
Application deadlines:
- January applications - 9 December 2020 at 9am
- March applications - 24 February 2021 at 9am
To complete the application form you will need:
- Your parent/guardian’s email address
- An email address for a member of staff from your sixth form/college
A parent or supporter and a member of staff from your sixth form or college will need to complete a short form to support your application to YorWay to York. This will be automatically emailed to them when you submit your completed application.
Participants who successfully complete the YorWay to York programme could be considered for a guaranteed interview or offer to study at York.
If you receive an offer to study at the University of York, you will receive two offers: the standard offer and the alternative Widening Participation alternative offer which is up to three grades below the standard offer published in our prospectus.
The alternative Widening Participation offer is conditional on the completion of our YorJourney programme, which comes with a whole host of additional benefits that will support your transition to university life.
New entrants to the University of York who successfully complete YorWay and YorJourney will be considered for a York Opportunity Scholarship. The York Opportunity Scholarship is worth £3,300 paid over three years (paid in instalments of £1,100 a year) and is funded by philanthropic donations to York Unlimited campaign.
If your household income is below £35,000, you could also be eligible for a Progression Bursary of £1,000 in your first year and the York Bursary which is up to £4,200 over three years.
To be eligible for the above benefits, you must:
- Meet the YorWay to York eligibility criteria
- Successfully complete the YorWay programme
- Submit an on-time UCAS application to study an undergraduate degree at University of York
- Meet the relevant subject requirements as outlined in the prospectus
- Receive an alternative Widening Participation offer
- Successfully complete the YorJourney module
- Achieve and enroll onto a confirmed place for study at the University of York.
Eligibility
Eligibility for YorWay to York depends on a number of factors. Our eligibility criteria allows us to allocate places where it will have the greatest impact.
Our selection process and criteria are based on research and guidance relevant to under-representation in higher education.
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When selecting participants for the YorWay to York programme, we will use the following criteria:
Part 1: You should have:
- Achieved 8 A*-C/9-4 grades at GCSE (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics*
- The potential to achieve BCC or above at A Level (or equivalent)
- Attended a state school at Key Stage 3 and 4
- Completed Key Stage 4 (GCSEs or equivalent) in a UK school or college**
Part 2: In addition, you should meet at least two of the following:
- You are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background ✝
- You have experience of Public Care ✝
- You are seeking asylum in the UK or have been granted refugee status ✝
- Your parent/s did not go to university or they went to university as a mature student during your secondary education
- You have a household income below £42,875 (priority will be given to applicants who were entitled to, or were in receipt of, free school meals or discretionary payments at school or sixth form)
- You live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education (check your postcode)
- You attended a school or college at key stage 4 or key stage 5 that achieved below the national average
- You have a disability or long term health condition
- You are from a military of service family
- You are estranged
- You are a young carer
✝ indicates our priority criteria. If you meet any of the criteria marked ✝, you do not need to meet any other criteria to be eligible for the YorWay to York programme.
Places on the YorWay to York programme will be limited. We will prioritise places based on our priority criteria (marked ✝) and the number of criteria met.
If we’re unable to accept you on YorWay to York, we’ll consider you for another Access and Outreach programme or activity, such as our York Experience Hub.
* We understand that grades alone do not reflect a person’s full potential. We will consider additional circumstances that adversely affected your personal life or education which impacted on your ability to achieve our GCSE criteria. Your school/college referee should reference this in support of your application. Please continue to submit an application or contact the YorWay to York team if you wish to discuss further.
** We understand circumstances may prevent some students from completing all of their Key Stage 4 studies in a UK school or college (particularly for pupils seeking asylum in the UK). We may be able to offer some flexibility on this criterion. Your school/college referee should reference this in support of your application. Please continue to submit an application or contact the YorWay to York team if you wish to discuss further.
Postcode checker
The postcode checker is used in order to assess whether you meet the YorWay to York criteria ‘lives in a neighbourhood with low participation to higher education.’
Invalid postcode.
We don’t recognise that as a UK postcode. Please enter a valid UK postcode.
Unrecognised postcode.
We don’t have that postcode on record, are you sure you entered it correctly? If it is correct, then please email nextstepyork@york.ac.uk for help.
Sorry, you are not eligible to participate
Based on the information you've provided, you do not live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education. Although you don't meet this eligibility criteria, you may still be eligible to take part in one of our Access and Outreach programmes.
Find out more about our Access and Outreach programmes (Pre-16 or Post-16) and their eligibility criteria to find out if you are eligible to apply.
You could be eligible to participate
Based on the information you've provided, you live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education. This means you meet one of the eligibility criteria for our Access and Outreach programmes.
Find out more about our Access and Outreach programmes (Pre-16 or Post-16) and their eligibility criteria to find out if you are eligible to apply.
Sorry, there was a problem with the postcode checker service.
Please email nextstepyork@york.ac.uk for help.
Contact us
If you have any questions about YorWay to York please feel free to get in touch
Anita Magee
yorway@york.ac.uk
01904 32 3114