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 2022 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.
YorWay to York is open to Year 12 students in Cheshire and the Wirral, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the Midlands, the 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.
Live in the North of England? Take a look at the Next Step York programme.
Contact us
If you have any questions about YorWay to York please feel free to get in touch
Anita Magee
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.
Did you know...
...that 38% of students at the University of York come from more than 152 miles away? That's further than Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham.
Find out how Sifa, a second year Natural Sciences student who moved over 200 miles away from home to study at York, created a family-like support network at university.
Much more than a place to live, you'll be part of your college community from day one.
What’s involved?
Your YorWay programme is designed by you, we give you the freedom to personalise your programme. You’ll be able to choose from a range of online or in person activities and you’ll receive support from our current University of York students throughout the programme to help you choose your activities and answer your questions.
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
You’ll be able to choose from activities across four modules. Each activity or event is worth credits and you will be encouraged to build a complete programme of activities that totals 100 credits in Year 1 of the programme. Earning 100 credits in Year 1 will unlock lots of additional benefits.
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 taster sessions or undertake an academic project.
Get ahead by developing your skills. Find out more about personal skills through our wellbeing workshops and develop ‘uni skills’ to prepare for making the most of university life.
Get a real taste of university life with opportunities to visit campus and the city of York! Complete our online course, speak with student mentors, stay on campus during our residential and learn more about student societies to gain a deeper insight into what York is really like.
Explore career options across the country with our online tool and learn more about careers through our virtual insights programme.
Key dates
|
Year 1 October 2021 to February 2022 |
Applications remain open until places on the programme are filled. See the application form for application deadlines. |
| January 2022 |
Launch 1 for participants accepted before Christmas. |
| March 2022 |
Launch 2 for participants accepted after Christmas. |
| 24 February 2021 |
Applications close for March Launch close |
| February 2022 to July 2022 |
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. Our Campus Conference will also take place in March. |
| July 2022 |
Summer Residential Encompassing all four branches, our summer residential experience is planned to take place virtually and on the University of York campus. |
|
Year 2 September 2022 to January 2023 |
YorApplication Module We’re here to support you through the process of applying to university and preparing for your final exams. |
| February to April 2023 |
YorChoices Module Receive support on the important decisions. From choosing where to study, to applying for Student Finance - we are here to help. |
| May to August 2023 |
YorJourney Module If you decide to apply to York and receive an alternative Widening Participation offer, you will move onto the YorJourney module which will support your transition to university study here at York. |
Benefits of completing YorWay to York
If you:
- Meet the YorWay to York eligibility criteria
- Successfully earn 100 credits in Year 1 of the programme
- Submit an on-time UCAS application to study an undergraduate degree at the University of York
- Meet the relevant subject requirements as outlined in the prospectus
You can unlock access to a range of additional benefits
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.
If you are made an alternative widening participation offer, you must successfully complete the YorJourney transition support module to use this.
To be eligible for financial support you must 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.
.jpg)
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.
* 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