University of York key facts, figures and messages

The University was opened in 1963.

The University of York exists for public good.

• Our University Strategy 2030 is based on four core principles: Environmental sustainability; collaboration across multidisciplinary boundaries; internationalisation; equality, diversity and inclusion. 
• Four strategic aims evolved from our principles, focusing our thinking and providing bold and distinctive paths of action. Curiosity-driven and action-oriented research; Providing an education that empowers; Local commitment on a global scale; Creating a community without limits.
• The University of York is an international community.

Internationally recognised 

• A member of the prestigious Russell Group, representing 24 leading UK universities, York maintains the highest research and academic standards.
• Through a dedication to collaboration, we partner with organisations across disciplines and continents to address the biggest scientific, social and environmental challenges of our time.
• One of only four UK universities to be rated both Gold for teaching and top ten for research in the latest national assessment exercises. (Joint 10th in the Times Higher Education ranking of the latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 and Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.)

A University of Sanctuary 

• York’s University of Sanctuary status reflects our culture of belonging. We seek to be a safe place for refugees, asylum seekers and other people who have been forced to migrate.
• We strive to make positive contributions to the development of a fairer and more sustainable world, and encourage our students to do the same.

Community 

• Athena Swan - Silver award at institutional level, plus 22 departmental awards, including four Golds, for supporting our commitment to gender equality.
• We have over 186,000 alumni across more than 195 countries (which includes our Europe Campus CITY U.L.E.).
• Total staff (headcount): 5,000+

Governance 

• We've successfully renewed our Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation, five years after we became the first university to receive this recognition in 2021.

Courses

• We have a range of courses across the three faculties of Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.

Community

• We have over 15,000 undergraduate students (HESA 2024/25).

Great teaching 

• Overall rating of Gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
• Winner of a 2025 National Teaching Fellowship for Professor Ruth Penfold-Mounce: Advance HE 

Employability 

We're in the top 30 most targeted universities by the UK’s leading graduate employers (High Fliers' The Graduate Market in 2026 report).

Our careers support is delivered in three layers: for everyone, for your subject, and tailored just for you.  

For everyone: Export careers services

• Find your career direction with the help of a dedicated team of careers advisors providing comprehensive information and opportunities. 

For your subject: Course connections 

• Find your specialism with course-specific support that ensures your learning is relevant to careers in your subject of interest. 

Just for you: Tailored support

• Find your unique guidance and get career-ready with specialist support tailored for international students, postgraduates and other groups. 

 

Funding 

• Students who have previously studied at the University could be eligible for a 10% loyalty discount. Available to International (including EU) and UK (home) students. (Exclusions apply). 
• Funding opportunities for Postgraduate taught are available. 
• Students may also be eligible for a Masters Loan through the UK government loans (gov.uk) to fund their studies. 

Research 

• York was ranked =10th for research excellence in Times Higher Education's most recent ranking of Research Excellence Framework (2021). 

Community 

• Join a community of over 4,800 postgraduate taught students (HESA 2024/25).

Quality of research

• York is a high-performing Russell Group university and one of the world’s premier institutions for inspirational and life-changing research. 
• York was ranked =10th for research excellence in Times Higher Education's most recent ranking of Research Excellence Framework (2021). 
• All of our subject areas are ranked in the top 30 in the UK, with four of our Departments positioned in the top five: Language and Linguistics (1st), Philosophy (2nd), Sociology (4th), Education (5th). 
• A further eight Departments are in the top 10: Archaeology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English and Related Literature, Health Sciences (including CHE, CRD and HYMS), History of Art and Psychology.

Research culture 

• We're nurturing a thriving research culture and community where diverse people, ideas, and approaches can flourish. 
• This community includes everyone involved in research and knowledge exchange, from students and academic staff to technicians and professional support.
• Through a dedication to collaboration, we partner with organisations across disciplines and continents to address the biggest scientific, social and environmental challenges of our time. 

Funding 

• Students may be eligible for UK government loans for research study. These include
• Doctoral loans (gov.uk) (for PhD)
• Masters loans (gov.uk) (for MA/MSc by research)
• There are a number of funded opportunities through the University. These are categorised by UK home funded students and International students. 

Graduate School 

• Established in 2015, the York Graduate Research School (YGRS) connects over 1,400 postgraduate researchers (PGRs) across all disciplines and brings together the support they need to make the most out of their research project.
• Alongside a postgraduate research student's (PGR's) School or Department, we help PGRs engage with York’s dynamic research environment. We offer high quality training, peer to peer support, professional development advice, and opportunities to engage others with their research. YGRS supports the entire postgraduate research community across the lifecycle of their research at York, from enrolment to completion for our PGRs undertaking PhDs or Masters by Research.

General facts

• The University of York is an international community.
• 120th in the world for International Outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026).

Student body

• 19% of entire student body from outside of UK (2025/26).
• 59% of our postgraduate students from outside UK (2025/26).
• 11% of our undergraduate students from outside UK (2025/26).

University of Sanctuary

• York’s University of Sanctuary status reflects a culture of belonging. We seek to be a safe place for refugees, asylum seekers and other people who have been forced to migrate.

The city of York

York is a thriving, friendly city, renowned for its rich history and heritage. 

• Regularly named one of the best places to live and visit in the UK, nearly 2,000-year-old York has so much to offer. 
• With iconic medieval streets and a thriving foodie scene and more attractions per square mile than anywhere else in the UK (Visit York (visityork.org)).
• York's history is inextricably linked to the wider world. The city has gone from a multicultural Roman settlement to the centre of Viking trade; from a key city of the Medieval church to a hub of the industrial revolution. Our heritage binds us to international networks, and we remain a popular destination for people from all over the world.

University campus

• Travel between campus and the city centre is easy by bus, bike or on foot. York is a great base from which to explore the wider region and beyond, with direct rail networks that connect the city with other major cities in the UK.

Distances by rail 

• London 2 hours 
• Leeds 40 mins
• Edinburgh 2 hrs 30 mins
• Manchester 1 hr 45 mins 
• Birmingham 2 hrs 30 mins 

From the city centre to the University (Campus West) 

• Taxi 10–20 mins
• Bus 15–30 mins 
• Bike 12–15 mins
• On foot 30–35 mins (eg. Market Square to Coppergate)

Community University of the Year (The Mail University Guide 2026), in celebration of our annual York Festival of Ideas. (August 2025 - August 2026). 

Our students

We have over 20,000 students from over 140 countries (checked January 2026). 

Student mobility

• We supported 555 international mobilities (study, work or complete research abroad) of one week or more in 2024/25.

International

• 19% of entire student body are from outside of UK (2025/26).
• 59% of our postgraduate students are from outside UK (2025/26).
• 11% of our undergraduate students are from outside UK (2025/26).

Visiting students

• We received 264 visiting students (142.5 FTE) from 31 countries in 2024/5.
• We received 623 students on 34 short courses from 21 partner universities through the Centre for Global Programmes in 2025/26.

Alumni 

• We have over 186,000 alumni from 195 countries (which includes our Europe Campus CITY U.L.E.).

Staff

• Total staff (headcount): 5,000+ (HR data).

Student activities

Over 300 sports clubs and societies for students to join. 

Through a dedication to collaboration, we partner with organisations across disciplines and continents to address the biggest scientific, social and environmental challenges of our time. 

We’re known for our inspirational research at York, and the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) places us in the top 10 institutions in the UK for research (based on the Times Higher Education ranking of REF 2021).

Our Research Strategy 2023-2030 lays out how we advance knowledge for the public good.

Our research partnerships include:

• The White Rose University Consortium - York is in the White Rose University Consortium, a strategic partnership with the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, through collaboration in research, teaching and knowledge exchange.
• Through BioYorkshire, we’re working with partners to make North Yorkshire the first carbon negative region in the UK.
• The Worldwide Universities Network - We are proud to be a founder member of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN). It's a partnership of 24 research-led universities with members in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America and North America, working together to promote research and teaching collaborations beyond the scope of an individual university.
• N8 research partnership - York is a member of the N8 Research Partnership, a collaboration of the eight most research intensive universities in the North of England.
• We're helping grow our region as a centre of excellence in the creative industries through the Digital Creativity Institute and CoSTAR Live Lab.
• The Institute for Safe Autonomy, our £45m centre, puts us at the forefront of research into safe robotics and autonomous systems.
• We've made a new home for essential research into mental health with the launch of the Institute of Mental Health Research at York.

Key figures - finance 

• Group research income: £107m (2024/25) - 2025-Annual-Report-and-Financial-Statements
• Group University Income: £555m (2024/25) - 2025-Annual-Report-and-Financial-Statements

Our courses

Our online and distance learning courses offer:

• Access to inspirational York academics
• Carefully curated courses, designed especially for distance learners
• A degree from a Russell Group university
• Research-led teaching
• Flexibility to study from anywhere.

Flexibility when studying online courses:

• Multiple start dates per year
• Eight-week modules
• The option to pay-per-module
• No need to travel to the University.

Student benefits 

As an online or distance learning student, students will still get access to some of the same benefits and support that they'd get while studying on campus.

• The Library provides a range of services for distance learners. Students can access University resources, use facilities at other university libraries, and get help and support from their Faculty Librarian. 

Online students

• York Online students use our learning management system, Canvas, to access module content and resources, submit work, and engage in discussions with tutors and other students.