Welcome Back Week 2025: what to expect
Posted on 10 January 2025
Welcome Back Week is a week of activities that take place after exams and before the start of Semester 2. It’s a chance for our community to come together, socialise, learn new things and enjoy everything the campus has to offer before teaching starts. It’s also a chance to welcome new students joining us in January.
Below is a list of some of the things you can get involved in, either within your college or across the University. You could take part in social events and college activities, or focus on your personal development.
Students' Union events
York SU has got your Welcome Back Week sorted.
Want some live music? Head to V-Fest (Mon 3 Feb)
Fancy a big night out? Join the Roman Raid (Tues 4 Feb)
Looking to meet new people and try new things? Come along to the Opportunities Fair (Thurs 6 Feb)
Building a career in sustainability or just exploring new hobbies? Attend the New Year, Same Planet Fair (Fri 7 Feb)
Finish the week with song and dance at Glitter (Sat 8 Feb)
Don’t miss the Day of Discounts on Friday 7 February - get a massive 25% off EVERYTHING across all York SU venues!
York SU Welcome Back Week 2025: What's on?
College events
Last year featured film nights, crafts events and sports activities as well as board games and quiz nights. Check with your college what your student committee has organised for Welcome Back Week.
Play and be creative
Tues 4 Feb: Digital Art drop-in, 2-4pm
Catch yourself doodling while you work? Why not bring that creativity to the Creativity Lab! Explore digital drawing tablets and iPads to try your hand at free drawing or creating relaxing collages. There’s no need to create a masterpiece - just enjoy a moment to unwind, doodle, and let your mind wander.
Thurs 6 Feb: Create Drawings in Virtual Reality drop-in, 1-3pm
Discover exciting new ways to express your ideas! Dive into 2D and 3D sketching within a virtual 360° environment. Using a VR headset, enter an immersive virtual world where you can sketch, plan, and create using drawing tools and simple 3D modeling techniques. No prior experience or drawing skills are necessary.
Creativity Lab drop-in sessions
Get organised
Wed 5 Feb: An introduction to useful digital tools available at York
An online session covering digital tools that you might find useful for organising information, keeping track of your notes, working collaboratively, and keeping up to date.Mon 10 Feb: Time management
An online session focusing on tips and tools for organising yourself to enable you to make the best use of your time.
Go global this year
Come along to our Summer Abroad information session on Wednesday 5 February to find out how to apply for opportunities to study, work and volunteer abroad during the summer vacation. Speak to Global Opportunities staff and discover more about our partner opportunities, as well as independent travel. Applications for Summer Exchanges open on 14 January and close on 14 February 2025.
Or go global in York..?
A new semester is a great time to start learning a new language or maybe brushing up on your skills if you have studied a language before. How about a short language course to familiarise yourself with Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or Ukrainian? Join a Languages For All information session on 21 January, 5 February or 13 February to find out more.
Want to study outside your department?
No matter what degree you are studying, you can learn a language as part of it with a York Language Elective in 2025/26. You can also explore options to study a sustainability York Interdisciplinary Module (YIM).
Applications for elective modules in languages and sustainability open on Monday 3 February. For more information on electives and how to apply, see our studying beyond your department page. Application deadline: Saturday 8 March 2025.
Look to the future
University life is about much more than just your degree and you can use Welcome Back Week to think about your achievements so far. Find out more about York Award - a reflective award that captures your personal and professional development within and outside your programme of study in a way that appeals to employers and future study providers.
Come to the Discover York Award session on 5 Feb
Thinking about postgraduate study?
Our Postgraduate Online Open Day on Wednesday 5 February is one of the easiest ways to see what postgraduate study at York is all about. Join online to speak to staff and chat to current postgraduate students.
And don't forget: there’s 10% discount on postgraduate courses for eligible York students!
Wellbeing support - this week and every week…
And a reminder that there are lots of people here and ready to listen all year round. If you ever have a question or are finding things difficult, it is important to know that you do not have to struggle alone - we can help you find support.
From the Student Hub to college support contacts, student wellbeing officers to our Sexual Violence Liaison Officers or the Open Door team - please, reach out.