There are over 1,000 single-and-group study spaces across the University, with a variety of different environments to suit your study style. Below we’ve listed a few different suggestions for places to start when exploring which study styles work best for you.

The Library

The Library’s main buildings offer a blended approach for study space bookings, including dedicated spaces for postgraduates and students with children. You can reserve some spaces ahead of time, while others are available without booking on the day. 

All of the library sites are divided into zones for different studying styles, and different policies around food and noise, so you can find a space which suits you. 

Library study spaces

Around campus, there are also other library-style study areas located in Vanbrugh, the Ron Cooke Hub, and the Piazza building.

Buildings around campus

In addition to the Library, there are also many walk-up individual study areas in many of our building atriums, social areas or touch down study spaces. Examples of these include in the Ron Cooke Hub, Spring Lane Building atrium, and the Piazza Building on all floors.

The Humanities Research Centre (located in the Berrick Saul Building) offers dedicated study spaces for postgraduate arts and humanities students to work in, as well as bookable rooms for wider University students to study in. 

Speak to your department to find out more about potential spaces near you, or if you have any questions, email our room bookings team.

Individual room bookings

If you would like to book an individual meeting room for one person to study in, you can book spaces around campus using the Room Bookings System.

For more information about booking and using a room, see our student room booking guide.

Catering outlets

If you’d like to take a break, or to study with refreshments, you can find out the location and opening times for our catering outlets

Popular sites include the Library Cafe, Link Cafe, Roger Kirk Centre and more.

Other places to explore

  • College facilities - whether you live on campus or not, there are a variety of communal areas across colleges for you to explore. 
  • Kings Manor Library (city centre) - based in a Grade I listed building in York, the Kings Manor Library offers non-bookable desks across two floors, for individual study in a traditional library area.

Study facilities and equipment

  • Laptops and computers - If you need a computer for your work, see our list of locations of IT classrooms and study areas across campus. The Library also has laptops available for short-term and long-term loans
  • Refreshments - In addition to our catering outlets, you can also see what campus facilities are near where you are at any time using our interactive facilities map. For example, there may be water fountains or food preparation areas nearby.
  • Zoom pods - Individual ‘zoom pods’ (single spaces to take zoom calls or webinars privately) can be found within Derwent Reception, Ron Cooke Hub Atrium and Spring Lane Atrium. These do not need to be booked and can be used on the day. Additional pods may also be found in certain department buildings - speak to your department for more information.

Your wellbeing

However you prefer to study, it’s important you continue looking after yourself and your health around your studies.

Check out our health and wellbeing advice A-Z on topics such academic pressures, anxiety, exam stress, perfectionism, procrastination, sleep issues, and stress.