Before you arrive in York
If you are considering moving your family to York so that you can study here, it is important that first you make sure the University is the right place for you to continue your studies. You should find out as much as you can about studying at York and also about the City of York.
If you are an international student, our information on applying for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including details of entry requirements and foundation pathways, will help you if you decide to go ahead and apply for a place at the University of York.
Fees and funding
International students should think very carefully about fees and funding before committing to a place at the University.
UK/ EU students should also consider the fees and funding relating to their chosen course.
You will need to consider fees and funding alongside any other income your family has and taking into account your family's outgoings.
If you have children, regardless of whether you are over 25, you will be assessed as an independent student for financial support. Students with children are sometimes eligible for extra financial support so it is also important you look into this.
Details of typical costs for family accommodation and the on campus nursery can be found on the living costs webpage.
Accommodation
You need to decide whether you and your family wish to apply for accommodation on campus or find private accommodation in York.
These options are explained in more detail on the Accommodation page.
If you are travelling to York from overseas, you are strongly advised not to bring your family with you, or to make arrangements for them to travel, unless you are absolutely certain that they will have somewhere to live. It is much better for them to join you at a later date.
There is very limited family accommodation available on campus and, in accordance with how the University allocates family accommodation, it is very rarely allocated to EU and UK students.
Schools and childcare
The Schools and Childcare page of our website provides important information that you should consider before arriving in York, including details on:
- The school system in the UK
- Schools in York
- Applying for a school place
- Childcare for children aged 0 – 5 years
Getting in touch with other families
The Family Network exists to help students with children and their spouses to meet, socialise, share information and advice, and have fun!
Anyone at the University of York with children (home students, international students, undergraduates, postgraduates, members of staff) is welcome to get involved with the Network.
If there is anything you would like to know before you apply to York or arrive in the City, you can ask the Family Network through their Family Network Facebook page or email familynetwork@yorkgsa.org.
We would also encourage you to apply for a Student Buddy. A Student Buddy is a second or third year student who will share their own experiences with you and be on hand (either in person or over email) with friendly advice. Feedback from the past five years has shown that students with children have particularly benefited from having a Student Buddy. If you wish you can request that your Buddy has experience of juggling University with family life.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of questions frequently asked by international students with children before, or shortly after, they arrive in York. It is likely that you will be wondering about many of these things yourself so please take time to read through the Frequently Asked Questions.