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Eligibility and requesting a Student Buddy

The Student Buddying Scheme is aimed at new full-time undergraduate students who have Home Student fee status. You can request a Student Buddy once you have a confirmed place at University.

The Student Buddy Scheme request form will open on Monday 3 August 2026. 

You will then hear from your Student Buddy in early September, a few weeks before the start of the Semester. 

Eligibility

The Student Buddying Scheme is designed for students who belong to communities currently underrepresented at University.

You'll need to meet at least one of the criteria listed below in order to be able to request a Student Buddy: 

  • I will be 21 or over on my first day at university.
  • I am from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background.
  • I have a disability, impairment, health condition or specific learning difficulty (difference) that has a substantial and/or long-term impact on my ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
  • I have care experience.
  • I am estranged from both of my biological or adoptive parents.
  • I am a refugee or a student seeking asylum in the UK.
  • I am the first generation in my family to go to university.
  • I identify as LGBTQ+.
  • I will live at home and commute to university
  • I have children.
  • I have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member.
  • I am from a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen or Boater background.
  • I am from a priority neighbourhood - check your postcode.

You can check if you live in a priority neighbourhood by entering your full home postcode below.

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 student-buddy@york.ac.uk for help.

Sorry, you are not eligible to participate

Sorry it does not look like you live in one of our priority neighbourhoods, however, if you meet other criteria listed above you will still be eligible to request a Student Buddy.

You could be eligible to participate

You are eligible to request a Student Buddy based on the postcode you've provided which shows you live in a priority neighbourhood.

Sorry, there was a problem with the postcode checker service.

Please email student-buddy@york.ac.uk for help.

Opting out or changing your Buddy

If you are matched with a Student Buddy but later decide you no longer wish to be part of the Student Buddying Scheme please email student-buddy@york.ac.uk. 

It is absolutely fine to opt out of the scheme but please let us know so your Buddy doesn't continue trying to contact you. 

If you would like to change Student Buddy you can also email student-buddy@york.ac.uk and we will match you with a different Buddy.