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Things to know this week - 12 February 2024

Posted on 12 February 2024

Welcome to your undergraduate student news summary of key things happening this week.

UoY community update

Help with finances

Have you checked whether you’re eligible for the Off Campus Rent Grant? The grant helps students currently in their second or subsequent years to get support towards their rent costs. We also have the Student Support Fund if you’re experiencing unexpected financial difficulty due to an unforeseen change in your circumstances. For more information, see our cost of living support for students.

Finalists: give us your feedback 

The National Student Survey (NSS) is now open to all final year undergraduates. It’s your opportunity to give fair and honest feedback on your experience throughout your time at York. Your comments are read at all levels of the University, letting us know what we’re getting right as well as areas for further improvement. Check your inbox for more information.

1. Complete the Success at York scavenger hunt!

What's important to you and what makes you thrive? How do you handle stress, mistakes and failure? Our Success at York Toolkit helps you work out your priorities and develop a plan. By taking quizzes, exploring a range of videos, podcasts and activities, you’ll soon understand more about what you want to achieve and feel more confident in facing some of the challenges of student life. And, this week, how better to display resilience than by taking part in a Success at York scavenger hunt! There is £100 worth of food and drink vouchers to be won.

2.  Success in… presenting with confidence

Embrace confidence and excel in your presentations and communication skills with the Academic Skills Community. Join our Confidence to Speak and Listen workshop series from 21 February to practise your skills in a supportive environment. Whether you're presenting or crafting an academic poster, we've got you covered. Forthcoming workshops will help you hone your skills in creating captivating posters or presenting posters or delve into our practical guide to academic posters.

3. Success in… being academically curious

Fancy working in a multi-disciplinary team to solve sustainability challenges as part of your degree? Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY) offers a suite of interdisciplinary modules for 2024/25 to students from all departments and schools (subject to timetabling constraints and department availability). Find out more about sustainability modules and studying beyond your department.

4. Success in… making a difference

This week we are celebrating National Student Volunteering Week on Instagram. Follow us as we share stories, school and charity volunteer opportunities and open nominations for the annual Student Volunteering Awards. 

Want to know more? Head to YUSU’s Get involved in volunteering online event today at 3pm (12 February) or go to the YUSU Volunteering Fair on Thursday (15 February) - there will be free sweet treats and hot chocolate! Or come and chat to us at our volunteering drop in, 2-3pm every Thursday in the Careers Building, and you could find out about how to get £500 to kickstart your community project.

5. Success in… speaking up

It's time for the 2024 Students' Union elections! This is your chance to decide on both the representatives of your Union and its future for the year ahead. Take a look at Students’ Union Elections 2024 for all things elections, from a timeline to information on sabbatical officers, candidate workshops, and more. Content will be updated as elections go on, so keep checking information on how to speak up, nominate yourself or recommend your friends, and cast your vote to make a change!

Offers, competitions and paid opportunities

Log on to Handshake, our careers platform, for jobs and opportunities.

Student news

Things to know this week is produced and distributed by the University's Internal Communications Team. Please email any feedback to university-internal-comms@york.ac.uk.