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Year in Enterprise

Innovators at York

What is it?

The Year in Enterprise is a chance for you to get academic credit for having a go at starting your own business. You will remain registered as a student and will have access to a support package for the year to make sure you and your business get the most out of the year. If accepted on the programme you can start anytime from 1 July, provided you complete 9 months of experience before next June. 

Who is it for?

Any eligible undergraduate student currently in their final year of study is eligible to apply. For full details, see the FAQ section further down this page.

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What about my degree?

Your degree is unaffected by participation in the Year in Enterprise. The only change would be that you would graduate a year later with 'Year in Enterprise' added to your certificate. If you don't complete the Year in Enterprise, you would simply graduate with your existing degree a year later.

What support is on offer?

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  • A fee waiver of £1850. This can be a write-off of your fees for the year, or can be given as a cash grant

  • 9 business coaching sessions - these will be with a professional business coach and are designed to help you understand what your business priorities will be

  • Placement supervisor as a point of contact for any academic or welfare issues - they will help you make sure you are learning from the experience

  • Access to free workspace - York Science Park are offering free access to their new incubator, Phase One, where you will work alongside other student businesses and established startups

  • Access to networking events

  • Access to the University's Proof of Concept scheme

The Creative Immersive stream

In partnership with XR Stories and SIGN, we are pleased to announce a new offer as part of the Year in Enterprise. You can apply for the Creative Immersive Year in Enterprise, which will include further support including workspaces, access to specialist equipment and additional training sessions aimed at students looking to start business working within immersive industries. For further details please contact enterprise@york.ac.uk. 

FAQs

What does the application process look like?

The following application process is from the 2023/2024 cohort. Please note that the dates will likely be slightly different each year.

 2023/2024 Year In Enterprise Application Process

Who can apply to join the Year in Enterprise? 

Undergraduate students who are likely to pass their degree are welcome to apply.

Due to the nature of the programme, students must have the right to start a business and study in the UK in order to join. If you are uncertain, please contact the appropriate bodies to confirm your rights as per your visa, we will need confirmation in order for your application to be considered. 

How will I be assessed?

There will be one summative assessment in the form of a reflective essay at the end of the year. Throughout the year we will ask you for formative reflective blogs to make sure you're on track with your learning.

What about my student loan?

You will likely still be eligible for a maintenance loan to contribute towards living costs during your degree. You are also permitted to work part-time during the year. For more advice please visit the student finance pages.

I need some help setting my income for the Cash Flow Forecast part of the application. Any advice?

Setting an appropriate price for a good or service can be complicated. Should you be successful, this is something you can discuss with your business coach. For the purpose of the application, take some time to research your market, what consumers are willing to spend, how are competitors priced and what you would need to be profitable. Business.com has an article which may be a good starting point for you. 

This sounds great, but I'd like to find out more from current students, how can I hear from them? 

We'll be running an online event before applications open where you can hear about the application process, the programme and hear from our current delegates. Contact enterprise@york.ac.uk to book your place.

Any other questions?

This is a new opportunity for the University of York, so we expect you to have lots of questions - please don't hesitate to get in touch via enterprise@york.ac.uk

Applications for 2023 are now closed 

If you like the sound of the module and want to apply for the 2024 cohort, email enterprise@york.ac.uk and arrange an appointment to discuss your idea.