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How to apply

Find out how to apply to the University of York as a Visiting Student, either on exchange from your home university or as an independent student.

Start your application for 2025/26

All you need to do is submit an online application. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

Apply for an undergraduate course

Apply for a postgraduate course

Am I eligible to apply?

If you are applying to be a Visiting Student (either on exchange from your home university or independently to us) at York, you must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be a fully registered student at your home university at the time of the proposed study at York
  • be in good academic standing and have achieved/be on track to achieve the equivalent of 3:4 GPA at your home university

If you are applying to be a Visiting Student at York via an exchange at your home institution, you must also:

  • be a fully registered student at a university which is an official exchange partner of the University of York
  • contact your home university to find out their eligibility criteria for the programme before you apply to be a Visiting Student at the University of York

Find out about our department-specific academic requirements

Before you apply checklist

1. Consider your module course options

Find out what you can study.

2. Check that you meet our entry requirements

Find out about our academic requirements and our undergraduate and postgraduate English language requirements. 

3. Choose when you would like to study at York

Our academic year is split into two semesters:

  • Semester 1: 15 September 2025 to 30 January 2026
  • Semester 2:  2 February 2026 to 5 June 2026

Before you submit your application, please check the dates you wish to study with us are available in your chosen department.

Postgraduate research students can apply throughout the year. Please select the date you wish to start when submitting your application. This will be confirmed with your department at the point of making an offer.

4. Get your supporting documents ready

You must provide the following supporting documents* along with your application:

  • Academic transcript from your home university 
  • English language certificate (if applicable)
  • Postgraduate research students only: name and email address of two academic referees or letters of recommendation from your home university 

Some departments may ask you to submit additional supporting materials with your application. Find out more about departmental requirements. It's important to submit all supporting documents with your application. We cannot consider your application until these have been received.

If you're a postgraduate research student, make sure you tell your academic referees that we'll be contacting them. Download this letter to send to your referees: 

If you have any questions, please email visiting-students@york.ac.uk.

*Please note, all supporting documents must be accompanied by official translated copies if not originally in English.

Visa requirements

If you are an international student, you may need to apply for a visa in order to study at York. Learn more about visas and immigration.

Application timeline

Applications open
  • Monday 3 March 2025 — applications open for Semester 1 entry
  • Monday 1 September 2025 — applications open for Semester 2 entry
Deadline to apply
  • Wednesday 30 April 2025 — applications close for Semester 1 entry
  • Thursday 30 October 2025 — applications close for Semester 2 entry
Offer of a place from us

You will receive a decision from us approximately four weeks after we have received your application and supporting documents.

Invitation to enrol
  • Semester 1 entrants will be invited to enrol in late July 2025 or early August 2025
  • Semester 2 entrants will be invited to enrol in early December 2025
Accommodation offer
  • Semester 1 entrants will be offered accommodation in late July 2025 or early August 2025
  • Semester 2 entrants will be offered accommodation in early December 2025

You will be offered accommodation which is either on or near to our campus. 

Module registration

Our departments register Visiting Students onto modules in three ways:

  1. during your application
  2. after you have enrolled
  3. during week one of your first semester at York

Please check your department's page for more details.