Living and learning
Join a thriving graduate community with everything you need to make the most of your time here. Our beautiful, green campus offers outstanding study spaces, university accommodation, cafés, a health centre, a nursery, sports facilities and an extensive library.
More than 16,000 students representing 150+ countries
Nearly 4,000 staff committed to proving an outstanding student experience
A dedicated student support team
A beautiful green campus within walking distance of the city centre
Outstanding facilities
- Some of our recent investments include state-of-the art teaching and research buildings, and facilities for our Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Environment
- Our 24/7 library includes dedicated postgraduate areas and over 1,200 study places with flexible options for single or group study, in quiet areas or social learning spaces
- Our extensive library collections are housed in locations on campus and in the city centre. Also, the British Library Document Supply Centre (bl.uk) at Boston Spa is just 15 miles from York
- On campus, our stunning new facilities at the Ron Cooke Hub include 24-hour access to study desks, pods and a collaborative study space.
Campus life
Our main campus is divided into two areas - Campus East and Campus West - and is located just outside the city centre. In the heart of the city, we have two historic locations: King's Manor and the Guildhall. Getting around is easy on foot or by bike, and you can also use fast and frequent bus services. It's free to travel between Campus East and West and you can currently get a day of unlimited travel around York for £3.20.
Entertainment and culture
On campus, there is a choice of concerts, films and plays, and you can join one of our many student societies. You might also be interested in our Open Lecture series and TED-style YorkTalks event. You can also keep fit and healthy while you study in our flagship sport and fitness facilities.
Your home at York
Accommodation
We offer an excellent range of accommodation for postgraduates, on or close to campus. Our graduate-only college, Wentworth, is a centre of postgraduate activity on Campus West. We also offer postgraduate accommodation in our other colleges across campus. There is also a wide selection of private sector housing available within walking distance of the University.
City life
York city centre is just a stone's throw away from our beautiful campus. Explore the winding medieval streets, museums, cosy pubs and cafes, and of course, the iconic York Minster using the self-guided tour app.
York is my home far away from home, it feels really peaceful to me. I can walk back from the train station to my apartment at night feeling perfectly safe. The famous tourist sites in the city appeal to people from all over the world and you'll meet people from lots of other countries through University activities, which promote a sense of belonging.
Robson, MA Public Administration and Public Policy
Students with families
York is one of the UK’s safest cities, with excellent amenities and a great range of schools, including four schools within walking distance of campus. The city offers a variety of childcare options and there is also a campus nursery and an on-campus health centre.
If you're a parent you can get involved with the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Family Network, which can help you meet other students with children.
Graduate community
We're one of a handful of universities in the UK with both a graduate students' union and a college system, making it easier for you to meet new people and make friends.
Colleges
Our graduate-only college, Wentworth, provides a base for postgraduate students with dedicated social spaces on campus and Wentworth Online, an online community for our distance learners.
Graduate Students' Association
Our student-led Graduate Students' Association (GSA) will help support and represent you. They run a varied programme of activities and networking events each year, including a Postgraduate Welcome Week - one of the largest in the UK!
They also provide the Postgraduate Community Fund which helps students set up and fund their own community event or project to enhance postgraduate student life at York.
- GSA Masters Network (facebook.com)
- Official GSA Facebook Page (facebook.com).
Our international community
International students form an integral part of our campus community, with nearly half of our postgraduate students coming from overseas. We’re committed to ensuring you receive the very best support from the moment you inquire about studying with us, right through to the end of your course and beyond.
Sustainability
Sustainability is key to our values at York. We generate heat and electricity on campus, and source renewable resources from the National Grid. Our annual One Planet Week celebrates sustainability research and work that we complete at the University.
Your support network
We offer a network of support services designed to give you easy access to help and advice if you need it.
This range of support includes an academic supervisor, health services, and specialist advisers who you can talk to about housing, finances, childcare, and your health and wellbeing.
York is a lovely, peaceful and pretty place to live. When the Sunday Times awarded York as the best city to live in in 2018, I was so proud of it and have never regretted choosing York as my home in the UK. The historical city walls, the Viking-oriented atmosphere inside the Jorvik Museum and the grand ambience and architecture of York Minster are my top highlights of the city.
Gracia, postgraduate Politics student