Student life
We want you to have an unrivalled experience at York, so don't miss out on what's on offer. You'll make friends for life, discover new passions and learn invaluable skills that will set you up for a bright future. Discover why you'll love York.
Quick facts
Through the Students’ Union, we provide a high number of student societies, sports clubs, networks and volunteering projects, allowing you not just meet friends, but also to develop your skills beyond the classroom. York is quite unusual in that instead of having all our Students’ Union services under one roof, our venues are spread out across the beautiful campus. This just means that with more for you to explore, you will most definitely find your space at York!
University of York Students' Union President, 2022/23
Campus and city living
Our safe and inclusive campus environment and our student-friendly city provide everything you need to make the most of your university experience.
Our campus is set within 500 acres of award-winning parkland, with lakes, wetlands and landscaped gardens. It is home to an abundance of water birds, including ducks, geese, swans and herons. You’ll also notice other wildlife on campus, including hares, water voles, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, and, on rare occasions, otters!
Accommodation
Live at the heart of the action on campus. Choose from a range of room types for varying budgets.
College life
You’ll become a member of a small, distinct community - your home from home, whether you live on or off campus.
The city of York
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Food and drink on campus
Our campus is packed with interesting places to eat and drink, plus two supermarkets and a student-run shop.
Sustainability on campus
To achieve the extraordinary at university, you’ll need access to an exceptional and sustainable campus and its facilities.
- We're a Green Flag campus: since 2013, we’ve held the benchmark national standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the UK.
- We are 15th in the UK for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 Sustainable cities and communities (THE Impact Rankings, 2024). This recognises our research and internal approaches to sustainability, helping to make cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and more sustainable.
- We've saved over 1 million disposable cups from landfill through our YORCUP cup-lending scheme.
- The Environmental Sustainability Academy at York provides students with the opportunity to learn about, research and work on sustainability issues.
- Our annual Sustainability Week spotlights sustainability research and the practical steps that we can take for the future.
- We've received a gold award from Cycling UK for being a cycle-friendly campus and employer. York is also one of the UK's most cycle-friendly cities.
One thing I love about York is the fact that it's a campus uni, meaning that everything is so close together! Especially in the summer, it's so pretty, it literally feels like you're walking through a park when you're walking to your lectures.
George, BA Business of the Creative Industries. Watch George's vlog about his favourite places on campus.
Try something new
Make the most of your university experience. Trying new activities is a great way to meet people, have fun and develop your skills.
Student societies
York has over 200 student-led societies. Get involved, meet new people or even consider starting up your own society!
Sport and fitness
Choose from over 65 sports clubs, play for your college team, or stay active in our fitness centre.
Culture and entertainment
Whether you want to play, watch, listen or perform, there are lots of ways to enjoy culture on campus.
Study abroad
Broaden your horizons with a global experience at one of our partner universities.
Volunteering
Give something back to the community and boost your skill set through volunteering.
Learn a language
Prepare for an international placement, enhance your CV, or simply learn for fun.
Well-connected
Located in the North of England, York is easy to get to from anywhere in the world.
With great rail links and international airports nearby, you'll never be far from exploring other major UK cities or catching up with friends at other universities.
Getting around campus and the city
It's easy to get around our campus and we're close to the action in the city centre. Everything is within walking or cycling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Student voices
Who better to tell you about York life than our students. Look out for the student perspective throughout these pages, or hear directly from our students:
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Sport at york
Posted by Aayan on 15 January 2025 Hi folks! I’m Aayan, a first year student studying PPE. I’m gonna give you a little insight into what sports are like at York…
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My Netball Life at York
Posted by Lily on 15 January 2025 Hi, I’m Lily a third year PPE student who is involved (and LOVES) both college and uni netball. For those who aren’t aware, York…
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Not drinking? Not a problem!
Posted by Sikander on 8 October 2024 University can be a challenging time. Despite the seemingly endless amount of socials, loneliness is rife among students. Almost one in four students are…
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Where The Wild Roses Grow
Posted by Tanisha on 31 July 2024 Run by the University of York Students’ Union, the Roses tournament has a long history. Starting life as a boat race, today the contest…
Your support network
Our dedicated network of support services will help you to get the best from your time at York. Help is there if you need it, whether you’re studying online or on campus.
Get a head-start to a brighter future
Whatever you plan to do after you graduate, we can help you to stand out from the crowd. We offer a wealth of opportunities and advice which will support your career ambitions.
- Tap into our global employer and recruiter networks
- Take advantage of our graduate mentoring scheme
- Reap the benefits of our award-winning personal development, training and placement schemes.
Earn money and build your skills by becoming a Student Ambassador.
Cost of living
Knowing you have your finances under control means you can relax and enjoy your studies. To help you plan your budget before you get here, take a look at our living cost guides.