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Universities in York

Which universities are in York? Discover more about each uni and their facilities, as well as the transport and attractions in the city.

CONTENTS

  1. Why study in York?

  2. About York

  3. University of York 

  4. York St John University

  5. Living in York

  6. Entry requirements 

  7. Transport links 

  8. Getting around York

  9. Things to do in York

Why study in York?

If you like to be surrounded by history with the comforts of modern life while being close to rolling countryside, York could be the city for you.  

About York

York is in the beautiful county of Yorkshire in the north of England. The city is close to areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors national parks. Further afield but still within reach is the Lake District.

Voted the 5th friendliest city in the UK, York is a welcoming and enjoyable place to live. It’s also blessed with medieval architecture, cobbled streets and Victorian tearooms for a quintessentially British experience.

The University of York

A member of the Russell Group, the University of York values research and offers a vast array of subjects. Undergraduate courses rate highly in many of our subject tables, including for Archaeology, French and Social Work. Students also gain useful work skills from internships, volunteering and study-abroad opportunities. It's a popular choice: over 20,000 students from across the world make the university their home.

Location 

The campus is in the south east of the city, a short bus or cycle ride away from the centre. There are actually two sites – Campus West and Campus East. Both have green spaces, lakes and modern buildings. Plus lots of wildlife, including ducks: a statue commemorates Long Boi, the most famous of these. Regular bus services run throughout the city and there’s free travel between Campus West, East and nearby residential stops.

Facilities 

The uni has an award-winning library service as well as access to specialist libraries at York Minster and King’s Manor. There are good sports facilities on campus including two swimming pools. Social spaces include bars, cafes, restaurants as well as a campus theatre and gallery.

See the University of York profile page for an interactive map and more information.

York St John University

To the north of the city centre you'll find York's other university. York St John offers a mix of modern facilities and Victorian architecture. The university puts great emphasis on the employability prospects of its students on graduating. It offers placements on most courses, or you could volunteer with a local charity or on an international project.

Location 

The university campus is near the centre, just outside the old city walls. Clustered in a small area, it's easy to get from lectures or labs to the library (Fountains Learning Centre) or Students' Union. It's around a one mile walk from the main train station.

Facilities

The Fountains Learning Centre gives 24/7 access to a range of resources, including IT and language labs. You don't have to go far to find food and drink, with a cafe in the library, plus others on site.  Keeping fit won't be a problem, with a sports hall and gym for students to use. There are also 60+ sports clubs and societies to get involved with.

See the York St John University profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Living in York

York is a safe and charming city, famous for its rich history and impressive architecture. Both universities offer a range of housing options but most first year students choose to live in student halls of residence.

Depending on your budget, you might get the choice of an en-suite room or shared facilities. At the University of York, you can live in catered halls, which includes breakfast and dinner in the price of your rent. Or you may prefer to live in a studio apartment or private rental. 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course. The best way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our course chooser. There you can see what each course’s entry requirements are.

Transport links

Average train journey times from York

Birmingham 2 hours 20 mins
Cardiff   4 hours 25 mins
London 2 hours 10 mins
Manchester 1 hour 30 mins
Bristol  3 hours 40 mins
Glasgow 3 hours 40 mins

Getting around York

York is a small and mainly flat city which makes it easy to get around on foot, or by bike, bus or car.

If you're travelling to the city from further afield, Leeds Bradford is the nearest airport. Manchester Airport is also within easy reach, with a direct train between the airport and York.

Walk

Walking around York is one of the best ways to soak up the history and scenery. Plus, lots of the city streets are fully pedestrianised, making it easy and safe to explore on foot. If you want to walk further afield, the nearby Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales offer great hiking trails.  

Cycle

York is a bike-friendly city with dedicated cycle lanes, off-road cycle paths and flat roads. You can even cycle from the University of York campus to the city centre in just seven minutes.

Bus

York has an extensive bus network connecting you to nearby towns and attractions. A regular bus service runs from the city centre to the University of York making it quick and easy to get to and from campus.

Train

From York you can easily travel by train to other major UK cities, such as Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. You can even get from York to London in a little over two hours. Regular trains also run to nearby town such as Whitby, Selby or Wetherby.

Things to do in York

Despite its small size, York is packed with things to see and do no matter how you choose to spend your free time. From cinemas and comedy to castles and cafes, there’s plenty to keep you busy while studying in York.

Art, history and culture

York is steeped in history, with every inch of the city revealing something about its past. Surrounded by medieval walls and gothic buildings, you'll see and feel York’s heritage when walking the cobbled streets. York Minster is an impressive cathedral in the city centre, and one of the city's most popular attractions.

York is the UK’s only UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. As such, it promotes the creative economy. You'll find contemporary and historic art galleries, fascinating museums and diverse music venues. Wander into the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the experience will transport you back to Viking life in the city. 

The city also comes alive with annual street parties, festivals, food markets and trade shows, which makes it a fun and exciting place to be.

Food and drink

From Oreo brownies to Yorkshire pudding wraps and vegan fried chicken, York is the ultimate foodie’s paradise. Whether you prefer street food or fine dining, tapas or Indian, there’s something for everyone. Shambles Market is a great place for a tasty lunchtime treat, serving multi-coloured salads, curries in a box and Thai food.

While many of the pubs in York date back to the 17th century, there are also many modern bars with impressive cocktail menus and extensive wine lists. Popular spots include Sotano, an underground candle-lit bar serving tapas. Or go to Valhalla, a Viking-inspired pub for mead, meat and cheese.

Nightlife

York offers a great and safe night out. For such a compact city, it has a huge number of pubs and bars to choose from. The city used to have 365, one for each day of the year! You'll find student nights at a variety of venues during the week, with regular night buses to and from campus.

The biggest nightclub in York is Kuda, a three-floor venue in the old York Institute building on Clifford Street. Other clubs include Popworld, serving up pop classics and cheap drinks most nights, and Flares York for cheesy tunes and a colourful dancefloor.

Outdoors

While the city offers lots to enjoy, don't miss out on the scenic countryside nearby. There's an endless supply of day trips to nearby attractions such as the Yorkshire Dales, where you’ll see valleys, wildlife and quaint villages. You can get there by car in just over an hour. Or catch the train to Skipton or Harrogate on the edge of the Dales and enjoy the views on the journey.

One of the UK’s most famous landscapes, the Lake District, is just a two-hour car journey from York. If you can drive, you could consider hiring a car for a group of friends to make your own way there. The universities may also organise trips themselves. Here you’ll see rugged mountains and pristine lakes.

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