Student life in York

Your time at University is a chance to develop your independence, to do more of what you love - and to find new things to love.

Read on to learn more of the basics about student life in York, and to discover opportunities to get involved and expand your experiences - here on campus and in the city of York.

The basics

In the event of an emergency call 999 for emergency services - or for Campus Safety call 01904 32 3333 or use the Safezone app.

Download the Safezone app

Other useful numbers - call 101 to speak to the Police when it's not an emergency, and call 111 for NHS advice.

Find your way around with our campus map and travel and transport information.

Campus map

Your college and the Reception Services team are here to help with anything from lost keys to wellbeing support.

Your Students' Union - The University of York Students' Union is the go-to place for everything that happens outside the lecture theatre. Join societies and sports teams, volunteer in the community, campaign on issues that matter to you, get confidential advice and guidance - and so much more.

Your University in your pocket

MyUoY is a mobile app specifically developed to support everyday life for University of York students. The app has lots of features to support your student experience. See our MyUoY app guide.

Download the My UoY app

Food and drink

Whatever your budget and whether you want to cook for yourself, grab something to eat on campus or go out for a meal, there are options available to you. You can even find places on campus to get hot water or heat up food you bring in from home.

Cafes, restaurants and bars on campus serve a wide range of snacks, sandwiches, salads, cooked meals, desserts and drinks throughout the day. Meals can be discounted through the Meals in Advance (MAD) scheme, which involves prepayment on a termly basis.
Find food preparation facilities on campus.
York Students’ Union also runs six different bars and cafes on campus. They each have their own distinct vibe and offer a huge range of food, drinks, and somewhere to socialise.
When you're cooking for yourself, you've got a choice of supermarkets, international food stores and markets in York.
If you want to go out, find places to eat and drink in York.

Five students sit around a table in a restaurant booth talking. There are drinks on the table in front of them.

Get involved

There are lots of ways for you to get involved in activities at University, and lots of benefits for you; you could make new friends, try different activities, support your community or improve your skills and build your CV. The opportunities available to you include:

Social - look out for events and activities organised by your college and the University of York Students Union. Join student-run societies and clubs, or meet people like you with Student Connect.
Representation - you can make a difference. Run in the Elections to be a Sabbatical Officer with the University of York Students’ Union, or run as a college rep. Join your department’s Board of Studies, become a Student Ambassador or apply to join the Student Expert Panel.
Academic - join your departmental societies, or learn about groundbreaking research happening here at York Talks.
Volunteering - options include volunteering in schools, helping to maintain green spaces, or being an advocate for older people.
Working - our Work, Volunteering and Careers team can help you find a part-time job, work on your CV and prepare for your career post-graduation.
Global opportunities - take advantage of the chance to work or study abroad, or take part in global opportunities on campus.
For international students - find opportunities tailored specifically for international students.

Two students play a video game at Freshers Fair. In the background, people are playing chess.

Sport and fitness

Indulge your passions or try something new. Whether you're a beginner, a skilled competitor, or a spectator, there is something for you. At York, sport is all about having fun, being social and giving everyone the opportunity to get involved. Our facilities include a competition-standard swimming pool, floodlit 3G football pitches, floodlit road cycle circuit, athletics stadium and 39 acres of grass playing fields.

We have more than 60 University sports clubs to choose from. Many also offer the chance to compete in BUCS (British University College Sport), representing York across the country against other universities - including the annual Roses tournament. Take your pick from skydiving, triathlon, sailing, American football, potholing, rowing and more.

You can also get involved with your college sports teams, and perhaps take part in College Varsity in which our best college teams play against Durham University.

If you just want to stay fit at your own pace in the fresh air, why not take part in the Heslington parkrun or try out the YorActive Trail, a 5km route with outdoor gym equipment along the way: YorActive Trail map (PDF , 1,582kb)

Students from the York and Lancaster teams take part in women's basketball at the annual Roses sporting event

Events

You'll find all sorts of events - from comedy nights to art exhibitions - taking place in and around campus throughout the year. You can even organise your own events!

Organise your own event

If you want to organise an event yourself, you have access to over 800 bookable spaces across campus, ranging from the smallest meeting room to Central Hall.

Room bookings and timetabling

Please complete the event management forms and follow the related guidance.

Student protest events

The University of York supports students to respectfully share, debate and challenge views and positions on a wide range of issues. We also have a responsibility to maintain a safe, effective, and welcoming environment for all our students, staff and visitors. See our Guide to student protest for some do's and don’ts around organising student protests on campus.

Two artists perform on a stage at Freshers' Festival