DBS checks

We ask for a DBS check to make sure that you can work with children or vulnerable adults in a range of settings.

Once you have firmly accepted an offer of a place from York St John University, you will receive details from our Admissions team on how to complete the relevant DBS check. You cannot apply for this by yourself, you must wait for us to provide this.

We use an umbrella company called Due Diligence Checking (DDC) to oversee all our checks. 

For all courses where a DBS check is required, York St John will pay for this check.

If you pay into the DBS Update Service, we can access this to get an updated check. We will first need to see your original certificate and get your consent to access the update service. Please let us know if this is the case and we will send you the relevant details. 

If you have spent longer than 6 months outside of the UK in the last 5 years you will also need to get a Police Check (Statement of Good Conduct) to cover the time spent abroad. Please let us know and we will send you guidance on how to do this.

Further details on the DBS check, including the documents you will need, can be found on gov.uk.

If you have any questions, please contact Admissions on 01904 876 598 or dbs@yorksj.ac.uk.

How our process works

Submitting a consent form

When you have firmly accepted your offer from us, we will first send you a consent form to enable us to share your details with DDC. You will then receive a link and login details to the online application form.

We normally start this process at the start of May.

Providing ID

Once you have submitted the form you will need to provide 3 forms of ID for verification. We need to see this in person and we will provide you with details on how to do this. Your form will then be sent for the police checks to take place.

Getting your certificate

Once your checks are complete, you will get your DBS certificate by post. DDC will let us know when your certificate has been issued and if you have any previous offences. Without these details we will not be able to make your offer unconditional.

Please keep your certificate in a safe place. You may need to show it when you are on placement.

For Teacher Training (ITE) applicants only - We strongly advise that you join the DBS Update service once you have received your certificate, as this will help schools to check your certificate status throughout the duration of your course. However, this will be at a cost to yourself and so is ultimately your decision. The Government will send out information on how to join the Update Service when you receive your certificate. This needs to be completed directly with the Government DBS office and not DDC or York St John University.

How we manage the DBS process

You must, upon request, provide full details of any convictions. Applications from candidates with criminal convictions will be carefully considered. We retain the right to refuse entry to any applicant with a criminal conviction which may jeopardise the security, safety or reputation of the University or its community, or where there are relevant professional criteria which apply.

Details of how we manage the DBS procedures and consider applications with criminal convictions is set out in the University policy 'Admission of Students with Criminal Convictions'.

You can view this policy on our Admissions policies and documents page.