How we talk about York St John University

Fair access to degree education including scholarships and funding 

The University is in the top 10 UK universities for giving equal access to students from all backgrounds (Higher Education Policy Institute Analysis, 2018).

Scholarships

The University has developed scholarships for students who:

• Are from low income families
• Are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds
• Are carers
• Have parents or guardians who died serving their country in the Armed Forces
• Are seeking asylum or with Limited Leave to Remain in the UK

Contextual offers

We make contextual offers for our courses. This means we look at academic potential alongside factors that prove to be barriers preventing students from attending university, such as:

• Age
• Disability
• Whether they have spent time in care
• Relative performance of the school they have attended

We believe the context in which a person was brought up should have no influence on their career prospects. By considering offers contextually, we are helping to contribute positively to social mobility. 

Championing equality and social justice issues 

• The York St John University Institute for Social Justice was launched in 2020 to support the University’s mission 'to stand up for social justice'.
• The University is signed up to the Purpose Coalition to improve social mobility and remove barriers which unfairly stop individuals from fulfilling their potential.
• In 2020, York St John University was commended in a report by Rt Hon. Justine Greening for our work to improve access to higher education.
• York St John University is proud to hold the Social Enterprise Gold Mark. This internationally recognised accreditation provides an independent guarantee that the University is operating as a genuine social enterprise, committed to creating positive social change. 

Inclusive and welcoming community  

We work proactively to create an environment that is friendly, inclusive and supportive for all our staff and students. Our Widening Participation team offers dedicated advice and guidance to all our student communities.  

• We are the lead institution in Future Higher York, which aims to reduce the gap in higher education participation between the most and least represented groups.
• We are involved in Roots to Success, a collaboration between local businesses and education providers which focuses on interventions in years 9 to 11 to raise aspirations amongst underrepresented groups.
• Our Early Start scheme has been running since 2012 and supports students who disclose that they are on the Autistic Spectrum.
• We are one of only a few UK universities to be a Top 20 Trans Employers list for 2020 by LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall.
• We are committed to continually improving diversity among our student body and staff workforce. We are working towards the Advance HE's Race Equality Charter and the Athena SWAN Charter Bronze Award.
• We have strong staff network groups that ensure colleagues from different backgrounds can benefit from mutual support and effect change. 

Striving for a sustainable campus

York St John University is an eco-conscious university. Some of the ways we are working to achieve this are:

• We were the first university in the UK to purchase most of our energy direct from renewable sources.
• We have reduced our carbon footprint by 48.9% over the last 15 years.
• We are proud that in the past few years we have planted over 1,000 trees on our sites.
• None of our waste has gone to landfill since 2016. 
• York St John University achieved gold certification as part of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Scheme in 2023.

Academic support and student services help students to achieve ambitions

All students have access to study support services and resources. These include:

• Study development tutorials
• Academic library liaison services
• Digital training
• Assistive technology support
• English language support for international students

For students who are dyslexic or have a specific learning difference (SpLD) there is plenty of support available. This includes specific Learning Support Plans.

We have an experienced Wellbeing and welfare support team who can offer confidential support. This support ranges from practical help through to counselling and mental health support.

Support to develop life skills and enhance the individual student experience 

We have a varied events programme available to students and the broader York St John community. This includes:

• Guest speakers
• Research symposiums
• Exhibitions
• Festivals

Student voice informs decision making  

York St John University actively listens to our student voice. For example, we were not satisfied with our Academic Feedback score in previous National Students Surveys, so we decided a concerted effort was needed to improve this important measure. We worked hard to put better support in place, and we have now risen to 20th out of 122 English universities for assessment and feedback.

Teaching and learning experiences are rated highly by students 

In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 York St John University was ranked 13th for teaching quality, out of 135 UK universities.

In the 2022 National Student Survey (NSS) York St John University was ranked:

• 30th out of 122 higher education institutions in England for overall student satisfaction
• Top in the North East for teaching and assessment

We are proud to have received a Bronze award in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcome Framework. 

Inspiring curiosity to open minds and develop potential 

• Many of our undergraduate courses have the option for students to go on a placement year to gain valuable workplace experience.
• 90% of undergraduate courses have an option to study abroad for a year.
• More than 220 postgraduate and undergraduate students have worked on University research projects through our Students as Researchers scheme. In this scheme students are paid to work with members of staff on their groundbreaking research projects.

Part of the community

Our courses offer opportunities to work with individuals, groups and schools in our local community. For example:

• Students in some courses within the School of the Arts can participate in the York St John University Prison Partnership Project.
• Our Law students can train as Community Legal Companions to offer pro bono advice and assistance to people and small businesses who cannot afford to pay. 
• Counselling students can gain valuable experience by completing placements at the York St John Communities Centre. 
• Sport students can get involved in supporting community fitness initiatives through YSJ Active.

Impactful research 

Our research seeks to have a positive impact on our community by challenging prejudice and inequity and promoting a fairer and more just society.

A Research Development and Innovation Fund is available to encourage interdisciplinary and cross-school research.

York St John University is a contributing organisation to The Conversation. This is an independent digital academic platform providing news and views sourced from the academic and research community.

Our award-winning campus is in the heart of York. Over the past 10 years we have made improvements including:

• A new, purpose built Creative Centre
• New allied health facilities, including specialist healthcare equipment and simulation facilities
• New library and IT facilities
• A new Students' Union building

York St John University guarantees accommodation in University managed sites for all our first year students. Most of our accommodation is within 1 mile of campus and close to the city centre. 

York was named the number 1 city to live in (Sunday Times, 2019).

York was named the 2nd most popular city in the UK by YouGov in 2022.

London

Our London campus is based at the very heart of the capital's creative, technology and business district. London is only 2 hours from York by train.

Employability, entrepreneurship and life opportunities 

95% of York St John University students were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. (Higher Education Graduate Outcomes Data, 2021).

Career development and work placements 

LaunchPad is our careers service offering tailored support for students. This includes:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn and CV sessions
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities

York St John University's Kickstart initiative offers entrepreneurial support for students. This includes coaching and online development. Many recent graduates have already launched their own businesses with the support of our enterprise schemes.  

The University has committed to offering lifelong career support to our alumni, no matter when they completed their course.

Postgraduate progression

We offer generous alumni scholarships to students who continue onto postgraduate study after completing their undergraduate degree with us.

National Student Survey 2022

The National Student Survey (NSS) is a very important measure of our success as a University.

We pride ourselves on our close knit, inclusive community and our place in the top 30 English higher education providers for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022.

We were also the top university in the North East for teaching and assessment.

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

The Guide provides the definitive rankings for UK universities and the most comprehensive overview of higher education in Britain. 

In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 York St John University was ranked 13th for teaching quality, out of 135 UK universities.

The Guide says: “Students at York St John report consistently positive reviews of their university in the National Student Survey. Our analysis of the latest results, published in summer 2022, ranks the University 13th in the UK for satisfaction with teaching quality (up 18 places) and joint 25th for the wider experience (up 20 places).”

Exciting new additions to our award winning campus include:

• New Creative Centre
• New library and IT facilities
• Allied Health facilities, including specialist health equipment and simulation spaces
• Biomedical Science laboratories
• A 57 acre Sports Campus
• A new Students' Union building

We were the first university in the UK to purchase most of our energy directly from renewable sources. We have reduced our carbon footprint by 48.9% over the last 15 years.

Our research seeks to have a positive impact on our community by challenging prejudice and inequity and promoting a fairer and more just society.

The York St John University Institute for Social Justice was launched in 2020 to support the University's mission to pursue and promote a fairer society.

York St John University is in the top 10 UK universities for giving equal access to students from all backgrounds (Higher Education Policy Institute Analysis 2018).

95% of York St John University students were in work or further study 15 months after graduating (Experimental Graduate Outcomes Data, 2021).