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Policies and documents

Diversity monitoring

We have a duty to publish information about the diversity of our University community. This update was published on 30 March 2023. It complements the annual Equality and Diversity report and the Gender Pay Gap report which provide a commentary on the statistics.

To read more about our work to advance equality, diversity and inclusion, please visit the main equality and diversity page.

In line with the HESA Standard Rounding Methodology, numbers are rounded to the nearest 5. Percentages are provided for actual numbers and therefore do not align exactly with the numbers given.

Student data

This is an overview of the student population in the academic year 2021-22. It is broken down by age, disability, ethnicity (UK-domiciled only), religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status.

Promoting student diversity

Read more about our dedicated support and guidance for our diverse community. Our Access and Participation Plan sets out how we improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education.

Student population 2021-22

Student profile UK and non-UK domiciled
Student group UK domiciled Non-UK domiciled Total
All students 6,585 1,355 7,935
Undergraduate 5,360 265 5,625
Postgraduate taught 1,020 1,080 2,100
Postgraduate research 200 10 210
Student profile by equality group, as a proportion of students at the degree level
Category Undergraduate Postgraduate taught Postgraduate research All UKHE %
BAME (UK) 6.6% 4.2% 8.5% 7.3% 26.2%
Disabled 24.4% 9.7% 24.2% 20.5% 15.2%
Female 62.7% 58.6% 57.3% 61.4% 57.2%
LGB+ 18.5% 16.5% 16.0% 17.9% 8.7%
Mature 20.8% 61.4% 69.2% 32.8% 51.0%
With religion 32.2% 69.2% 45.0% 42.3% 55.3%
Transgender 2.0% 0.7% 1.4% 1.6% 0.9%
Disclosure rates
Protected characteristic 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 UKHE %
Religion 95.3% 95.5% 96.6% 88.9%
Sexual orientation 89.1% 86.9% 89.0% 81.6%
Transgender 94.4% 90.3% 94.6% 84.1%
Disability: by impairment group
Disability category Number %
A long standing illness or health condition 135 1.7%
A mental health condition 620 7.8%
A physical impairment or mobility issues 30 0.4%
A social/communication impairment 110 1.4%
A specific learning difficulty 415 5.2%
Blind or a serious visual impairment 10 0.1%
Deaf or serious hearing impairment 40 0.5%
2 or more impairments and/or disabling conditions 130 1.7%
Another disability, impairment or medical condition 130 1.6%
Ethnicity: UK domiciled students
Ethnicity Number %
Asian 170 2.6%
Black 95 1.4%
Mixed 185 2.8%
Other 30 0.5%
White 6,090 92.5%
Not known 15 0.2%
Total 6,585 100.0%

HESA no longer collects data for non-UK domiciled students.

Religion (including no religion and not known)
Religion Number %
Buddhist 110 1.4%
Christian 2,025 25.5%
Hindu 600 7.5%
Jewish 15 0.2%
Muslim 295 4.4%
Sikh 25 0.3%
Spiritual 150 1.9%
Any other religion or belief 135 1.7%
No religion 4,230 53.3%
Not known 345 4.4%
Grand total 7,935 100.6%
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation Number %
Bi 790 10.0%
Gay 120 1.5%
Lesbian 150 1.9%
Other 355 4.5%
Heterosexual 5,640 71.1%
Not known 875 11.0%
Grand total 7,935 100.0%
Protected characteristic Category Applications Offers Acceptances Placed applicants
Age Young 9,330 (90%) 8,300 (92%) 1,985 (87%) 24%
Mature 1,070 (10%) 710 (8%) 285 (13%) 40%
Disability Disabled 2,290 (22%) 1,990 (22%) 655 (29%) 33%
No disability 8,115 (78%) 7,020 (78%) 1,615 (71%) 23%
Ethnicity BAME 1,005 (10%) 820 (9%) 170 (7%) 21%
White 9,055 (87%) 7,965 (88%) 2,075 (91%) 26%
Sex Female 6,865 (66%) 5,885 (65%) 1,525 (67%) 26%
Male 3,520 (34%) 3,105 (34%) 70 (32%) 23%
  • Data are taken from our internal database for UK applications to full time, undergraduate first-degree courses.
  • Total applicants – 10,400, Offers – 9,010, Acceptances - 2,270.
  • Applications/Offers/Acceptances %: the percentage of all applications/offers/acceptances for that subgroup.
  • Placed Acceptances %: the percentage of applicants who accepted an offer in any particular group. 
Protected characteristic Category % Completion % First/2:1
Age Mature 87% 82%
Young 90% 76%
Disability Disabled 90% 77%
No disability 89% 77%
Ethnicity BAME 87% 58%
White 89% 78%
Sex Female 91% 80%
Male 86% 69%
  • Completion %: the percentage who complete their first year of study.
  • 1st/2:1 degree %: the proportion of 1st/2:1 degrees awarded, out of those who received an award.
4.1 Appeals

In 2021-22, we recorded 287 appeals (as of 7 November 2022), representing an increase of 7% over the previous year. 15% of appeals were submitted by BAME international postgraduate students studying in the UK.

33 appeals were received from distance learners/students studying with international partners, of whom two thirds were BAME. Of home students, 15% of appeals were from BAME students, broadly matching their representation in the student body.

The appeals were divided fairly evenly between male and female students, with 52% and 46% of appeals respectively. The remaining 2% identified as non-binary or other.

Data related to other protected characteristics are too low to publish.

4.2 Academic misconduct

182 academic misconduct referrals were received (by 4 November 2022), representing a decrease of a third compared to the previous year. Two thirds of academic misconduct cases related to female students.

Cases related to the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) international postgraduates studying on the London campus accounted for 28% of all referrals. This is a drop from 60% of all referrals in the previous year.

Distance learners accounted for 14 cases. These were largely BAME students, in line with the profile of this cohort.

Of the home students who were referred for academic misconduct, approximately 19% identified as Black, Asian and minority ethnic, suggesting that they are somewhat over-represented in this category.

Data related to other protected characteristics are too low to publish.

4.3 Complaints, discipline and fitness to study/practice

8 formal complaints were received in 2021-22. 75% of cases were from females. 100% of cases were from home students with no cases received from BAME students.

Data related to other protected characteristics are too low to publish.

Numbers are too low to provide diversity data on discipline and fitness to study/practice cases.

2021 we introduced a new Student Dignity and Respect policy which strengthens the University's approach to promoting positive behaviours and tackling discrimination, harassment, racism and sexual misconduct. We have improved information on our website about raising concerns.

Staff data

This is an overview of our workforce profile according to protected characteristics. 

The statistics show the workforce profile in relation to age, disability, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender identity of staff at the University as of 1 November 2022. The total number of staff was 1,030 (rounded). We also provide information about recruitment from 1 August 2021 until 31 July 2022.

Workforce profile

Protected characteristic Category York St John
Number
York St John % UKHE 2021-22 %
Sex Female 610 59.3% 62.6%
Male 420 40.7% 37.4%
Disability Disabled 100 9.9% 6.0%
Non-disabled 890 90.1% 94.0%
Ethnicity BAME 85 8.6% 13.2%
White 885 91.4% 86.8%
Religion Religion - Christian 310 30.1% 17.6%
Religion and belief - Other 80 7.9% 7.8%
No religion 510 49.7% 31.2%
Not known 125 12.4% 43.4%
Sexual orientation Heterosexual 790 76.3% 56.2%
LGB+ 85 8.2% 4.5%
Not known 155 14.9% 39.3%
  • HE providers in England and Wales are no longer required to return data for professional and support staff. As a result, the national data no longer provide an accurate picture of the staff demographics. York St John continues to voluntarily return these data.
  • 'Disability' and 'ethnicity': York St John has excluded not known values to align with Advance HE statistics.
Profile by age and job group
Job groups < 20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
Academic 0 (0.0%) 15 (1.6%) 105 (10.3%) 115 (11.0%) 100 (9.5%) 35 (3.6%)
Professional and support <5 (0.1%) 145 (14.0%) 160 (15.5%) 160 (15.7%) 125 (12.4%) 65 (6.4%)
Grand Total 1 (0.1%) 160 (15.6%) 265 (25.8%) 275 (26.7%) 225 (21.9%) 105 (10.0%)

Note: Executive Board is included in 'professional and support staff'.

Disability profile
Disability Number %
Disabled 100 9.5%
Non-disabled 890 86.5%
Not known 40 4.0%
Total 1,030 100.0%
Profile by impairment group
Disability category Number %
A long standing illness or health condition 25 26.5%
A mental health condition 25 25.5%
A physical impairment or mobility issues <5 3.1%
A specific learning difficulty 15 15.3%
Blind or a serious visual impairment <5 1.0%
Deaf or serious hearing impairment 10 8.2%
General learning disability <5 2.0%
2 or more impairments and/or disabling conditions 5 7.1%
A disability, impairment or medical condition not listed 10 11.2%
Total 100 100.0%
Profile by ethnic group
Ethnicity basic Ethnicity detailed Number %
BAME Asian or Asian British 15 1.6%
Black or Black British 10 1.2%
Chinese 10 0.9%
Mixed 5 0.7%
Other 40 3.8%
BAME total 85 8.1%
White White 885 86.1%
Not known Not known 60 5.8%
Total Total 1,030 100.0%
Profile by religious group (including no religion and information refused)
Religion or belief Number %
Buddhist 10 0.8%
Christian 310 30.1%
Hindu 5 0.6%
Jewish <5 0.3%
Muslim 15 1.6%
Sikh <5 0.3%
Spiritual 20 1.9%
Other religion or belief 25 2.4%
No religion 510 49.7%
Not known 125 12.4%
Total 1,030 100.0%
Profile by sex and job
Job group Female Male Total
Academic 195 (52.4%) 175 (47.6%) 370 (36.0%)
Professional and support 415 (63.2%) 240 (36.8%) 660 (64.0%)
Total 610 (59.3%) 420 (40.7%) 1,030 (100.0%)

The data are binary as in line with HESA requirements we ask about legal sex (the sex stated on birth certificate or passport).

Profile by sexual orientation
Sexual orientation (basic) Sexual orientation (detailed) Number %
LGB+ Bisexual 40 3.8%
Gay man 15 1.5%
Gay woman/Lesbian 20 1.8%
Other 10 1.2%
LGB+ Total 85 8.2%
Heterosexual Heterosexual 790 76.9%
Not known Not known 155 14.9%
Total   1,030 100.0%

We started to monitor transgender identity of our staff on 1 January 2016. As of 1 November 2022, no staff had declared a transgender identity.

Between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022, we had 2,825 applicants, of whom 695 were shortlisted and 420 were offered the role (up from 355). Figures are provided in numbers rounded to the nearest 5. The columns 'applications', 'shortlisted' and 'offer accepted' show the ratio between groups in each category; 'shortlisted' excludes people who accepted an offer.

Number of applicants, shortlisted and appointed candidates
  Applicants Shortlisted Appointed
Total 2,825 695 420
Disability
Disability Applications Shortlisted Offer accepted
Disabled 220 (7.8%) 80 (11.8%) 30 (7.1%)
Non-disabled 2,425 (85.8%) 575 (83.0%) 330 (78.4%)
Not known 180 (6.3%) 35 (5.2%) 60 (14.5%)
Total 2,825 (100.0%) 695 (100.0%) 420 (100.0%)
Ethnicity
Ethnicity Applications Shortlisted Offer accepted
BAME 815 (28.8%) 155 (22.2%) 60 (14.7%)
White 1,875 (66.4%) 520 (74.8%) 310 (74.1%)
Not known 135 (4.8%) 20 (3.0%) 45 (11.2%)
Total 2,825 (100.0%) 695 (100.0%) 420 (100.0%)
Religion or belief
Religion or belief Applications Shortlisted Offer accepted
Christian 835 (29.6%) 190 (27.7%) 100 (24.2%)
Muslim 220 (7.9%) 40 (5.8%) 20 (4.8%)
Other religion or belief 290 (10.3%) 55 (7.6%) 60 (14.2%)
No religion 1,240 (43.9%) 340 (49.0%) 220 (51.8%)
Not known 235 (8.3%) 70 (9.9%) 20 (5.0%)
Total 2,825 (100.0%) 695 (100.0%) 420 (100.0%)
Sex
Sex Applications Shortlisted Offer accepted
Female 1,565 (55.5%) 420 (60.7%) 225 (53.7%)
Male 1,180 (41.8%) 260 (37.6%) 150 (35.9%)
Other 35 (1.2%) 10 (1.4%) <5 (1.0%)
Not known 45 (1.6%) <5 (0.3%) 40 (9.5%)
Total 2,825 (100.0%) 695 (100.0%) 420 (100.0%)
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation Applications Shortlisted Offer accepted
Heterosexual 2,140 (75.8%) 535 (76.9%) 295 (69.8%)
LGB 320 (11.3%) 75 (11.0%) 45 (10.9%)
Other 60 (2.1%) 15 (2.0%) 10 (2.4%)
Not known 305 (10.8%) 70 (10.1%) 70 (16.9%)
Total 2,825 (100.0%) 695 (100.0%) 420 (100.0%)

We collect data about some of the protected characteristics of our employees who use the grievance procedures or subject to the discipline and capability procedures. Overall numbers are too low to publish any equality data. An annual report is provided to People Committee for monitoring purposes.

The policies are available on the intranet.

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