Page 5 | University of York

kinggen · 2022-03-29T21:42:17+00:00

Does anyone have DC there or been there recently? Just wondering what it is like. DD has an offer for this year and was put off by reading the StudentCrowd reviews which mostly talked about the number of ducks and boring students!

Isthisjustnormal · 10/04/2022 16:05

Just placemarking abs thanking everyone who has written such detailed feedback - esp the run through of all the colleges @JoanThursday! York is currently ds’s insurance choice if his first choice ever come back and offer. Any recommendations of good accommodation for an autistic teen who wants some sociability to avoid a tendency to cocoon (eg shared flat) but equallysomewhere that won’t be too party/a chaotic shared space (doesn’t drink; too hobbies are bird watching and board games!) Any pointers very welcomed….

Piggywaspushed · 10/04/2022 16:19

Awww, isthis, he can live with mine . That would be lovely!

Isthisjustnormal · 10/04/2022 16:40

:-) @Piggywaspushed - can you imagine!! Honestly though, the more I read about York the more tempted I am to encourage some giving up on those unis he’s still not heard back from and just go with York! It would so suit him I think. Just a long way away….

ronaldmcdonald123456 · 10/04/2022 19:05

@yellowsuninthesky I believe that prestige and career should play an important (and the most important) role. You go to uni to get a job out of it. Why not maximise your earning potential? I believe at any uni a student can make it feel like home and enjoy their time, they just need to find the right people.

Oxbridge grad prospects would 'in general' exceed Manchester and Glasgow.

Parker231 · 10/04/2022 19:21

@ronaldmcdonald123456 - what is prestige when choosing a Uni? Everyone has a different opinion as to what is important to them. The only advice we gave DT’s was to go where they would be happy. They both had all A’s at GCSE and A level so no difficulties with offers.

I work for a global corporate finance company and we recruit blind so where the candidates went to Uni is becoming less relevant

ronaldmcdonald123456 · 10/04/2022 19:24

@Parker231 interesting, I think you may have changed my view.

TheBigDilemma · 14/04/2022 07:49

@lighterskies

It is the geese not ducks that are an issue. It isn't a Uni for nightlife particularly, it never has been. The city is lovely ( if tiny) and for students who want a slightly quieter campus style experience I would recommend it.

If you want a city university with more emphasis on nightlife then I would pick somewhere else.

York has just been voted the best night out city in England so it may have changed a bit.

manywanderings · 28/06/2025 09:20

JoanThursday · 09/04/2022 19:23

@kinggen - okay, Campus West: here goes!

Firstly, here's the campus map so you can see what I'm referring to.

Regarding the actual size of the flats in each college, I'm not too sure I'm afraid. Your best bet is to explore the accommodation pages which will tell you what's available in each college. There are 360 views which you'll find helpful.

So, I'll start at Heslington Hall (administration buildings and not usually accessed by students) and I'll move round the lake clockwise. First up:

Halifax College: Built in the 1980s / 1990s, its set back from the main campus fairly near the sports facs on campus west. Overlooking fields, it has its own shop and common rooms. There is a shuttle bus between accommodation and the rest of campus.

James College: Some of the buildings date back to the 1960s (the original Goodricke college), but other parts were built in the 1990s. It has a large restaurant, the Roger Kirk Centre, and a coffee bar. It's opposite the campus west Sports Centre and is close to the students union buildings. Nearby are the depts of Maths, Physics and Electronic Engineering and over the bridge to Environment and Biology.

Wentworth College: largely for postgrad students with great views over the lake. Has a cafe which anyone can use.

Carrying on round the lake, there are the depts of Environment and Biology.

Then you get to ...

Vanbrugh College: Dates back to the 1960s with newer accommodation built in the mid-2000s. Has a food court and a bar. Close to the Information Centre, with various student support services, and Market Square with a mini market and other shops/services. Close to History, History of art, Language and Linguistics, Music, Philosophy. University Road close by with buses into town. On the other side of the road is the main library. Outside Vanbrugh is 'Gregs Place': a very nice spot to sit and take in the lake view.

Carrying on round and past Central hall (looks like a spaceship!) brand new teaching buildings, and on to....

Derwent College: Again, has a cafe. It also has two bars run by the students' union. This is the oldest college on Campus and has lovely views over to Heslington Hall and its gardens. Close to the departments of English, Politics, SPS, PPE and Education. Derwent has taken over the original Langwith College buildings, which moved over to Campus East 9/10 years ago. Close to one of the University bus stops outside Heslington Hall.

Across the road from Derwent is the Science Park. The Management School has just moved here from Campus East, and is sharing its premises with Social Policy and Social Work.

So we're back on University Road and we cross the road to ...

Alcuin College: Some of the buildings date back to the 1960s, and others were built in the 90s (I think??). situated behind the main library and close to the departments of Chemistry, Health Economics and Hull York Med School. It has a couple of cafes close by, plus the one in the library. Nice views as its quite high up. Much of the accommodation is set around grassy courtyards.

The main thing to remember is that you can walk at a (fairly) leisurely pace around the lake and complete a full circuit in 15 - 20 minutes - even shorter, when you cross the bridges. I wouldn't say you need to live in a college close to your chosen department ... unless you really wanted to! All the colleges have got places to eat / drink, and a couple of the departments have got small cafes too (eg Management, Biology).

I think I've got everything: apologies to any of the smaller schools / study centres that I may have inadvertantly forgotten!

Thank you so much for this post. I was there about 30 years ago, and got thoroughly confused looking at the map. Until you said old goodricke was now James, and Derwent is what was the old Langwith! Then I got my bearings. So basically campus west is the old original campus, is that right? And campus east is an addition/all the new builds. Our son is thinking of going there but I was gobsmacked at the cost of accommodation! However I've worked out that the catered accommodation probably saves on spending overall (compared to another university with less expensive accommodation which is only self catering and he could end up getting too many takeaways! 😂

Parker231 · 28/06/2025 09:38

TheBigDilemma · 14/04/2022 07:49

@lighterskies

It is the geese not ducks that are an issue. It isn't a Uni for nightlife particularly, it never has been. The city is lovely ( if tiny) and for students who want a slightly quieter campus style experience I would recommend it.

If you want a city university with more emphasis on nightlife then I would pick somewhere else.

York has just been voted the best night out city in England so it may have changed a bit.

DD graduated from York a couple of years ago and one of her reasons for going there was the nightlife! She had offers from higher perceived Uni like StA but loved her time at York.

TheBigDilemma · 28/06/2025 09:43

Parker231 · 28/06/2025 09:38

DD graduated from York a couple of years ago and one of her reasons for going there was the nightlife! She had offers from higher perceived Uni like StA but loved her time at York.

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oh well, if you compare it with St Andrew’s’, York looks very much like Las Vegas 😁

TheBigDilemma · 28/06/2025 09:44

But yes, plenty of offer, not as much as Leeds when it comes to student night life but probably that is not a bad thing 🙂

JoanThursday · 30/06/2025 11:24

manywanderings · 28/06/2025 09:20

Thank you so much for this post. I was there about 30 years ago, and got thoroughly confused looking at the map. Until you said old goodricke was now James, and Derwent is what was the old Langwith! Then I got my bearings. So basically campus west is the old original campus, is that right? And campus east is an addition/all the new builds. Our son is thinking of going there but I was gobsmacked at the cost of accommodation! However I've worked out that the catered accommodation probably saves on spending overall (compared to another university with less expensive accommodation which is only self catering and he could end up getting too many takeaways! 😂

Show quote history

SO sorry for the late response. And I forgot I did this Mumsnet mini tour!

Yes that's correct. The 'original' campus is now called Campus West. The new build on Field Lane between Heslington Church and Hull Road is Campus East.

One key change since I did this: Mathematics is moving to Campus East to join Computer Science. Will still be two separate departments, but will be under the same roof. The current Maths building is in James College on Campus West (was previously Goodricke).

Yes, the more expensive accommodation tends to be on Campus East. The oldest college there is only about 12 years old. Some of the newer rooms have double beds and wide screen tellys. Not in my day!

You don't need to take accommodation on the same campus as where the dept is based. All depends on whether the student likes to roll straight out of bed and into the lecture, or prefers a leisurely 15 mins walk. And price point too, of course. (And yes, York is expensive 😬)

Original poster

kinggen · 30/06/2025 16:27

OP here.

DD has just graduated from York after an exceptionally happy 3 years.

Thank you for all the advice back in 2022. Happy to help out others if they need it.

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manywanderings · 30/06/2025 22:23

kinggen · 30/06/2025 16:27

OP here.

DD has just graduated from York after an exceptionally happy 3 years.

Thank you for all the advice back in 2022. Happy to help out others if they need it.

That's great to hear :-) Which college was she in out of interest. Our slight dilemmas here are: 1) The accommodation cost! 2) He is in a relationship and doesn't really want to move away from her .............but does want to go to University. She isn't going to university and is on a course locally.

Original poster

kinggen · 01/07/2025 10:06

She was in James College. She was more interested in being close to things and being on a more lively campus than the newer, smarter colleges of East Campus. She was in a flat of 8 but it was more like 16 because the other flat on the same floor were in and out all the time and they all socialised. Although I don't think any of them became her bessies, they got on and it's quite nice to have catered in the first year (only breakast and evening meal during week) as they all tend to go and eat together in the evening to begin with, go to all the new things together, go clubbing etc. Her flat all went to the same sport things together at the start, which are free with the college membership I think. Remember it being quite reasonable. My DD is the sort of person who will go to anything however crap she is at it which stood her in good stead as that is how she made most of her friends, as well as the many on her course.

Lots of my DD's friends were in relationships when they started. Most parted company. I think starting off on the wrong foot can make things harder for them. Better to start university wanting to be there, rather than the opposite as they miss out on opportunities. But how can we tell them that!

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