University of York starters 2025

[ClearFoundation]

So a while ago I saw a few threads on York and one of the mums suggested that we start a sort of Yorkies thread once everyone had results and knew where they were going.

I have a DD going who will be in James college

Anyone else?

That’s what my dd says too. Is it because it’s semesters? But she also has mocks.

DDs going back the end of next week. No lectures till the 12th but has 3 or 4 exams beginning the 22nd I think. She’s going to see if she can revise at home ( aka as local coffee shop where she did most of her A level revision.). If she can’t she’ll go back a bit earlier. Most of her school friends at other Unis don’t seem to be going back any time soon either!

My son is going back on the 16th Jan for a timed essay taking place on the 20th. The following week he has one hour only of group work and then in the 3rd week it's "re-freshers" or "welcome back" events, which he is not interested in doing, so he's coming home again for that week. He is much better when busy academically.

Yes, January is all revision, exams and assessments and then the first week of February is "Refreshers' week". The new semester starts on 12th February.

If your DC doesn't have face to face exams, they don't need to be back in York until the 12th Feb (although my DD is going back this week, as she finds it's easier to study there).

2nd semester starts Feb 9th - Monday.

Yes! Sorry! Too many dates in my head :)

DC returning this week for what she calls ‘library season’. There is a huge variation on which subjects/years have exams, timed essays, assements etc. Library is open 24 hours and BUSY! They arrive at 7am, work all day, then their night owl friend takes over the study space for the night shift!

Ah that's good to know re the library @OldYorkMum . My DD had been going to the library a bit last semester, so I will let her know. I used to love my long nights in the library in my student days. She has just two exams, a week apart, so not too bad really.

https://www.york.ac.uk/library/visit/opening-hours/

Hi there, I don’t have a DC at York (yet) but may do come this Autumn. I know very little about it so trying to find a little bit of info from this in the know!

How have your DCs liked it so far in their 1st year?

Any tips / recommendations eg which college?

@loopylocks hello, my DD started in September and is doing English Lit. She was quite homesick at first but was helped by the fact that she has lovely housemates. They all socialise a lot together and get on well. She is in Anne Lister which is fabulous. You apply for various accommodation choices (7 choices) 4 of which can be en-suite and 3 non-en-suite (if my memory is correct). You can opt for catered or self-catered too. You are then allocated something. My DD was lucky and got her first choice but many others did not and some even got no accommodation and had to find off campus accommodation. So there is no guarantee that you will get a particular college.

my DD is very happily settled and returned last week. She finds the teaching good, the lecturers helpful and supportive and it has been a very positive experience to date. She has a job in a local bar/restaurant which she enjoys. Top tip start- applying for jobs before you get there as the competition is fierce. So from our perspective we would thoroughly recommend York.

My recommendations re college would be to consider whether you want catering or self-catering, East campus or West campus, ensuite or shared bathroom and list your preferences accordingly.

And then accept it's highly likely that you might end up with a very low preference, so don't get too invested in any choice.

Anne Lister and David Kato are by far the most popular colleges so your chances of getting one of those is even lower. However, most students will enjoy their time in college, regardless of which college they are allocated.

I agree with the PP re jobs - there are more students wanting jobs than jobs available in York. Do not assume your DC will be able to get one. They will be more likely to get one if they are prepared to limit weekends/holidays away from York. And yes, the best time to get a job is at the start of the summer when the third years leave, but that's hard for a first year (especially if they don't even have a confirmed place) unless they live close enough to York to commute.

Mine is having a great time at York. She is in her first year and is taking part in loads of societies and college sports (even though she is not especially sporty). I think she has 1 night a week where she doesn't have an activity to do.

She is in Halifax. Like others say, you are quite likely not to get your first choice accommodation, so best not to get too hung up on it. Halifax is the cheapest, and may also be less popular. She put it first choice.

Mine also having a great time- doing lots of drama and lots of clubbing… In Anne Lister which was her first choice and has nice flatmates and seemingly lots of friends in other colleges. Expensive second year sorted but similar to friends at Bristol, Exeter etc.

Just come back from visiting Dd in Anne Lister. She is living her best life and loves it . The uni campus feels very safe, and they take the welfare of their students very seriously. I’m really impressed

My DD is also in Anne Lister and is happy there. She’s been very homesick, but loves her course, and York. She’s always lived in a village so wanted a ‘nice’ city for
university, and York has met her expectations.

Ah that’s good to hear - and the similar positive comments from PPs.

I guess homesickness is to be expected but it must be so hard to hear as a parent - and resist the temptation to go and scoop them up! How has she managed to get through it so far?

We’re about 3hrs away so she came home a few weekends on the train, and we stayed nearby twice and she came to us. It was more than I would ordinarily expect or encourage but we’d had a significant death in the family shortly before she left for uni. She seems better this time round and will probably come home fewer times this term.

My has gone back now too
wont see her for a month now
but got something great planned for that weekend so I’m looking forward to that
I find having a little milestone to get to that’s no longer than 6 weeks really helpful for both of us

shes loving York and uni life

Hey sockfluff I was wondering how your and your dd were

when do you think you’ll see her next?

Im hoping it all feels bit easier for her this calender year
as what I’m thinking is they are going back, they’ve already now sussed out the uni and their courses
and made a few friends etc
so it’s so different to when they started in Sept when it was all such a big change

I think it’s nice they have refreshers week as I think for a lot of them it will feel a bit like a kinda fresh start but with a bit more experience

anyway waffling I know, but I’m just sending good luck and I hope after a good chunk of time home at Xmas this new year goes really well for her and you

Hi @BlueBirdOnAWire she’s coming back next weekend because it’s my birthday, and despite being told it will be quiet she’s not convinced and has FOMO 😅 she’s not planning on coming back after that until Easter, so we’ll see how she goes. She’s been enjoying refreshers- I think it was bingo one night, and she went to their college dinner, and tacos for lunch in the hub the other day. She’s already engaging more this term so hopefully it will be easier for her. I hope your yp is happy too.

So a question for other parents of 1st yrs at York. Did you realize that the whole of the first year's work, while assessed and graded, does not count towards the final degree class?

I.had.no.idea.

Until about a week ago.

Yes- but they still have to pass otherwise have to resit in the summer. It’s usually the way in most Unis- was the same when I was at Uni a looong time ago..

Understood about needing to pass / do August resits etc.

I must be ancient because when I was at York, that was definitely not how things were done at all.

My 1st term ended in a 3 hour exam, which everyone in my subject had to do and most certainly played into final degree class. Our whole first year's work counted towards it.

That was probably quite unusual even back then. In fact I was talking with friends recently about this very subject and noone’s first year counted. I don’t know of anywhere nowadays where it counts either though there may be a few.
I still have bad dreams about my first year exams and how I didn’t know I had any until the day etc etc. Not far off the truth as I don’t think I knew I had any until about a month before! Did zero work in year 1 but buckled down in Y2 and Y3!
(graduated in 1991…)