Logo of The University of York

The University of York

York, United Kingdom • Founded 1963 • QS 2027 #158 =

Updated Sep 2026 · Source: york.ac.uk

Overview

English Name: University of York
Founded: 1963
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #158 = Times Higher Education 2026 #154 = ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #301-400 CWTS Leiden 2025 #143 SCImago 2026 #333
Motto: In limine sapientiae
Inside The University of York
1 / 3

The University of York is a public research university in York, England, founded in 1963 by royal charter and a member of the Russell Group.

Its main campus covers about 500 acres of parkland and lakes within walking distance of York city centre, and the university also runs a campus in Mumbai, India, plus sites in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece, developed with academic partners. Teaching and research are organised across three faculties, Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities, covering more than 40 departments and centres, and students belong to one of 11 residential colleges.

In 2024/25 the university enrolled around 22,345 students, including roughly 15,810 undergraduates, 4,890 taught postgraduates and 1,435 research postgraduates, with about 19% of students from outside the UK. Staff headcount exceeds 5,000.

York was rated Gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework and placed joint 10th in the UK for research quality in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Location & Contact

Address, contact details, and online presence for The University of York are summarised below.

Address: Heslington
Postal Code: YO10 5DD
Phone: +44 (1904) 430 000
Fax: +44 (1904) 433 433
Social Media:

Academic Details

Below are the institutional metrics for The University of York: scale, staffing, and accreditation.

Academic Year: October to June (October-December; January-March; April-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: Undergraduate admission is via UCAS (deadline 15 October for Medicine, 13 January for all other courses at the University of York). Minimum English language requirement: IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (institution minimum; individual courses may require higher). International qualifications and equivalencies: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/applying/ielts-equivalencies-undergraduate/
Total Students: 22,345
Female Students: 12,715
Academic Staff Range: 1,500-1,999
Campus Setting: Suburban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) N8 Research Partnership The Russell Group Universities UK White Rose University Consortium (WRUC)

Academic Structures

Below is how The University of York is organised academically — the schools, faculties, and units.

Unit 3 items
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty of Sciences
  • Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Continuing Education (Centre) Faculty details available

Specialisations & Subjects

No specified subjects listed.

Eighteenth Century Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • History
Medieval Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medieval Studies
York Electronics (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Electronic Engineering
Archaeology (Department/Division) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Archaeology
  • Heritage Preservation
  • Medieval Studies
Biology (Department/Division) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biology
  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology
Chemistry (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Chemistry
Computer Science (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Science
  • Systems Analysis
Economics and Related Studies (Department/Division) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Econometrics
  • Economic History
  • Economics
  • Finance
Education (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Education
  • Educational Sciences
Electronics (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Electronic Engineering
English and Related Literature (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • English
  • Literature
Environment (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Environmental Studies
Health Sciences (Department/Division) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Health Administration
  • Medical Technology
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
History (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • History
History of Art (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Art History
Language and Linguistic Science (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Linguistics
  • Phonetics
Mathematics (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Mathematics
Music (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Music
Philosophy (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Philosophy
Physics (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Physics
Psychology (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Psychology
Social Policy and Social Work (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Social Policy
  • Social Work
Sociology (Department/Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Sociology
Historical Research (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • History
Social Sciences Research (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Social Sciences
Stockholm Environment (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Urban Studies
Law (School) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law
Management (School) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Finance
  • Management
Medical (School) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine
Natural Sciences (School) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences
  • Physics
Politics, Economics and Philosophy (School) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Economics
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
Social and Political Science (School) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Political Sciences
  • Social Sciences

Programs Offered

Search and filter The University of York's available programmes by degree level.

546 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 234 programmes

Showing 10 of 234.

Master of Business Administration 3 programmes

Master's Degree 233 programmes

LLM International Banking and Corporate Finance Law and Practice
Finance, Banking & Insurance

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

LLM International Business Law and Practice
Business Law

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

LLM International Commercial Law and Practice
Business Law

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 233.

Doctorate 52 programmes

Integrated PhD Linguistics
Linguistics & Language Studies · 4 years
Start: September

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MA Research English
English Language Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MPhil Mathematics
Mathematics
Start: Rolling intake: January, April, July or September

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Applied Linguistics
Linguistics & Language Studies

A good honours degree or a master's degree (MA, MSc or MEd) in a relevant discipline such as Applied Linguistics, Psychology, English, English for Academic Purposes, Education, Modern Languages or Linguistics; candidates...

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Archaeology
Archaeology · 3 years
Start: February and September

A Masters degree with the equivalent of a distinction or very high merit, or equivalent experience.

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Architecture
Architecture · 3 years
Start: January and September

For research degrees, you'll need to hold a Master's degree, or equivalent experience.

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Biology
Biological Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Biomedical Science
Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences · 3 years
Start: September

To apply for this course you should hold, or expect to hold, an honours degree in a related subject area for entry into this PhD programme with a 2:1 or first-class honours (or overseas equivalent).

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
Neuroscience

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 52.

Postgraduate Certificate 17 programmes

Showing 10 of 17.

Postgraduate Diploma 7 programmes

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Financial-aid options for studying in the United Kingdom, applicable across institutions including The University of York.

Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 3,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A cash bursary of £3,000 in your first year and £2,500 in each following year, plus up to £1,000 towards graduation and interview costs when you complete your degree.
Dean's Global Excellence Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 10,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
A full tuition fee discount in your first year, then £10,000 off tuition fees in each of your second and third years, awarded to six outstanding international undergraduate applicants.
Equal Access Scholarship (Undergraduate)
University funded · International students · Renewable · 12,300 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
A full tuition fee waiver for three years plus £12,300 a year towards living costs, for international students seeking refuge in the UK who cannot access mainstream student funding.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
Global Impact Undergraduate Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 5,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
£5,000 off your tuition fees for every year of your undergraduate degree, for international students from a set list of countries.
Joan Samuels Scholarship
University funded · International students · 2,000 GBP per total · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A £2,000 living cost stipend for postgraduate students with a disability.
Matt Dibble MA Music Scholarship
University funded · International students · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £5,000 tuition fee waiver for the MA Music: Composition programme, funded in memory of Matt Dibble, a talented York musician.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
Undergraduate Commuter Award
University funded · 250 GBP per total · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A one-off payment of £250 in your first year for new undergraduates who live at home and commute to campus rather than moving into student accommodation.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.
York Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
£1,000 a year, paid pro-rata, for household income up to £35,000.
York Global Clearing Scholarship
University funded · International students · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
£5,000 off your first year's tuition fees, for international students who join York through Clearing.
York Graduate Loyalty Discount
University funded · International students · Partial Tuition
A 10% discount on tuition fees for your postgraduate taught course, for York alumni returning to study further.
York Sanctuary Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
An annual cash bursary of £2,000 paid every year of your degree, for UK students seeking sanctuary whose household income is assessed at £0 to £25,000.

How to apply to The University of York

A five-step guide to applying to The University of York.

  1. 1
    Browse the programme catalogue

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. The University of York offers 546 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check eligibility for your chosen programme

    Each programme at The University of York has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Get your documents ready

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Apply through UCAS or direct entry

    Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS (ucas.com) rather than directly to The University of York. Postgraduate applicants apply directly through The University of York's own admissions portal at www.york.ac.uk.

  5. 5
    Reach out and track your application

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (1904) 430 000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about The University of York

Concise answers to common questions about The University of York.

When did The University of York open?

The University of York traces its founding to 1963 (approximately 63 years ago).

In which city is The University of York?

The University of York is based in York, United Kingdom.

Is The University of York public or private?

It is a public higher-education institution.

How many students study at The University of York?

The University of York has approximately 22,345 students.

What is The University of York's ranking?

It ranks QS 2027 #158 =.

What degrees does The University of York offer?

Programmes at The University of York cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

How is The University of York organised academically?

The institution comprises 3 academic units.

Who recognises The University of York?

The University of York is accredited by Privy Council.

How do I find The University of York online?

You can find The University of York online at www.york.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

International student mix at the United Kingdom's top universities tends to be higher than at lower-ranked institutions. This affects campus culture and the value of student networks for international students.

Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

These universities are also members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in York: universities located close to The University of York.

Where Else to Study Natural Sciences & Mathematics

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