University of York - England

at-a-glance:

Set in the heart of historical Yorkshire, a stunning relic of medieval England, the University of York is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the United Kingdom.  Founded during the period of university expansion during the early 1960’s, the University of York has established an international reputation for the quality of its academics and research. In official government assessments the university has regularly been ranked either first or second in the country for the quality of its teaching.

London’s The Sunday Times named it “University of the Year” in 2003 for both its academic and non-academic merits. Among the latter are the thriving elements of student life, which center around the city of York’s famed bars, pubs, tearooms, and live music always beaming from the city’s nightlife underground. On campus students enjoy easy access to University sponsored bars, myriad nightly social events, and the fully equipped sports center. Complete with its own meandering lake, the campus offers a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. 

academics

Founded in 1963 during a period of rapid expansion in U.K. higher education, the university has gained an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research.  The academic year is divided into three academic terms.  You may study for the fall term, the spring term, or the full year.

Your academic experience at York will be focused and in-depth, as students are enrolled in one or two departments and select their courses from those departments only.  While the university offers excellent academics in all of the departments, it is particularly strong in the social sciences, English, and history.  Many popular choices for Vanderbilt students in the past have included English, European Studies, Political Science, and History.  Please visit the online course catalog listed below to find more information about available courses.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

Univerisity of York Website

Butler Institute for Study Abroad

student life

The University of York offers outstanding academics to its students.  Each student is given plenty of individual attention, including an advisor who helps track each student’s progress and their personal welfare.  A tutor in art is available to assist students who want to use the informal studios for pottery, painting, and printmaking.  Moreover, the university offers excellent facilities to its students.  Forty acres of outdoor sports fields and a wide array of indoor athletic facilities are available to students.  Many student-organized clubs and societies promote cultural, academic, political, religious, and recreational interests.  A recently built “Market Square” offers a supermarket, travel agency, and several retail services to students.  A bus service provides transportation from campus to the city center.

housing

Students are housed in college residence halls on campus or in university housing close to campus.  All halls function as individual communities with libraries, television lounges, common rooms, laundry facilities, and kitchen facilities available to all students. Because there are no meal plans offered, students must either cook their meals or eat in university cafeterias or snack bars.  Please note that if you are housed off campus, all commuting costs are your responsibility, but the walk is easy and enjoyable.

location

Halfway between Edinburgh and London lies the city of York, a quaint town that sits atop Viking Ruins and has more than 2,000 years of history to its name.  Medieval architecture stands next to the Georgian and the Victorian in York, but the York Minster, Northern Europe’s oldest and largest Gothic cathedral, dominates it all.  The city of York, with its endless variety of famous pubs, tearooms and restaurants, has become a major commercial center and a popular tourist area in England.      

The University of York is located near the charming village of Heslington, two miles southeast of York.  Occupying more than 200 acres of landscaped park, the university is well known for its serene atmosphere.  Many of the main buildings lie along the shores of its winding lake and the buildings are connected by bridges and covered pathways.    

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

University of York Application