York, England
University of York Partnership
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Program Overview
SETTLE IN WITH A RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR STUDENT CONNECTION
A member of Britain’s Russell Group, York offers rigorous academics with especially strong archaeology, history, English and STEM, and is known for close community ties. The self-contained, lake-front campus is a 20-minute walk from the historic city center.
The student-friendly city of York has all the contemporary conveniences plus a rich history and heritage. With a population of about 200,000, it’s lively, yet small enough to be easily navigated on foot or by bike. Get your bearings with a climb to the top of the York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Others agree: York is often voted best place to live in the UK.
Ready To go farther afield? Take advantage of the city’s excellent transportation links to visit the stunning Yorkshire countryside and the coast, or zip to London or Edinburgh by train in two-and-a-half hours or less.
Your program also includes IFSA excursions and activities—all with no extra fees. Possibilities include a West End theater performance, a session in the famous The Great British Bake Off tent, and exploring below ground with a former coal miner in Wales.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
3.00
Credit load
15
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Not in most cases. Learn more.
Academics
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students
To view available courses at the University of York, visit the York online class catalog.
IFSA requires students to enroll in a full class load abroad. Each York credit is equivalent to 0.25 U.S. semester credit hours. For information on the credit weight, please review the information below.
Credit Conversion
As of the 2023-2024 academic year, the University of York has adopted a semester calendar model instead of its previous three-term system. Both the fall and spring terms provide 60 York credits, or 15 U.S. semester credit hours. All classes are worth 20 York credits.
Fall Term Assessments
Final assessments for the Fall Term are held in January. The majority of classes at the University of York are designed using online assessment methods, which allow students to complete and submit their work online from anywhere in the world. Where in-person assessment is required, it may be possible for study abroad students to seek alternative assessment arrangements with the relevant academic department.
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
You may only apply to study in up to three departments.
Some classes may require prerequisites (i.e. Economics, Computer Science, and STEM) that should be taken into account when applying to the University of York. Students wishing to enroll in classes requiring prerequisites should have a strong background in the discipline.
Fourth-year (only certain departments) classes require advanced knowledge of the subject area. You may not eligible to take these classes as an undergraduate study abroad student.
Health Sciences
The department of Health Sciences and the Hull York Medical School do not currently accept study abroad students.
New country, new way of learning!
Here’s what to expect at the University of York:
- More emphasis on independent The university recommends completing ten hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
- More advanced instruction and work than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Because most English university degrees are three-year programs, students gain specialized knowledge faster here.
- Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
- Grades are often based on a single final exam or final paper, or on just a few assignments.
- Choose classes from one department to avoid scheduling conflicts. Local students usually specialize in one department for classes, which means different departments don’t schedule classes with other departments in mind.
- Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including an assigned advisor for academic support. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.
- Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.
Recommendation Letter
Not required.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.
Activities
- The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
- West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theatre district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London/the UK/Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
- Sustainability Garden: Visit a community garden started to rewild urban space and respond to the challenges of urban sustainable food production in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By speaking to gardeners, learn more about the impact of sustainable practices on the biodiversity of urban areas and how they’re trying to widen participation in their local community. Make sure to dress appropriately because we’ll be getting our hands dirty!
Excursions
- Stonehenge and Bath Visit: Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain for around 5,000 years and it’s still unknown how the prehistoric monument came to rest there! Make up your own mind during this visit and discover the fascinating theories behind these rocks. You’ll learn about Stonehenge from the fascinating exhibits and be able to enjoy a virtual sunrise as it rises over the prehistoric stones! Afterward, travel to the Roman city of Bath for a walking tour of this World Heritage city once home to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Gainsborough, Lord Nelson, and Beau Nash. Then prepare to travel back 2,000 years to the Roman era with a visit to the Roman Baths.
- Piers and Queers Brighton Trip: Since the 18th century, Brighton has become a cosmopolitan place of recreation, escape, and freedom. A destination for people who didn’t conform. With an LGBTQ+ population now estimated at 15%, Brighton celebrated England’s first civil partnerships, and hosts the UK’s largest Pride event as well as Europe’s first Trans Pride, rightly earning its title as the LGBTQ+ Capital of Britain. Peers and Queers is a tour of Brighton from LGBTQ+ perspective. This colorful 90-minute walk along the beach and historic city center takes in more than 200 years of history including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life, and political activism. Afterward, there’s time for a walk on the pier and fish and chips, just watch out for seagulls!
- Big Welsh Weekend: Delve into the rich history of Wales and explore its unique culture and its complex relationship with the rest of the UK on a weekend that takes in the famous Tintern Abbey, the historic Raglan Castle, the Blaenavon coal mines, and St Fagan’s, a museum that has preserved buildings and cultural practices from Welsh history. Spend the night in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and discover the Cardiff Bay area, home of the Welsh Parliament.
- Whitby Visit: Spend the day on the Yorkshire coast at the supposed site of Dracula’s first appearance in England! Visit the haunting ruins of the clifftop Whitby Abbey, and discover where Captain Cook—famed for his Pacific voyages and his mapping of Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii—learned his trade before setting sail.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
Housing is typically located on Campus West, in Halifax, Derwent, Vanbrugh, or James Colleges. Residences typically house four to 20 students per floor.
Most residential buildings do not have dining halls—students typically purchase meals on or off campus or prepare meals in shared kitchens. Keep in mind that students who are placed in a residence that has a dining hall incur an extra fee for the cost of meals.
Sample housing
Explore the student village at Halifax College, one York housing option, to see what your space might be like:
- Location: Campus West, on the edge of Heslington village. Walk to the library or centrally located Spring Lane Building in 14 minutes; 10 minutes to the sports center.
- Living space: Each student has a private room with a single bed, desk, wardrobe, sink, and storage. Co-ed buildings house 10 to 20 students. Bathrooms are shared by six or seven students. Students also share kitchens and common areas. Kitchens are equipped with refrigerator, oven, stove, and microwave. Students provide kitchenware, bed sheets, and towels.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals. Many flatmates tell us cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of the day. There are also more than 10 restaurants and cafes on campus, so food is always easy to find.
- Additional details: Laundry on site. Bike storage. Resident advisor on site. Shop and ATM on site. A shuttle bus runs to Campus West if you’d rather skip the 10-minute walk.
- Nearby: Shops and pubs in Heslington Village. York city center is just 3 miles away, about 10 to 15 minutes by bus. Plenty of green space.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
![Kevin Canas](https://ifsa-butler.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Canas-Kevin-LR-232x300.jpg)
Kevin Cañas
Enrollment Counselor