The community feel at York is unmatched- the encouragement to be involved in college opportunities, course opportunities and university wide opportunity is like a warm hug! Not to mention the convenience of living on a campus meaning you are only ever half an hour from your lectures, seminars and friends! I would say York could improve by lowering the cost of living at University- the accommodation prices are extremely high in comparison to other universities in the UK.

My course is incredible as I am meeting so many people on other courses such as social work, law, etc. I love the content of my course, especially when lectures use QR codes to ask for our opinions in lectures, keeping lectures engaging. The worse aspect is having to get up for that Tuesday 9am!

I love that I have a double bed, an ensuite and a sociable kitchen space- perfect for hosting pres! It's also ideal that we are a two minute walk from the bus stop that gets us to the other side of campus, into town, to the train station, etc. I am not so fond that I am paying almost £9000 for the year when other student halls at the University of York are essentially exactly the same but for 2/3 of the price!

My experience as a student at the University of York is a valuable one because it provided me with both academic and professional skills necessary for a future career, but also personal skills that helped me grow as an individual. Firstly, all the staff members that I had been in contact with had been really lovely and keen to help me succeed in my academic journey. As an international student, I thought at the beginning that I would not be able to meet all the demands and excel in my domain. However, my work alongside the support received from my lecturers helped me understand key topics, improve my organisational skills to finish assignments on time and improve my grades as the years went by. Although it was not easy, I can see now while reflecting that my lecturers challenged me and my classmates to become more open-minded, to be able to question the information we receive and to be confident in our knowledge. Besides an amazing academic experience, it is also a great place to study due to an overall sense of community. In terms of societies, events or sports teams there is something available for everyone and even if you do not find something that you enjoy, you can always ask to establish your own society to meet like-minded people. This level of inclusivity and thoughtfulness was also really noticeable during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As everything was moved online and we lost most of our social interactions, the university's main priority was the students' well-being and their access to education. For example, there were support funds that every student could apply for in case they had financial issues, packs were being sent for Christmas and Easter for students who could not leave their student housing to go back home and students were updated every week regarding any changes that may impact their education. Thus, students were prioritised regardless of other uncertain circumstances. Nevertheless, I am aware that the university is not perfect in itself. Although I did not have any bad encounters as a student, I can understand that each one of us has different perceptions and experiences within an academic environment. However, after being a student here for 4 years and getting feedback about other universities from my peers, I can say for sure that this university is trying its best to meet outstanding standards, deliver academic excellence and make everyone (student or staff member) a part of the 'family' and sometimes this is the key factor that makes the difference.

Overall, my course was well organised and helped me get a comprehensive understanding of my field of interest. It allowed me to research and write about the topics that I was passionate about while also providing me with the necessary knowledge that will help me to work on my weaknesses. In addition, as a student with such a varied degree, I am able to choose from different work fields depending on what I am interested in (e.g. it can be as varied as politics, civil servant, police/prison/probation officer to charity work). The only downside is in terms of placements/internship experience. As I have studied during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the practical course that I was most excited about (i.e. studying alongside prisoners) was cancelled. However, I am aware this was not something that the university could have controlled as it was a decision influenced by multiple factors.

No