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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
4.04.14.01113 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviewsThe best aspect of my university experience is my lecturers and teachers. They are fantastic at offering guidance and support, and are very encouraging and supportive with my learning. They present the content in a comprehensible way, and I often feel very absorbed in what I am being taught in my lectures and seminars. The worst aspect of my university experience is the fact that there is no ability to watch recorded lectures! This is something many universities have now, especially since COVID, and at times it feels quite frustrating to not look back on a lecture you either missed out on or want to revise. Sometimes it isn't possible to be there for everything, and I really think that the experience would be improved with this simple adjustment.
Taken lots of computers out of the library so difficult to find computers sometimes! The socials are amazing at getting involved and meeting new people even if you’ve never done it before or whether you’ve done your fair share
The library is pretty much available 24/7, there are plenty of quiet places to study on campus, and there are plenty of events to bring the students together. There's support for study abroad, mature students, international students, and much more. It's right in central York, so it's within walking distance of pretty much everything, and there's a bunch of bus stops that will take you just about anywhere in York! I wish the accommodation costs weren't so high though, and the IT support is a bit lacking.
18-24 years
I love that the uni has a 24/7 library which makes it easier for students who don’t like to study at home, I also like that they have a canteen that is cheap and cheerful. The uni also hosts great social events such as societies and pound a pint etc., I can’t really think of much to improve on except that sometimes lecturers don’t look as passionate as they should be when teaching a subject but it isn’t that big of a deal.
18-24 years
First gen student
The library facilities are amazing however there isn’t a lot of seating so it’s beast to go early. I think student support could be improved, they’re not too keen to help unless you have a diagnosis (this may just be my opinion)
The university is great ,the faculty,course ,buildings etc, york is a very expensive place to live and it is hard on a student budget. It is also hard to manage paid work and university work at the same time.
I admire York st John for it's expansive student support, there are numerous study areas within the uni also providing a choice of what type of study environment you prefer wether you prefer complete silence or a bit of life. One slight complaint I would have is the lack of charging facilities within lesson buildings, in the instance that your laptop or any other note taking device is dead you have very little options.
I love the building, it’s so beautiful and takes you back to a simpler time. It is also only a 5 minute walk from the centre of town which makes it the perfect location.
I think the university has a good atmosphere. It feels as though the lecturers and tutors care about their students and push them to do their best. I like where the campus is located and the facilities provided are good. However, I sometimes feel as though communication from the university can sometimes be delayed or insufficient. For example, my friend who had failed a couple of assignments was not notified until very late whether or not they were still eligible to be enrolled on their course. I have also had issues with clear communication on funding for study abroad students, as, for example, my friends and I felt as though the eligibility criteria of the YSJ bursary, SFE travel grant, and the turing scheme was not clearly communicated initially. Although the student support is overall very helpful, I have had a bad experience with the wellbeing team. When I saw a member of the team for something similar to a counselling session, I felt as though the atmosphere was not inviting, my issues were not heard, and I felt uncomfortable through the session. This said, this is only one stand-alone experience, and other meetings with other student support has been mostly positive.
I feel that YSJ is a great place to study because of the student life and support. This is enhanced by the beautiful architecture on campus from the grade 2 listed quad building to the state of the art creative centre. All year round the York campus is a beautiful place to be and is just minutes from the city centre. It could be improved by continuing to take into consideration the views and ideas of students in the students union and across campus.
I love the campus so much, its eco friendly, easily accessible(even for commuters) and overall looks lovely. All the staff are friendly and approachable. I was scared I would get judged for not understanding Korean quickly but that isn't the case. I do feel that Korean classes could start earlier (if possible) so ensure that everyone has the same base level knowledge of the language.
Love this university and the support it gives. I just wish the canteen was open for longer for people that study early evening.
I think York is a beautiful place and the campus reflects that. The diversity and atmosphere of so many places at the uni is astonishing and it really is an incredibly welcoming safe space. I think it would be nice to have more options for accessibility, the dog park for example is really small and paved and isn’t ideal for students with guide dogs.
18-24 years
First gen student
I believe that there could be better use of space in the library, I also believe that exams and assessments could be spaced out better. I think awareness of the support services needs to be spread more as they are there, but it’s hard to access them if you don’t know about them.
18-24 years
The university has great facilities and great support services in place to help while studying. However, I think student accommodation services could be improved, to help students struggling to find nice and affordable places to live, as there are lots of students in York and not enough affordable student housing.
The lecturers are supportive and some good above and beyond at giving advice on projects and coaching as well as mental well-being. However, the board of chancellors who are the heads of the university have been less than ideal at dealing with serious matters and should take note from the lecturers about student well-being.
I love how my university is so small it feels like a community. I love how you see everyone you know around campus and how there are so many nice spots around campus to do work. I love the societies and the nights out.
Best part of my university is teaching method because it is very unique way to share the knowledge very different compare to my country education system as a international students I don't feel any home sickness or very far from home because culture is very similar to my home country. I don't think so there is any bad or worst thing about my university till now.
4.4
YSJ is a brilliant university. Students are treated as people rather than just another number, and as such it's a much more personable experience. There is a wealth of student support available, from academic help, financial advice and mental health support, YSJ is a university that genuinely cares for its students. The location couldn't be better; only 5 minutes walk from the centre of town and the Minster you really feel part of the city. The campus itself is small, and that means it feels a lot more safe and welcoming - very hard to get lost in a campus that only takes you 10 minutes to walk from end-to-end!
War Studies and History is a great course for anyone interested in military history. The course is well-structured with a wide variety of modules covering different eras and topics. The lecturers are knowledgeable and passionate about their chosen fields, and that enthusiasm transfers to the students through their teaching. Lectures are usually 1.5 hours and a follow-up seminar of another 1.5 hour comes later in the week, with subject reading given between to be completed. Lecturers are easily reachable by email and can be booked for a tutorial.
City Residence is - I would argue - the best of the halls of residence offered by YSJ. It's only a 7 minute walk to the uni campus, and a further 5 minutes into the city centre afterwards. It is a 2 minute walk to the Co-Op, and a local corner shop is literally round the corner. There is a park opposite which is nice to go for a walk in during the summer. The rooms are spacious and each come with an ensuite, and the kitchens are large and well-equipped. There are laundry facilities on sight which is helpful, though the only thing I'd say that needs to be improved is that there are only two washers and two driers, which is not enough for the amount of students living at City Residence. Other than that, it's a great place to live.