York St John University has a proud history of widening access and participation in higher education. This continues to be a central part of the institution’s culture, demonstrated through our mission, values and our whole institution approach to equality, diversity and social mobility.
Our outreach and student support teams are passionate about minimising the barriers which can prevent students from accessing and succeeding in Higher Education.
Pre-Entry Support
Our Contextual Offer Scheme looks at more than academic grades to make sure all students get the chance they deserve.
We take many things into account when we offer a place on one of our courses. As well as academic potential, we also look at factors which often prevent students from coming to university, including time spent in care. Based on these factors we assign applicants points which may then reduce the offer we make and bring university within closer reach.
Full details on the points and the eligible courses can be found on our website.
A designated member of staff from our Specialist Support team will also contact all those
applicants who tick the “in care” box on their UCAS form and advise them about the support available once they arrive at York St John University, as well as provide any help with the transition into Higher Education.
On Course Support
The Specialist Support team offers dedicated advice and guidance to all our diverse student communities, including care leavers.
We recognise that some students benefit from specialist support during their studies to
ensure they get the most out of their University experience, and we provide 1 to 1 support for a range of different circumstances. A designated member of staff can also liaise with Local Authority Leaving Care teams, as well as other York St John teams, on an ongoing basis to offer joined-up support to individual students.
You can contact the team at [email protected] for more advice or information.
Care leavers are guaranteed University accommodation all year round if they would like it in their first year. They are also prioritised if they apply to return to University accommodation after their first year.
Care Leavers are automatically entitled to a YSJ Care Leavers Scholarship which provides
£800 cash for each academic year of study that the student is eligible. They can also apply for the Find Your Future bursary which offers a further £500 per academic year, following engagement with our Careers or Opportunities teams.