York St John University guarantees accommodation for all first-year undergraduate students who meet the application deadlines, but returning students are generally unable to get back into university-managed accommodation, so most move into private student accommodation from second year onwards. York is a compact city and almost all private accommodation near campus is within easy walking distance, which makes it one of the more straightforward student cities to find a good place to live.
Abode sits just off Walmgate within the historic city walls, less than 20 minutes on foot from campus, with en-suite rooms, studios, and twin apartments, bills included, and a courtyard, gym, and social spaces on site. Percy’s Place is right in the city centre between both York universities, with en-suite rooms, a gym, cinema room, and all-inclusive bills, and no deposit required. Student Castle York offers studios and twin rooms in the heart of the city, with a 24-hour gym, cinema room, games lounge, and a rooftop terrace.
If you are looking for something newer, Raffles Hall is a recently opened development around 20 minutes on foot from the YSJ campus, with en-suite rooms, study spaces, and a communal lounge. Waterloo House opened in 2025 and is around eight minutes on foot from the city centre, with all-inclusive bills and good bus links to campus. Vita Student York is another well-regarded city centre option worth considering. Browse our full range of student accommodation in York for everything currently available.
York St John University traces its roots to 1841, when St John’s College opened in York as an Anglican teacher training college. A women’s college followed in 1846, and the two eventually merged in 1974 before the institution gained full university status in 2006. Today it has around 8,000 students across five schools, a compact 11-acre campus in the city centre, and a clear identity built around teaching quality, social inclusion, and community. It is part of the Cathedrals Group of Universities and has invested over £100 million in its campus over the last decade, including the Fountains Learning Centre, a new Creative Centre with theatre, recital room and editing suites, and enhanced facilities for nursing, biomedical science, and occupational therapy.
York St John was ranked 105th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2026 and 115th by the Guardian University Guide 2026. It received a Gold award for Student Experience in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, with a Silver overall rating. In the National Student Survey 2025, 93% of students gave a positive rating for how well teaching staff explain things, and the university was ranked 10th for overall postgraduate satisfaction in the Postgraduate Teaching Experience Survey 2025. It was named University of the Year for Social Inclusion by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025. For the latest rankings, visit the Complete University Guide.
York St John’s campus sits on Lord Mayor’s Walk, just inside the city walls and around a 10-minute walk from the city centre. York Minster is visible from the campus. The city is well connected by rail, with Leeds around 25 minutes away, Newcastle under an hour, Edinburgh around two and a half hours, and London King’s Cross under two hours on fast services.
York St John places a strong emphasis on practical, career-focused learning, with work placements built into many courses. Visit the York St John careers pages for information on the support available throughout your studies.
Visit the York St John University website for current tuition fee information for home and international students.
York St John offers a range of financial support including bursaries for students from lower-income households, a Care Leaver’s Scholarship, support for estranged students, and funding for students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. The university also offers an alumni discount for postgraduates who completed their undergraduate degree at York St John. Full details are on the York St John funding pages.
York is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the UK and is an exceptional city to be a student in. It is small enough to feel like a community but has more than enough going on — over 20 museums, a thriving independent food and drink scene, live music, theatre, and a compact but lively nightlife. The city walls form a walkway around the centre, York Minster dominates the skyline, and the Shambles is one of the most photographed streets in the country. The National Railway Museum is free and genuinely world-class. It is also one of the most cycle-friendly cities in England, which matters when most of your accommodation, campus, and social life are all within a mile of each other.
York St John’s Students’ Union runs over 60 sports clubs and societies, with weekly events including live sports screenings, quiz nights, and regular social events. The university’s Sports Park on Haxby Road, around a mile from campus, has a 3G pitch, sports science labs, and a range of facilities for student use. The Creative Centre on campus has a large auditorium used for student performances throughout the year, and York Theatre Royal, City Screen York, and York Art Gallery are all within easy walking distance for students who want to get involved in the city’s cultural scene.
York has two universities, and the student community across the city is larger than YSJ’s size alone suggests. The city centre pubs, bars, and independent cafes on Gillygate, Micklegate, and around Walmgate are well-established parts of student social life, and the fact that the campus, accommodation, and nightlife are all so close together makes it easier than most cities to actually have a social life without spending half the evening getting there.
For weekends away, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are both within easy reach, and the coast at Scarborough and Whitby is under an hour and a half by bus or train. Leeds is close enough for a day trip or a night out, and Newcastle and Edinburgh are straightforward by rail.
Yes. York St John guarantees accommodation for all first-year undergraduate students, including UK, EU, and international students, as long as you meet the application deadlines. The university offers a choice of its own managed sites and partner provider sites, all within a mile of campus. Returning students are generally not able to get back into university-managed accommodation, so most move into private student accommodation from second year. Full details and deadlines are on the York St John accommodation pages.
York is more affordable than most southern university cities, though prices have risen in recent years alongside increased demand. Private student accommodation ranges from more budget-friendly en-suite rooms through to newer premium studios. Waterloo House is among the more affordable options on this page, while newer developments like Raffles Hall and Student Castle York sit at the higher end. Use the price filter on this page to find options that work for your budget.
York is one of the most walkable student cities in the UK. The YSJ campus, city centre, and most private accommodation on this page are all within 20 minutes on foot of each other. The city also has well-maintained cycling routes and most accommodation has secure bike storage. For getting further afield, York train station is around 15 minutes on foot from campus and has frequent services to Leeds, Newcastle, and London.
York St John has a strong reputation for teaching quality and student experience. It received a Gold award for Student Experience in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 and was named University of the Year for Social Inclusion by the Times and Sunday Times 2025. In the National Student Survey 2025, 93% of students rated teaching staff positively for how well they explain things. It is particularly strong in arts, humanities, education, health sciences, business, and sport.
For university-managed accommodation, apply as soon as possible after accepting your offer to make sure you meet the guarantee deadlines. For private student accommodation, the earlier the better — York is a popular student city shared between two universities, and well-located properties close to the YSJ campus tend to fill from around January or February for the following September. Browse our current listings of student accommodation near York St John University to see what is available now.
York has more than most cities its size. The city walls, York Minster, the Shambles, and the National Railway Museum are all on the doorstep, and the independent bar and restaurant scene around Gillygate, Micklegate, and Walmgate gives the city a genuinely local feel. City Screen York, York Theatre Royal, and York Art Gallery cover film, theatre, and visual art. For getting outdoors, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are both within easy reach, and Scarborough and Whitby are under an hour and a half away. For more ideas, visit our guide to student accommodation in York.
Whether you’ve managed to bag your spot at one of the UK’s most prestigious seats of learning, or you’re just happy to have gotten a place in your university of choice, one thing is for sure – if this is your first year of university, you’re almost certainly going to catch freshers’ flu. A common…
There are many universities in the UK for international students, but the number of choices can be a little overwhelming at first glance. While many higher education institutions in the UK can be an excellent academic choice, there are other factors like cost of living, lifestyle, and accommodation options that can influence your decision. So,…
So, you’re on the hunt for student things to do in Leeds but your wallet is looking a little thin. If you want to seek out a fun day or night without messing up your budget, you may be wondering what you can do in Leeds for free. Well, don’t worry – the good news is that…
