By a Second-Year Business and Management Student
When I began searching for universities, I sought more than just a degree. As a prospective Business and Management student, I sought the ideal balance of academic excellence, a caring campus culture and a fulfilling city life.
I wanted a school that met my academic needs but also felt like home. York is the perfect place – and it has the best of both worlds just steps away. The juxtaposition of a calm campus and vibrant city has shaped my experience to levels beyond what I expected.
Central Hall, University of York
The course and campus that attracted me
Before even visiting York, it felt like the right choice because the Business and Management course was systematic yet purposeful. The modules were aligned with relevant research, facilitating critical thinking instead of basic comprehension. Having an honest depth to the study was exciting as it made the course feel very current and applicable.
College life: community you can feel
I’m from Vanbrugh College, and what I love most about it is the sense of community it fosters. It’s big enough to continuously meet new people, but small enough that familiar faces pop up everywhere. The staff are incredibly supportive, and I found preliminary events helpful for a seamless transition.
One such memorable moment occurred during Welcome Week. My flatmates and I stayed up all night in the kitchen, simply talking to each other. Even though we were strangers at this time, we gravitated toward each other and conversation. It was a natural and comforting experience. It made me realise that I wasn’t just starting a new life at York; I was establishing a community.
Calm corners, green spaces
The campus at York feels spacious and rarely busy enough to be overwhelming. Every corner provides moments of quiet that make studying easier. My favourite place is The Quiet Place between some trees (it’s not well known). It feels slightly out of the way but close enough to everything else there. It’s comfortable enough to sit there with a cup of coffee for clarity pre-deadline, or just to relish calmness during the day. It’s peaceful without feeling isolating.
Additionally, the campus is gratifyingly interconnected. Lectures, libraries, cafés, and social spaces are all close enough.
Geese at one of the city parks!
A city that’s cosy, inviting, and full of personality
I feel that York’s greatest advantage is that it allows its students to have their cake and eat it, too. There’s never any compromising needed between tranquility and enthusiasm – there’s an ease of transitioning from one sphere to another seamlessly.
For example, it’s possible to have a calm morning on campus before being submerged in history, culture, and cafés after just minutes of walking into town.
Personally, my favourite activity is to walk the City Walls at sunset at least once a month. It’s a wonderful way to clear my mind as I digest life with the rooftops and the Minster cathedral close by. Despite doing it several times, it never loses its charm.
Then there’s Brew & Brownie café – everyone in York must visit this famous highlight at least once! Even though it’s a short walk away from main attractions, every guest I’ve ever taken there understands why it’s a student-favourite location. And, the brownies are one of a kind!
Yet what surprised me most about moving here was how small York is – it’s incredibly accessible. You can walk from the Minster to riverside pathways or shops to independent cafés without feeling overwhelmed by distance. York boasts personality and history without chaos.
York Minster in the background
The ability to balance it all
York lets me maintain a rhythm between productivity and enjoyment as I’m given distinct spaces for each facet of life. For example, I consider campus my “work zone,” where I focus solely on lectures and studying, while the city is the “life zone,” where I reconvene with myself outside academia. There, I can recharge my battery so I’m well-equipped during the week.
For example, I’ll find myself in the library by 10:30am every day during the week for lectures until late afternoon roll call. This is when I often bike into town to various cafés or stroll along the river after a long day. My weekends slow down significantly; I find myself strolling around The Shambles Market or sitting by the water, just enjoying nature.
Why York Is home
When people ask me what makes York so unique, I tell them that every little detail makes it whole – from academic prestige to a relaxing atmosphere. There’s a city endowed with personality and charm, and the University is a place where everyone can feel supported instead of lost.
York is one of the few places where students can enjoy tranquillity before submerging in culture, without ever setting foot on public transportation, and all within a single day. As such, it makes student life full yet grounded.
If someone were to ask me why they should attend York, I’d tell them this: it’s not enough to come here and get an education; it’s another thing to be educated here and find a home, because that’s what occurred for me!
Because what makes York home for me is simply this: people, calmness, and community where you feel as if you’ve belonged ever since the moment you set foot on campus.
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