If you haven't received your student loan yet, see our student loans page to double check you've completed all the actions needed for your loan to be released. If you have completed all these steps and still not received your student finance, contact the Student Support Team for help and advice.

We introduced semesters in 2023 with the aim of better balancing the demands of teaching and assessment throughout the year. It also allowed for more interdisciplinary study, as well as studying or working abroad. After two years, we want to hear your thoughts on how our semester structure works for you. Please complete our short semesters survey with your feedback.

Whether this is your first time away from home or you are coming back to study after a break, starting university is a time of great change. The first few weeks can be quite bewildering and it’s not unusual to feel lost or lonely. You’re not on your own in feeling this way - read what fellow students felt as they began at York and see our 8 tips to help with settling into uni.

We’re with you all the way. When you attend teaching sessions, you may be asked to ‘check-in’ at the start. Check-In is our support tool that helps us to quickly identify if it looks like you may be struggling or experiencing difficulties. If it looks like you're not engaging with your studies, we will reach out with guidance and support. You can now access Check-In quickly and easily via the MyUoY app.

New to the UK university system? Don’t know your lectures from your seminars or how to prepare for them? You’re not alone. Our Higher Education Essentials Guide covers the basics of what studying for a degree in the UK looks like and answers many questions you may be nervous to ask. We cover everything from types of teaching and assessment to different ways of learning, plus the support services available and more. And that’s not all. Sign up for the online workshop Making the most of lectures, seminars and tutorials (log-in required) on Wednesday 8 October 2025 to learn how to thrive in the diverse learning environments at York.

Coming back to university from a break? Join our online Returning to education (log-in required) workshop on Monday 6 October 2025 to help your transition into higher education go seamlessly.

A university library might feel like a big and intimidating place. See our Library quickstart guide to help you find your feet. 

Returning to York? See our practical guide for returning students for the skills you’ll need to develop in your middle and final years.

And even if you think you know university libraries, do you really know the Library? With a range of tools to help with organising information, keeping track of your notes and working collaboratively, be sure to come along to our Introduction to useful digital tools at York (log-in required) on Wednesday 24 September 2025 for top tips on making the most of technology in your studies. 

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, mental health difficulty or a long-term health condition, you may be eligible for academic support and adjustments. Find out more about disability support that might be available to you and come along to disability advice drop-in sessions in the Library foyer this week. 

You need to contact Disability Services even if you had individual exam arrangements at school, college or a previous university, as this will not be added to your record automatically - you must complete our Disability Services Registration Form and provide supporting information. The deadline to provide evidence for individual exam arrangements for the January 2026 assessment period is Friday 24 October 2025.

Get stuck into life at York with our volunteering opportunities. You’ll gain work experience, develop valuable skills and support our wider York community. There are a range of exciting roles to explore with different levels of commitment. Activities include helping local children to thrive, researching case studies and producing digital reports, creating social media content or leading on events. Apply by 1 October 2025 for placements in Community Projects or York Students in Schools. We also have many charity volunteering roles throughout the year. Join the volunteering mailing list for more information.

Log on to Handshake, our careers platform, for jobs and opportunities:

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Things to know this week is produced and distributed by the University's Internal Communications Team. Please email any feedback to 
student-communications@york.ac.uk.

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