Things to know this week

UoY community update

Individual exam arrangements for August assessments

If you require individual exam arrangements for any August 2026 assessments, you must provide Disability Services with appropriate supporting information by Friday 22 May.

Looking ahead: Accessibility Awareness Day (14 May)

We're running our first Accessibility Awareness Day with events and activities including accessibility tips, British Sign Language and braille workshops, wheelchair skills tasters, sighted guiding sessions and workshops to improve the student experience.

Wifi update: guests on campus

From next Monday (11 May), our current guest wifi network known as CityConnect will be replaced with a new wifi service known as UoY-Fi. Find out more about connecting to UoY-Fi. 

Reminder: come to the Grad Jobs Fair

Come to the Grad Jobs Fair tomorrow (6 May) to meet employers and explore options for your next step.

Campus Watch 🐣

A pair of Great Tits have begun nesting in a bird box on the Ian Wand Building on Campus East. Watch a live feed for updates on the seven eggs they’ve laid. 

1. Managing exam stress workshop

Worried about upcoming exams? You’re not alone. Come to our online Effective revision and managing exam stress and anxiety workshop on Monday 11 May to discover strategies and skills that will work for you. We cover revision hints and tips, exam technique, useful resources and time management. We’ll also share tips and techniques for managing stress and anxiety in the lead up to exams and on exam day itself.

Full programme of study and digital skills workshops

2. You said, we did: changes to the semester structure from 2026/27

Following extensive consultation, we are introducing changes to our semester structure from 2026/27 in order to address your concerns about engaging with your studies and assessment timelines. Key changes include shortening the winter break and fixing the Late Summer Assessment Period to ensure you receive your results in a timely manner. For a semester planner poster, see our semesters information for students.

Changes to the semester structure

3. Nominate a fellow student (or yourself!) for a Sustainability Award

Nominations are now open for the Student Sustainability Awards 2026, celebrating students making a real difference to environmental sustainability at York and in the city. You can nominate a fellow student, a group, or yourself to recognise impactful work in sustainability. Submit your nomination by midnight on 11 May. The award ceremony will take place at the University’s Green Impact Awards in June 2026.

About the Student Sustainability Awards

4. Come along to the Student Life Awards

The York SU Student Life Awards are taking place on Sunday (10 May) in Central Hall! Whether you're shortlisted for an award or fancy an evening celebrating fellow students, grab your free ticket for the York SU Student Life Awards. 

Register now for the York SU Student Life Awards

5. York Festival of Ideas 2026: Tickets now available

Tickets are now available for York Festival of Ideas (30 May-12 June), featuring over 200 mostly free events, including talks by world-class speakers, walking tours, performances, workshops and more. Events include:

  • Tap Dancing Classes: Beginners
  • Man Up: The new misogyny and the rise of violent extremism
  • Love Machines: How AI is transforming our relationships
  • Space: The Final Frontier
  • Serious Play: Adult learning through games
  • York’s Three Minute Thesis competition
  • Football’s Physical and Virtual Spaces
  • Making Waves: The Art of the Japanese woodblock print

Supported by our generous sponsors, York Festival of Ideas is led by the University of York. 

Browse the full York Festival of Ideas programme

Postgraduate Communities

Staying in York over the summer and looking for something to do? Join our Communities team for a range of opportunities.

  • New trips added to our store including to Whitby, Scarborough, Haworth and Knaresborough
  • Riverboat Cruise • 15 July • 7pm

Offers, competitions and opportunities

  • Join our team this Thursday, 7 May, in the Piazza Foyer (2pm - 5pm) to share your thoughts on a range of key topics at the University, in exchange for free chocolate! From opinions on AI, to time spent on campus, to work experience opportunities and more - your feedback will help shape our University Strategy.
  • Win tickets to the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix with Santander Open Academy
  • Collect up to five free food and hygiene products at the upcoming Shop Save and Sustain pop-ups - spaces are limited and must be booked in advance
  • Be in with a chance to win a £10 or £20 supermarket voucher with the final College Sustainability Challenge
  • In catered accommodation? Star in our next video!

Jobs and opportunities

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

Handshake

Find out more student news

See all updates for students on our website:

Student news

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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University of York
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www.york.ac.uk

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