York St John University

HISTORY

York St John University (originally established as York Diocesan College) is a public university located on a large urban campus in York, England. It achieved university status in 2006. It is one of several higher education institutions which have religious foundations.

The university descends from two Anglican teacher training colleges, which were founded in York in 1841 (for men) and 1846 (for women). In 1862, the women’s college relocated to Ripon. Over the next century, the colleges gradually diversified their education programmes. The colleges, St John’s College and Ripon College, merged in 1974 to form the “College of Ripon and York St John”.

In 1990 the combined institution formally became a college of the University of Leeds; this arrangement allowed it to award degrees in the name of the latter, while remaining in practice largely autonomous. Between 1999 and 2001, all activities were transferred to York and the college received the name “York St John College”.

In February 2006, the College was granted the right to award degrees in its own name and the right to call itself a University College. On 10 July 2006 the Privy Council approved a request from the college to become a full-fledged University; the name became “York St John University” on 1 October 2006 once granted by Tony Blair, and the first Chancellor (installed at a ceremony in York Minster on 7 March 2007) is the Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

COURSES

As of 2015/16, there were 5,980 students, reading a wide variety of subjects, in nine Schools:

• Art and Design
• Education
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
• Religion and Philosophy
• Languages and Linguistics
• Performance and Media Production
• Psychological and Social Sciences
• Sport and York Business School

Around 100 degree course options are available to students at foundation and undergraduate level, including film and television production (see filmmaking), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, literature, linguistics, psychology, counselling, business management, marketing, tourism, history, music, art, design, theatre, dance, sport related programmes, psychology, theology and primary education.

At postgraduate and post-experience level, York Business School offers a suite of Masters programmes including a new MBA programme. Other subject areas offered at postgraduate level include theology, education, theatre, fine art, film production, music composition, counselling, health, linguistics and TESOL.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Most courses at York St John require 3 A levels (or equivalent) at grade C or above.

International applicants should visit their website to find out more about their entry requirements.

ACADEMIC STRENGTHS

The university specialises in Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) courses, with Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy also among the top courses in the UK.

TEACHING STANDARDS

They are highly rated for student satisfaction scores for teaching quality. They care about the quality of their teaching and they listen to their students’ feedback. Much of their learning will be done in lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops but they will also experience group work, learning via Moodle, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), work placements, client-projects, practical and studio work.

The mix and number of contact hours will depend on which course they are studying.

Their students consistently tell them that their staff (both academic and support staff) are approachable, friendly and supportive and their Academic tutor system ensures that they have all the support they need.

CAREERS GUIDANCE

They have a dedicated and professional team of careers advisers to give them the advice and guidance they may need.

Their careers team offers specialist advice on finding a job whilst they study and when they graduate.

They run skills workshops, job shop and fairs, volunteering, internships and overseas opportunities.

They can help them to choose their career path, assist them with CV writing and interview skills, and give them access to their comprehensive databases of opportunities.

They run employability skills sessions, careers fairs, workshops and presentations.

They also work with their academic tutors to ensure that employability is built into their courses from the outset.