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Student Support

Owned by Aoife Burke
Last updated: 13 Dec, 2022
3 min read

Ways we support our students

Looking after our short course students is something we put a lot of time and effort into. We aim to ensure all our students have an enjoyable time in York both in and outside the classroom. We have several processes which we have put in place to ensure we know about any students issues and can react to them in a speedy manner. As University of York students, your students will also have access to the many student support services which are provided to all York students.   

Week 1-2 Evaluation


We use online feedback forms or small group tutorials as a vehicle for mid-course formative evaluation. Tutors continually monitor issues that arise in the delivery of the programme through regular contact with participants. See here for further details.

Weekly Class Representative Meetings

The programme manager and programme administrator have a weekly meeting with the class representative/s to establish whether there are any issues with the group. The programme administrator will ask the class rep about the group's experience living with a host family or in campus accommodation, about their physical health and their social life. While the programme manager focuses their questions on more course-related topics such as the level of challenge of the classes, project progress, and general course feedback. See here for more details.

Student Safeguarding and Welfare Procedures

We have written detailed Safeguarding and Welfare Procedures.pdf which outlines how we aim to deal with student welfare issues should they arise. See here for further details

Email Contact

The students are given both the programme manager and programme administrator's email before they arrive in York and can ask any questions via email before, throughout or after the programme. 

Visit our offices

Our offices are located in Derwent College and all students are shown this location on the first day of their course, students are welcome to come by the offices during working hours to ask questions or discuss an issue with the team.

Derwent College

All our students automatically became members of Derwent College when they study with us. The College has a wellbeing team whose role is to support students during their time at York. The team of dedicated staff can provide coaching and guidance for all Derwent students or help them access the right support and information depending on the student issue. As members of Derwent College, all York programmes students can access support from this team.

College Reception

The University of York has nine colleges across its two campuses. Every student and building on campus is part of one of these colleges. Each college has a reception and receptionist who is on hand to support students, staff and members of the public when on campus. They can provide help with directions if the students are lost on campus, they hold lost property items and communicate with other colleges regarding lost property, they are a first point of contact for a first aid problem. If the students are staying in campus accommodation, the reception is their main contact for issues related to their accommodation, i.e they lose their key, the fridge stops working etc. 

24/7 security on campus

The University's Security Officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They provide first response for everyone on campus. All their officers are first aid trained and part of the Mental Health First Contact network. They can be contacted on 01904 32 4444. All students are provided with this number in their student handbook.

SafeZone app

The students can get help on campus with a simple tap on their phone by installing the SafeZone app. Through the app they have access to Security 24/7 and they will also receive any critical notifications from the University. The students are encouraged and shown how to download this app in their first day orientation lesson. 

App features

  • Emergency call - if your personal safety or that of others is (or has been) threatened
  • First aid call - if you or others require medical assistance (all Security Officers are first aid trained)
  • Help desk - for non-urgent help on campus
  • Lone working - make Security aware that you’re working alone outside office hours
  • Torch - useful for walking to your car on campus at night, with handy access to SafeZone if you need it