At York, we're taking action to become the University of Opportunity - a lifetime commitment to removing barriers so that no student is left behind. We're making access to university fairer, so no one is held back by their background or postcode.

Through your support, the University of Opportunity Fund is helping to provide targeted interventions and financial support for students across these groups:

• Students from less advantaged backgrounds with low household income.
• Students with a physical or mental disability.
• Care experienced and estranged students.
• Mature students.
• Students from an ethnic minority background (including South Asian (UK), Black (UK), and Traveller communities).
• First-generation to university students.

In 2024/25, your incredible donations have supported vital programmes and activities across all stages of the student experience, including: 

• Over 1,100 young people engaged in one of our access programmes, including Shine, Aspire Together, and Next Step York.
• Over 135 independent students with care experience or family estrangement were supported with dedicated bursaries.
• 237 year 12 and year 13 students participated in the Black Access programme.
• 321 students participated in Step Ahead York, aimed at helping new students with the transition to university life, and 43 student buddies from our student communities supported 118 new students to offer friendly advice, share their experience, and settle into campus life through the Student Buddies programme.
• 65 York Futures scholarships awarded, supporting students to gain valuable work-related experience and career-enhancing opportunities.
• 47 YuFund projects supported, enabling students to take part in activities, foster community, and thrive whilst they are here with us.

Meet Emily, a third year student studying Criminal Justice and Social Policy. She received a bursary to support her living and associated study costs and shares the difference the University of Opportunity Fund made in helping her access university and thrive while here:

“I’m originally from Bradford. I grew up in a single-parent household with my three siblings. I was the first person in my family to go to university at the typical age. The school I attended was okay while I was there, but it gradually got worse, and after I left, Ofsted rated it very poorly.

In my first year at York, I accessed support from the college team, like the college manager, which was great. I also immediately got a Student Support Plan put in place, with support from the Open Door team. Since being at York, I genuinely feel like the last two years have been the best two years of my life.

Being supported by the University of Opportunity has been more than just financial help. The support empowered me to build connections and explore career options. There are things I want to do now that I probably wouldn’t have even known about or considered if it weren’t for the support I have received.

I think the University of Opportunity is important for students because everyone deserves the opportunity to be educated, and finances shouldn’t be the sole reason why that can’t happen. It’s such a shame that so many intelligent people never get the chance to utilise their abilities because of financial barriers. 

The University’s ambition to close gaps in access, success, and progression is incredible. Being a student who’s received that support, it feels like the University is investing in you, and everyone really wants you to succeed. For the first time in my life, it feels like a level playing field. The scholarship brings you up to the same level as others, and now it’s just about how much effort you want to put in.”

With your help, we can ensure more students like Emily can access university and thrive whilst they are here. In the coming year and beyond, we will continue to strive towards this goal, working hand in hand with our teams on the ground to dismantle the obstacles to access and success, steadfast in our belief that a student’s starting point should never limit their future. Find out how you can support students like Emily through a gift to the University of Opportunity Fund.

Supporting young people in our region 

We are committed to bridging the educational gaps prevalent in our region. We know that opening the doors to higher education is a transformative step in raising aspirations. By working alongside teachers, partners, and our generous donor community, we are providing the outreach and resources necessary to empower students to pursue their ambitions, whether through university, training, or employment. Through innovative, community-embedded learning centres in York and along the east coast, we are actively closing attainment gaps and making a step change in social mobility. 

This year, your support has helped us to: 

• Officially launch our two new IntoUniversity Centres in Grimsby and Bridlington, in partnership with IntoUniversity and the University of Hull. 
• Supported 3,702 children across our three IntoUniversity Centres - supporting children in Grimsby, Bridlington, and in the Marfleet area of Hull through after-school sessions, focus weeks, and campus visits. 
• Engage 520 young people in academic support and confidence-building activities at our dedicated community space, The Place, in the heart of Westfield, York. 

In Spring 2025, we were delighted to see the Bridlington and Grimsby IntoUniversity Centres, established in partnership with IntoUniversity and the University of Hull, officially launch. The incredible impact of our three IntoUniversity learning centres in Hull East, Bridlington, and Grimsby would not be possible without the kindness and support of donors like you. You are ensuring that young people in our region feel supported, encouraged, and motivated, as they move through some of their most formative years and look toward their futures. 

Here in York, two years on from opening our doors to the community of Westfield in the south-west of York, The Place has gone from strength to strength. The Place is now somewhere people feel they belong, and where families are supported, as we build toward bright futures for the young people of our city through addressing the educational inequalities faced by those just a few miles from the University campus. Your philanthropic generosity is having a great impact on the lives of young people in the Westfield area of York. 

Supporting the next generation of scientists 

GenerationResearch provides paid and stipend-supported technical and research opportunities to talented UK students from diverse backgrounds, with a commitment to providing practical solutions to creating sustainable diversity in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Medicine). 

This year, thanks to the generosity of donors and partner organisations, GenerationResearch supported: 

• 44 students to undertake summer studentships hosted by 14 partner companies and universities. 
• Four new Master's by Research studentships.
• Two brand new PhD projects.

Meet Gloria (Medicine, Hull York Medical School), who completed a GenerationResearch placement in summer 2025: 

“I applied for a GenerationResearch studentship to gain a greater understanding of the research process and how it related to Medicine and policy change. My summer internship experience has made me want to think about a career in research - it has opened my eyes to a completely new world, and I'm so grateful for that.”

This year, GenerationResearch attracted summer applications from over 600 undergraduate students across Yorkshire. Dr Jillian Barlow, Director of GenerationResearch, shares why opportunities like these are critical for the future of science in the UK:

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges with compassion. We were delighted in 2025 to be reaccredited as a University of Sanctuary, reaffirming our role as a safe and compassionate community for refugees and asylum seekers.

As a University of Sanctuary, we use our diverse research to spark collaboration and create real-world solutions. It is thanks to your generosity and support for the York Sanctuary Fund that we are able to deliver on these commitments, offering hope and safety to those who need it most while securing a brighter tomorrow. Your contributions are helping us build a lasting, meaningful lifeline for people seeking sanctuary. 

The York Sanctuary Fund

Thanks to your incredible support for sanctuary-seeking students at York, in 2024/25, we welcomed three new Equal Access Scholars to begin their studies in York from Gaza, Singapore, and Sudan.   

This year, your support for the York Sanctuary Fund has: 

• Provided 12 Equal Access Scholarships, supporting students seeking refuge in the UK to access a university education and find safety and sanctuary whilst they are here.
• Supported 6 Human Rights Defenders to participate in the Protective Fellowship Schemes at the Centre for Applied Human Rights.
• Sponsored 1 CARA (Council for At Risk Academics) Fellow from Gaza.

We are delighted to share CARA Fellow Saeed’s story here, demonstrating the impact a CARA fellowship can have for academics at risk.

Saeed grew up in Syria amid escalating political repression and economic collapse. Saeed was enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Damascus when the 2011 civil war erupted, triggering rampant inflation, currency devaluation, and brutal crackdowns on student protesters. In 2016, facing imminent conscription, Saeed relocated to the UK with the support of a Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) Fellowship, arriving in York to begin his postdoctoral studies at the University of York in 2020.

“All my life, during my undergraduate studies, I dreamed of doing a PhD, but it always felt like a far-fetched dream. PhD positions in Syria are very scarce, and the process is long—seven or eight years—and even then, there’s no guarantee of an academic career. It always seemed unlikely. But despite all the bad things happening during the civil war, there was this small glimmer of hope, which was CARA.

The CARA fellowship changed my life: it brought me from the front lines of uncertainty to the frontiers of research. CARA put me on the path toward my dream of becoming an academic. It was life-changing on so many levels. CARA’s fellowship opened up many possibilities and prospects for me. I’m very thankful, because it didn’t limit my vision to just what’s in front of me, but exposed me to a wider array of things. The research I’ve done here has taught me so much. The quality and interdisciplinary nature of the research is fascinating. I feel like York is a place where I could put down roots; I feel connected here.

I learned that not everything is solved by science alone. CARA expanded my network and exposure, giving me ideas about what I want to do in the future. The CARA fellowship made all of that accessible, so neither my family nor I had to suffer. Without CARA’s support, neither of us could have managed this. Now that I’m working, I can also support my family. 

I can never say thank you enough for your generous support. I wouldn’t be here without you. I’m forever in your debt, and I know I can never repay it in the same way. I promise that I’ll always pay it forward in any way I can.”

Back in June, Refugee Week 2025 celebrated ‘Community as a Superpower’, and it is thanks to our incredible community of alumni and donors that we can continue to provide this essential support to those seeking sanctuary at York. In June, we shared alum and Sanctuary Fund supporter Jerry’s story. Listen again to Jerry sharing why this cause is so important to him:

Mentally Fit York is the University's fund to transform mental health through supporting on-the-ground initiatives and the latest groundbreaking research. Your generosity this year has been a transformative force during a critical period for mental health globally. By investing in both high-level research and direct student support, you are helping us combat the significant rise in mental health issues. We are profoundly grateful for your role in supporting research and interventions that deliver innovative solutions to those who need them most.

In 2025, 65 people took part in The Great York Walk, walking up to 25 miles around our beautiful city for Mentally Fit York. The collective effort of our walkers and donors has unlocked essential resources. This funding is already being deployed to drive both practical, community-based initiatives and advanced research. 

This year, your support for Mentally Fit York has: 

• Provided 5 new Mental Health Nursing Scholarships to support the next generation of mental health nurses to study at York and improve access to university education. 
• Funded 8 Mentally Fit York projects. These projects lay the groundwork for innovative mental health research and accelerate the development of research findings into mental health policy and practice. 

Allyson (BSc Mental Health Nursing) received the Mentally Fit York Scholarship during her time at York, graduating in January 2025. Allyson is also a parent and the founder of a peer mentorship project that supports students to find their confidence again. Allyson shared the impact a Mentally Fit York Scholarship made for her:

“Receiving the Mentally Fit York Scholarship made me feel so relieved. My money anxieties disappeared. I could use the funds to explore my future by attending multiple global conferences, plenary sessions, and learning more about what it's like to be a global nurse. Not having access to money caused financial anxiety, and I wondered if I’d need to work extra shifts. The scholarship relieved all that. Patients see the best of me because I’ve been taken care of, and with my basic needs met, I can give more.

Supporting mental health initiatives like Mentally Fit York is vital. As an incoming mental health professional, I understand the benefits of being mentally fit. Supporting Mentally Fit York will always be a priority and passion for me.” 

Join Allyson and all of our 2025 Graduates on York For Life, to connect with alumni around the world, reconnect with those you studied with, and find opportunities and support just for our alumni.

Reflections on Mental Health Research at York

Ahead of World Mental Health Day in October 2025, we spoke to Professor Scott Cairney, internationally recognised expert in the cognitive neuroscience of sleep and mental health, as he began his term as new Director of the Institute for Mental Health Research at York (IMRY). Scott reminded us of the urgent need for support for mental health research, how York is actively charting a course to a hopeful future, and shared advice for how we can look after our mental health through small, but mighty actions:  

“It’s a real honour to be leading Mental Health Research at the University of York. It’s really exciting for me, because we have so many talented people at York working in many fascinating areas of mental health research and, more broadly, in other areas like biomedical research and environmental studies.

The economic cost of mental health disorders is estimated to be around $6 trillion per year by 2030, and that's only going to grow. At York, we have research across the whole spectrum, from cellular work all the way up to research that looks at large-scale populations and trends across different areas, and also into how environmental factors feed into these questions. York’s real strength is its diversity, and bringing together that diversity and interdisciplinarity is central to addressing new questions and unlocking the understanding needed to address these challenges.

On an individual level, the key message is to be kind to yourself. One of the key ways you can do that is by making sure you allow enough time for your sleep and your rest. Sleep is just as important to our health and well-being as eating food and drinking water. We really need to make sure sleep gets the respect it deserves, and I think that’s an important message for everyone to remember.”

Thank you for supporting Mental Health at York - your generosity creates a powerful ripple effect, enhancing wellbeing through diverse programs that reach well beyond the University. 

We were also thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with the Wolfson Foundation and unveil plans for the Wolfson Digital Archaeology and Heritage Laboratory. Made possible only through the generous support of the Wolfson Foundation’s £700,000 gift, the facility will bring together the University’s world-leading research in Archaeology and Heritage, integrated with cutting-edge digital technologies. Nicky Milner, Head of the Department of Archaeology, shared the significance of this investment:

“This opportunity will bring our specialists together and fund state-of-the-art equipment to provide a one-stop shop for the academic community and the public to access our expertise in digital archaeology and heritage. We are extremely grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for helping us realise this dream." 

Elsewhere on campus in 2025, the University has finalised the acquisition of the complete works of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson – the duo credited with inventing the British sitcom. The success marks the largest, wholly philanthropically funded archive acquisition in the University’s history. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our philanthropic partners, including the Foyle Foundation and many others who have supported this project and our journey towards hosting the largest archive of light entertainment in the UK. Gary Brannan, Keeper of Archives and Research Collections at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, said:

"It is a huge privilege to secure this archive at York for everyone to use and enjoy. Our generous donors have helped us enormously, and we simply couldn’t have done it without them."

To hear firsthand about some of the research happening across campus and beyond, mark your calendars for the 2026 York Festival of Ideas, our city-wide and digital celebration offering hundreds of free opportunities to engage with the big ideas shaping our future, generously supported by partners including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.