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University of York

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The University of York is a campus-based university in York, England. Ranked by most studies amongst the top 10 universities in the UK, its 30 academic departments teach around 9,000 students. The main campus occupies an area on the outskirts of the city, next to the village of Heslington; the University also inhabits a number of historic buildings in the city centre.

It is often referred to as York University — also the name of a university in Toronto, Canada.

History

One of a series of new English universities, the University of York was opened in 1963 when it admitted 200 students. At the time the university consisted of three buildings; principally: King's Manor (former residence of Thomas Wentworth, and one-time headquarters of the Council of the North), and Heslington Hall (former residence of Thomas Eynns, Secretary and Keeper of the Seal to the Council of the North). A year later, work began on the Heslington Campus (see below), which today forms the main part of the University.

Colleges

The university is nominally structured around its eight colleges, which provide accommodation for students and for some of the academic departments. In practice, however, college loyalties are not especially strong, and the colleges function more like halls of residence than the traditional Oxbridge colleges. The colleges are, in order of construction:

All but one of the colleges are situated on the main campus, the latter being a short walk away on the edge of Heslington village.

Academic departments

The university's music department is home to one of the earliest electronic music studios to have been built in the United Kingdom. It was also one of the first departments to include the teaching of ethnomusicology in its undergraduate courses, and has its own gamelan orchestra.

The Heslington campus

In 1964 work began on the campus facilities in the grounds of Heslington Hall (the former residence of Thomas Eynns, Secretary and Keeper of the Seal to the Council of the North). The marshy land was drained, forming the narrow, winding lake which dominates the campus, and extensively landscaped. The original buildings were designed by architect Andrew Derbyshire, and assembled using the CLASP system of prefabricated construction. Scattered around the lake, the buildings are connected by numerous covered walkways and bridges. Most of the university's arts departments inhabit the colleges, while many of the science departments have their own buildings.

A major landmark building is Central Hall, a daringly-designed half-octagonal concert hall whose appearance is frequently likened to that of a space-ship. As well as University convocations and examinations, it is used as a venue for theatrical and musical performances. It has played host Jimi Hendrix, Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, and Paul McCartney. Performances by big-name acts have been rarer at the university following a 1985 Boomtown Rats concert, during which the Central Hall venue was damaged. A ban on pop performances in Central Hall was imposed, although it has occasionally been waived, and Central Hall is still sometimes used for classical concerts. Concerts are also held in the music department's Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and in some of the colleges.

At the time of its construction, the campus lake is rumoured to have been the largest plastic-lined lake in Europe. It has attracted a large population of wild and feral waterfowl, including greylag, Canada, barnacle and snow geese, along with large numbers of ducks and a small population of black swans.

Student activities

The university has an unusually high number of active student societies. University Radio York, the student radio station, is the oldest independent radio station in the United Kingdom.

Future expansion

Over the next decade, the University plans to increase student numbers by around 5,000, and to introduce a number of new subjects, including Law, Pharmacy and Theatre studies.

For a number of years, the University's expansion plans have been limited by planning restrictions on the Heslington campus. Since the campus lies within the York green belt planning conditions stipulate that only 20% of the land may be built upon. In the academic year 2003/04, plans were finalised for a second campus, on the other side of Heslington village. Called the Heslington East campus, it will be connected to the existing campus by a network of pathways and light transport links. Construction is expected to begin in the 2006/07 academic year, with the first buildings coming into use the following year.

Notable alumni

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