Our economic impact
The University of York contributes over £1.78 billion to the local and national economy, and provides social and cultural benefits.
As a major employer, we create prosperity and drive economic growth both locally and nationally. Our staff and students join us from across the UK and from elsewhere in the world. They live and work in the local area: their expenditure - and ours - supports a range of businesses and services.
Universities actively improve lives through their research. This work broadens our collective knowledge, confronts today's most significant problems, and generates the inventive breakthroughs essential for growth and development.
In 2025, London Economics - one of Europe’s leading specialist economics and policy consultants - examined some of these benefits in more detail, using figures from the academic year 2023-24.
Read the 2025 report in full: The economic, social and cultural impact of the University of York (PDF 
, 1,610kb)
Our total contribution
£828 million
Research and knowledge exchange.
£161 million
Impact of international students.
£794 million
Impact of University’s expenditures.
Regional impact
We support economic growth throughout the York and North Yorkshire's region by providing jobs and purchasing goods and services.
The report estimates about £980 million impact on the economy of York and North Yorkshire.
Local impact
£126m
research and knowledge exchange activities
£469m
impact of University’s expenditures
£386m
impact of student expenditure
International students
A recent 2024 report reveals the huge contribution of international students to the UK’s economic prosperity.
Every part of the UK is financially better off – on average by £390 per person – because of international students.
New analysis shows that just one year’s intake of incoming international students is worth £28.8 billion to the UK economy.
'The costs and benefits of international higher education students to the UK economy', published by Universities UK International (UUKi) and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), with research from London Economics.
While there has been a growing realisation of the tremendous social and cultural benefits of international students, this study provides a stark reminder of their financial importance to communities across the UK.
Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International
University for public good
Our impact goes far beyond our economic contribution.
Our founders endowed the University with a strong social purpose, drawing on a rich tradition of social justice and combating inequality in a way that is distinctive to the City of York.
Of course our work clearly does, and should, bring economic benefit. But our ambition extends beyond this, to help create the conditions needed for all parts of our society to flourish.
This University was built on distinctive values that have stood the test of time. They continue to guide us today. Our work was always to ‘contribute to the amelioration of human life and conditions.’ That’s a powerful sense of purpose. We now summarise this in a simple phrase: the University of York exists for public good.
Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President