Find out more about the University of York.
Find out about Environment and Geography at the University of York.
The Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York is a passionate academic community dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of our time. They invite schools, teachers, and students to explore critical issues such as climate change, pollution, sustainability, and environmental justice with them.
Their department fosters a friendly, helpful, and inclusive environment where students, academics, and support staff, who deeply care for our environment and planet, collaborate. Through excellent teaching and research, they aim to develop the knowledge and tools needed to shape sustainable solutions, pursue impactful careers, and find practical answers to the world's environmental problems.
Their outreach initiatives are designed not just to showcase university life, but to inspire a new generation of geographers and environmental scientists committed to making a tangible difference. They offer the following outreach and engagement opportunities for schools, students and teachers:
Ambassadors Programme
The University of York runs a central Student Ambassador Scheme, which includes enthusiastic students from the Department of Environment and Geography. Their ambassadors can visit or host your school, to share their experiences of studying at York and their passion for environment and geography.
Schools interested in arranging for a Student Ambassador to deliver a talk are encouraged to contact the central scheme and specify their interest in an ambassador from the Department of Environment and Geography.
Events and Lectures
The Department of Environment and Geography offers a variety of events, lectures, and learning opportunities suitable for school students and teachers, to inspire and educate on pressing environmental and geographical issues.
School Events
The department frequently hosts interactive events for school groups from Year 1 and beyond. Their offering can be tailored to your needs, or you can join their established events like STEM Work Experience Week and Sustainability Enrichment Days, which include workshops on sustainability topics like water, energy, and food.
Public Lectures
The department periodically hosts public lectures and panel discussions on contemporary environmental issues, open to all members of the community. Please check their departmental events page for upcoming activities.
Online Courses (MOOCs)
The University offers free online courses, excellent for students wishing to explore subjects at a higher level. These self-paced courses offer a flexible way for students to engage with university-level content from anywhere in the world. Relevant courses include Tackling environmental challenges for a sustainable future and the Bioeconomy.
Innovative Workshops
Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY) offers engaging, science-based sessions on climate change, available to staff and students alike. ESAY’s range of workshops are led by trained student and staff facilitators and aim to help participants understand the causes and effects of climate change, connect emotionally with the issue, and feel empowered to take action. Schools interested in exploring this for their students can contact esay@york.ac.uk.
Visits to and from Schools
The University of York is committed to engaging with schools and colleges both on and off campus.
Visits to your school
Their "York visits you" programme offers a range of sessions delivered in schools, covering topics from an introduction to higher education to student life. Talks can also be tailored to focus on research and teaching at the Department of Environment and Geography. These sessions can be led by university staff members, and in some instances, by current University of York students or recent graduates, providing an authentic peer perspective.
Visits to campus
They warmly welcome school groups to visit the University of York for a campus tour. The Department of Environment and Geography is housed in a state-of-the-art building featuring modern teaching rooms, research laboratories, and a vibrant central 'heart space' for social interaction and study. This facility, complete with a stunning living wall, offers an inspiring environment for prospective students. For a more independent exploration, the "Visit UoY" mobile app offers self-guided audio tours.
Open Days
The Department of Environment and Geography actively participates in all university-wide undergraduate open days, providing an invaluable opportunity for prospective students, their families, and teachers to experience the University first-hand and engage directly with academic departments.
These events are the best way to experience their academic community and learning environment. You will have the opportunity to attend subject talks by academic staff, meet and greet opportunities to informally chat with current students and faculty members, and departmental tours of their state-of-the-art facilities.
Summer Schools
The University of York offers a range of summer school experiences, such as their flagship widening participation programme, Next Step York, which provides opportunities for both current university students and pre-university students to engage with academic subjects in depth, including those related to environment and geography.
Scholarships, Funding, and Opportunities
The University of York is committed to attracting talented students from all backgrounds and offers a range of scholarships and bursaries for UK and international students. Students applying to the Department of Environment and Geography are eligible for these university-wide awards. Alternative offers are also provided to students from backgrounds under-represented in higher education.
Teacher CPD and Resources
The University of York provides several avenues for teacher professional development and access to resources, particularly relevant for those teaching geography and environmental science.
Teachers' and Advisers' Hub
A dedicated online portal with resources to help you guide your students, including information on admissions, personal statements, and academic skills resources for Year 12 and 13.
PGCE in Secondary Geography
The University's Department of Education offers a highly regarded PGCE programme for those wishing to become inspiring geography teachers.
Online Courses and Staff Expertise
Their free online courses (MOOCs) can be valuable knowledge enhancement resources for teachers.
Contacts
For inquiries related to school outreach, events, and other engagement opportunities with the Department of Environment and Geography and the University of York, please use the following contact points.
For General School Outreach Enquiries, including requests for the "York visits you" programme, information about general school events, tailored talks for your students, and queries about most of the widening participation programme: outreach@york.ac.uk
For questions directly related to the Department of Environment and Geography, such as specific academic content, bespoke departmental visits, or research-related queries not covered by general outreach: environment@york.ac.uk
If you are interested in having a University of York Student Ambassador visit or host your school, particularly one studying Environment or Geography: student-ambassador-scheme@york.ac.uk
For queries related to Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY), including potential for Climate Fresk workshops or other sustainability-focused collaborations: esay@york.ac.uk
For questions about University Open Days, including programme details: openday@york.ac.uk
