High standards
in Yorkshire and the Humber

Studying in the North of England

Are you interested in studying in the North of England. Then read on…

You want the best education, the best career opportunities, and the best standard of living.  In short, you want it all, and right now, Yorkshire has it all on offer.

Crowned the ‘Capital of the North’, it’s easy to see why Yorkshire has such an impressive reputation with audiences at home and abroad. Where else could you find buzzing super-stylish cities just a stones throw from the idyllic calm of some of the country’s most beautiful countryside?  And where else could you live, learn and socialise in some of the trendiest places around, without having to pay the earth for the experience?

And when it comes to education and career prospects, Yorkshire has a pretty impressive reputation, which means, whatever it is you want to do, chances are, you can do it here – and have a great time whilst you’re at it.

Breakdown of the North
Yorkshire can be split into four main sub-regions, each unique in its own culture and personality, but all proudly northern at their core.

North Yorkshire
Complete with rolling moors and stretches of stunning coastline, North Yorkshire is unashamedly beautiful.  But its tranquil reputation belies the true nature of its major city, York. Although known for its rich history, awesome Minster and famous racecourse, nowadays traditional pubs rub shoulders with trendy bars and eateries, and boutique fashion shops are opening alongside antique treasure troves. Today’s York is more than just a city to see, it’s a city to be seen in.

West Yorkshire
Home to Leeds and Bradford, two of the regions most vibrant and diverse cities, all of life can be found in West Yorkshire.  Both cities are slap bang in the middle of some excellent transport networks, which means getting out and about is never a problem.

Culture vultures will be satisfied by the multitude of theatres and galleries, including the internationally renowned West Yorkshire Playhouse and Salts Mill whilst shop-a-holics can get their fix, whatever their taste or budget, in stores that range from high street fashion to boutique chic. And with more bars, restaurants and clubs than you can shake a very large stick at; West Yorkshire is a great place to live life to the max.

South Yorkshire
The epitome of ‘industrial chic’ Yorkshire’s most southern city Sheffield is now as famous for its club nights and shopping as it is for ‘The Full Monty’ and the metal industry.  Shops range from the mammoth Meadowhall complex located just off the M1, to backstreet boutiques packed with vintage bargains.  If music is your thing, you won’t find a better selection, with sell out acts regularly appearing at the Sheffield arena.

Humber
Known for its rich maritime history, today, there is a great deal more to port city Hull than just fish.  Over the last five years Hull has undergone a significant metamorphosis, with an array of funky bars and restaurants springing up in the city’s Old Town and Marina.  Home to playwright John Godber, Hull Truck theatre is a ‘must visit’ for theatre lovers, and for those who do like to be beside the seaside, the coast is just a short hop away.  With trains running daily direct to London, in a few hours you can be in the capital, and daily ferries mean a break in Amsterdam is as easy and cheap as can be.

Hull’s biggest attraction however, has to be its cost of living.  With some of the lowest prices around, even those on the tightest of budgets can afford to live it up.

Education Opportunities
With one of Europe’s highest concentrations of Higher Education Institutions, and some of the UK’s top Universities, there is a very good reason why Yorkshire and Humber produces 13% of the country’s graduates every year. 

Institutions offer everything from the traditional to the cutting edge in courses and student experience.  And although each university enjoys its own unique culture and attitude, providing first class education and support facilities for its students are at the heart of every ethos.

The region also has a huge commitment to supporting people in vocational learning and provides a wide range of courses and initiatives to ensure individuals have the skills businesses really need, making people more employable and helping to make the region more successful.

Over 40 colleges offering a range of courses mean that vocational learning is easily accessible throughout the region, and a great way to start a career.

Career Opportunities
The Yorkshire and Humber region is growing, and encouraging young people to study and work here is key to its continued success.  This means there are a huge range of job opportunities available in the region, as well as support services to help young people get started on their chosen career path.

Services such as www.yorkshiregraduates.info, provide graduates with information about job vacancies, careers guidance and support tools to help them start a career in the region.  And a variety of projects supported by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward are designed to help graduates develop the skills they will need to get ahead on the career ladder, and can be accessed through their university careers service.

Industries
Yorkshire enjoys a diverse variety of industry sectors, which means that a huge range of career paths are open to young people across the region.

North Yorkshire has a diverse range of industries, from farming and agriculture to cutting edge technology.

There is also a major drive to make York a national centre for bioscience, creative technologies and digital IT industries.

West Yorkshire and the Humber are at the heart of the region’s chemicals industry, with some of the biggest names in the business all having facilities in the area.

South Yorkshire and Sheffield still lead the way in the metal and engineering industries, however, nowadays, you are as likely to find companies leading the way in new technologies as you are traditional products.

And on top of all this, the region is also the largest financial and legal centre outside of London, providing a base for five of the world’s top 10 companies and for six of The Times Top 100 graduate employers.

Check out these websites for more information…

on the region
www.yorkshire-forward.com

on universities and colleges
www.bradford.ac.uk
www.hud.ac.uk
www.hull.ac.uk
www.leeds.ac.uk
www.lincoln.ac.uk
www.lmu.ac.uk
www.nscd.ac.uk
www.open.ac.uk
www.sheffield.ac.uk
www.shu.ac.uk
www.leedstrinity.ac.uk
www.yorksj.ac.uk
www.york.ac.uk

on graduate opportunities
www.yorkshiregraduates.info

on vocational learning
www.lsc.gov.uk - click on ‘youth’ and then search by area for more details on courses where you are.
www.nextstep.org.uk