Including Registering with a Doctor and Dentist
Welcome to York. Whether you’ve just arrived from across the UK or travelled from the other side of the world to join the University of York’s 2026 intake, freshers week is an exciting, overwhelming and busy time. Between collecting your keys, meeting your flatmates, finding the nearest supermarket and working out where your lectures are, it’s easy to let the important practical stuff slip.
This guide covers the ten things every new University of York student should sort out in their first couple of weeks — including two that are often overlooked but could make a real difference if things go wrong during term time.
1. Register with a Local GP
This is arguably the most important practical task for any new student. Register with a GP surgery close to campus or your accommodation as soon as possible. You will not be able to access NHS healthcare in York easily without being registered locally — and if you become unwell during term time, you don’t want to be dealing with registration paperwork at the same time. The University of York has a dedicated student health centre which many students register with during freshers week.
2. Register with a Local Dentist
Just as important as registering with a GP — and often forgotten until something goes wrong. Dental problems don’t care about exam timetables or lecture schedules, and if you develop a toothache, lose a filling, chip a tooth or develop a dental abscess mid-term, you need to be able to access treatment quickly and locally.
Heslington Dental Practice is located at 11/12 Main Street, Heslington — just minutes from the University of York campus — and we’re running a special offer exclusively for new patients joining us this autumn. Your new patient check-up is just £50, which includes a full clinical examination, digital X-rays and an oral cancer screening. It’s a small price for enormous peace of mind.
For international students especially, registering locally is essential. Flying home for dental treatment mid-semester simply isn’t realistic, and being an unregistered patient makes accessing emergency dental care in York significantly harder. Registered patients are always prioritised for urgent appointments.
Book your £50 new patient check-up online or call us on 01904 904 500. Takes two minutes to book and you’ll have one of the most important boxes ticked before term even properly begins.
3. Set Up Your Bank Account
If you haven’t already, open a UK student bank account. Most high street banks offer student accounts with interest-free overdrafts. You’ll need your university offer letter, proof of address and ID. International students should check what documentation their chosen bank requires in advance, as requirements vary.
4. Sort Out Your Student Loan or Finances
Make sure your student finance is in order before term starts. If you’re a UK student, your maintenance loan should arrive shortly before or at the start of term. Set up a simple budget early — accommodation, food, course materials and social activities all add up quickly, and having a plan makes the money go further.
5. Get Your Student ID Card
Your University of York student ID card is your key to everything — library access, discounts, proof of student status and more. Collect it during registration and keep it with you at all times during freshers week.
6. Download the Campus App and Check Your Timetable
The University of York has excellent digital tools for navigating campus and managing your academic schedule. Download the relevant apps, set up your university email and check your timetable for the first week of teaching well in advance — it’s easy to miss sessions in the chaos of freshers week.
7. Find Your Department and Key Buildings
Take a walk around campus in your first couple of days to find your department building, the library, the students’ union and any sports or social facilities you plan to use. York’s campus is beautiful and compact, but knowing where you’re going before your first lecture saves a lot of stress.
8. Join Societies and Sports Clubs
The University of York Students’ Union runs hundreds of societies and sports clubs covering everything from rowing to board games to language exchange. Joining at least one or two in freshers week is one of the best ways to meet people beyond your accommodation block and make York feel like home.
9. Explore York City Centre
York is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the UK. Take time in your first few weeks to explore the Shambles, the city walls, York Minster and the many independent cafés, restaurants and bars the city has to offer. The city centre is just a short bus ride from campus and well worth getting to know.
10. Look After Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing
University is a significant life change and it’s normal to find the first few weeks challenging, even if everything looks great on the surface. The University of York has excellent mental health and wellbeing support services — make sure you know how to access them. Sleep, eating well, staying active and maintaining routines all make a big difference to how you feel.
Don’t Forget to Register with Your Local Dentist
We’ll say it again because it genuinely matters. Of all the practical tasks on this list, registering with a local dentist is the one most students put off — and the one they most regret not doing when a dental problem strikes at the worst possible moment.
Heslington Dental Practice is right here in Heslington village, a short walk from campus, and we’re welcoming the entire University of York 2026 intake as new patients this autumn. Our new patient check-up is just £50 — a special offer for students joining us this term — and covers everything you need to get your dental health properly assessed and on record.
- Full clinical examination
- Digital X-rays
- Oral cancer screening
- A clear, written treatment plan if any work is needed
- No pressure, no jargon — just honest, friendly care
UK students, international students, postgraduate students and returning students are all welcome. Book your £50 new patient check-up online today or call us on 01904 904 500. Don’t leave it until you need us — register now and enjoy your first year knowing we’ve got your dental health covered.
