The day is finally here! You’re fully packed and raring to go! Your moving in day will be busy and most likely daunting but don’t panic – there’s about 2000 others in the same boat.

Once you’ve got your key, head to your accommodation and find one of our Welcome Helpers to assist you. They are there to help carry boxes, answer your questions and comfort your parents – remember they’ve all been through it!

Important bit! Make sure you familiarise yourself with parking at your site – not all sites have access to parking so be sure to plan ahead!

Feel at home with us after moving in!

After settling yourself in, grab your new housemates and head down to the Students’ Union. The Presidents will be here to welcome you with hot tips and funny anecdotes, all the while our delightful catering team will be serving up some yummy (free!) food for you to enjoy.

We’ve got music, games and even Dominos will be joining us on Sunday for even more fill you up!

On Sunday, York Parties will be here to take you into the city centre for the first time with the YSJ Freshers Block Party. Foam and UV Paint are waiting for you and your friends – be sure to check back soon to find out where you’ll be going!

We reckon after your first ever KUDA Monday, you’ll need a bit of TLC. Tuesday is all about self-care, wellbeing and relaxing! We have Yoga and Pilates classes in the SU from 9-12 to ease you into the day – you can sign up for these classes here (limited spaces so be quick!) From 12pm, we are hosting not 1, not 2 but 3 Petting Zoos!

We have Sam’s Safaris bringing small animals in the bar; everything from insects to reptiles to fluffy bunnies! Just outside the Students’ Union, Ian’s Mobile Farm is bringing the farmyard to campus with goats, chickens and even donkeys! Further afield, outside the Dining Hall, Owl Adventures will be bringing a variety of birds of prey for you to pet, hold and feed!

Yeah, you got into uni, but can you beat our Big Pub Quiz?

With so many animals throughout the day, we thought a charity raffle and quiz raising money for RSPCA would be a perfect way to round off the day, as well as kick off one of our most popular weekly events! Our quizzes are notoriously difficult (unless you know the answers!) but relevant too! This night sells out fast, but it’s only on the door so head down in time for a 7pm start to secure your place! We accept teams of up to 8 so grab your house mates and head down!

If you’re not the pub quiz type, we have you covered! Warm up in the SU bar ready for an amazing night at the exclusive YSJ Freshers Party at Revolution York. York Parties will get you there safe and sound to enjoy the night of great music, dancing and fun with your new-found friends!

Love Cake? Want Cake? Get Cake!

We are hosting our very own Saint John Bake Off! Enter by yourself, with your course mates or as a flat for your chance to win big and be dubbed “YSJ Star Baker!” Our sports clubs and societies will be hosting their very own bake sales for charity along with taste testing of entries. Vote for your favourite throughout the day – the top three voted in by you will then be put to the ultimate test of our judging panel.

Our very own CEO Donna Smith will be amongst the prestigious judges, ready to crown the winning sweet treat. Chefs’ hats at the ready!

On top of the competition, we will have our YSJ Sodexo catering team in the Coffee Lounge, talking you through how to stay healthy on a budget, the best to use a microwave and various cooking tips to keep both your tummy and parents happy with your diet!

Love a good house party?

We’re hosting our own! We’ll have live bands on from 7pm in the Bar to launch our monthly Unplugged night, acoustic acts in the Coffee Lounge to continue the chilled out vibe upstairs and over in Temple Hall, we will have bands galore from 7pm followed by a DJ until the early hours to work off that cake and keep you pumped all night long!

Roll up, roll up for all the fun of the fair!

Your campus will be transformed into a Traditional Fun Fair – you can expect fairground rides, games, stalls and much more! You’ll be transported back to Victorian times to play on teacups; or why not have a throw at the Coconut Shy? Grab your friends and head down to campus – don’t forget your Freshers Wristbands for special offers throughout the day!

Popcorn, candy floss, hotdogs – you name it, we’ve got it. Even a Rodeo Bull to show off your skills.

Carousel not your thing? We’ll have live music and a bouncy castle too to keep you going!

We at YSJ care about the world we live in, that’s why, with the help of our President of Wellbeing and Diversity, we’ve signed up to take part in World Clean Up Day! We’ll be cleaning up and litter picking all over campus to make sure we do our bit. Join us, the local community and local businesses such as Lush and York Dungeons in cleaning up streets for our future!

You’ll always sing like an angel at £1 a pint Karaoke!

The FUN doesn’t stop there – Saturday nights are infamous here at York St John. Every week we have Karaoke in our bar along with the delightful £ a pint on selected drinks. Coke or Beer, come down and sing your heart out to Bohemian Rhapsody. No? What about Mamma Mia? Maybe Greenday instead – whatever you like, we have an extensive range of songs to keep the party going into the early hours!