'Northerners feel outnumbered at my northern uni'

From the Minster's soaring tower to the winding cobbled Shambles, York is widely regarded as a jewel in the crown of northern England, drawing visitors from far and wide.

But for some students, who already call the North home, the allure of the city has left them feeling "outnumbered" by their southern counterparts prompting them to re-launch University of York Northern Society.

"You might not have considered it as part of your identity when you're back home, but then you move and you're the one in the room with this weird accent," says Lucy Morville.

Originally from Burnley, Lucy said when she first moved to York to study English Language and Linguistics she was sharing a flat with 15 other students, only one of whom was from the North.

She said that feeling of being "outnumbered" was what led her to reviving the university's Northern Society.

Now boasting a membership of around 40 to 50, the society looks to celebrate all things "northern" - hosting events from a northern icons-themed fancy dress bar crawl to Yorkshire Tea parties.

According to the University of York, which is home to around 20,000 students from 147 countries, 41% of its UK-born cohort are from the north of England.

A spokesperson added: "Our campus is a place where the warm, down-to-earth spirit of the North combines with a global community."

Alongside traditional student committee roles, such as secretary and treasurer, the Northern Society also elects a town crier to "spread the word of Northern Society far and wide" and a jester to "make sure everybody is enjoying themselves at events".

Whilst North Soc is focused on students from the north of England, southern friends are welcomed, though "we can't promise they won't get a bit of grief," Lucy says.

"We get our accents mocked a little bit at uni, so it's kind of time for us to do that back to them if they come along," she adds.

Like many university societies, the group is built around having fun, but Lucy says it also creates a "safe space" for students.

"When you move to a new place, and it's full of new people from all over, I think it's a really nice community to have," she explains.

"A sense of familiarity, a bit of home."

The Northern Society was first founded in September 2022, by Rylan Mann, from Manchester, and his friend Benji, who died in 2025.

They came up with the idea "over a pie and a pint in the Derwent Arms", says Rylan, who studied at York from 2020 to 2023.

Rylan, 24, adds: "North Soc has such a special place in my heart, more so after Benji's passing early last year.

"I and others have found real comfort knowing that this bit of Benji's legacy still lives on at the Uni of York.

"I know he is looking down absolutely chuffed it's still going and flourishing more than ever."

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