Uni starts soon and there’s a huge amount of exciting stuff happening. From packing your bag to moving into your new home, it’s important to stay on top of things so you don’t miss out. This is why we’ve built the ultimate guide to getting the most out of fresher’s week. We cover everything from the basics of what freshers’ week is to top tips for the perfect start to uni life.
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What is Freshers' Week?
A ‘fresher’ is the term used for someone in their first year of uni. This is because university is often considered a fresh start as you meet new people and define the direction that you want your life to take.
Similarly, freshers’ week is the name for the welcoming period where students enter uni and familiarise themselves with their surroundings and upcoming student life. It offers a student orientation programme, as well as a collection of events for new students.
During this week or two, first-year students can socialise with their classmates, explore the city, and find out about uni clubs, groups and societies they might interested in joining.
When is Freshers’ Week?
The schedule for freshers’ week usually depends on your specific intake’s term dates. As a rule of thumb, freshers’ week usually starts a week or so before classes begin. These dates are packed with a tonne of events from university orientations to late-night parties.
For the term starting 2024-2025, the estimated dates for most universities’ freshers’ week are 18th to 24th September.
Remember to check in your university’s website for the exact schedule of events so you can plan it out!
What happens in Freshers’ Week?
Freshers' week is an exciting time that you should make the best of. Knowing what happens during freshers’ week is quite important so you don’t miss out while you're settling into your space.
With a whirlwind of activities to ease into campus life and form connections that may last a lifetime, it can be a little daunting to decide to start. We’ve created a quick guide to all the best stuff during freshers' week to help:
Course Inductions
While there's a lot of fun to be had during freshers' week, attending course inductions is a must. These can give you a head start in your student-lecturer relationship, which could help you to tough out exam season together with your peers.
These sessions also outline the curriculum and explain what your course holds in store as the year progresses.
Campus Tours
Navigating a new campus can be confusing. And you wouldn’t want to be late to your first-ever lecture, just because you can't find it. Avoid the embarrassment with campus tours during freshers' week.
Led by experienced and helpful student guides, these tours help you to get an idea of where important university locations such as lecture halls, libraries, admin buildings, and sports halls are. By the end, uni just might feel like your local neighbourhood.
Welcome Fairs
Can't really decide on a single event to start with? Welcome fairs offer the best of everything in one place, where everyone from university staff, third party promoters and society members come together.
From academic guidance to career advice, and upcoming night outs to student societies, these fairs can help you get the gist of your uni and make the best of student life.
Society Fairs
Want to find friends that share your interests? There's no better place than society and club fairs during freshers' week. These events bring together groups specialising in tonnes of extracurricular activities and interests.
Whether you're looking for sports, arts, cultural, or academic pursuits, you'll probably find one that's perfect (or just create your own!). They're great for finding your people as well as dipping into new interests in a friendly and social atmosphere.
Club Nights
With freshers' week in full swing, you can party hard before you study hard. You'll find there are club nights every night of the week during freshers’, all vying to attract as many students as possible. From poppy club anthems to full-on raves, there’s sure to be a club night for you. There might even be niche events like Latin salsa nights and even Bollywood parties.
So, get ready to make some incredible memories and friends as you explore what uni nightlife has to offer.
Freebies, Discounts, and Promotions
The value that freshers' week offers is not just in its experiences. With a huge new influx of students, local businesses are keen to get as much exposure as they can.
Get ready to collect lots of freebies, discount coupons and deals during freshers’ week. These perks not only make student life more affordable but could introduce you to some amazing shops, bars, restaurants and takeouts you might otherwise miss. Do it well, and you just might save a tonne of money.
Top Tips for Freshers’ Week
Now that you have a clearer idea of what freshers’ week is, here are nine bonus tips for an even more exciting experience:
Set Yourself a Daily/Weekly Budget
Managing your finances during university is crucial for a stress-free experience, but especially during freshers’. Sit down and create an overall budget for the week.
Don't be afraid to spend a bit of extra cash during your first week. There's a lot to experience, and you want to enjoy yourself to the max. But don’t forget your student loan will need to last many months after your first week - student life is a marathon, not a sprint!
Do the Boring Admin First
Registration is an important part of freshers’ week. Tackling administrative tasks might not be fun, but it's a requirement, so get it out of the way nice and early.
Register with a GP, enrol on all your modules and electives, complete any paperwork and set up your bank account, to ensure you don't hit any hiccups while having fun during freshers' week.
Get Plenty of Rest
Freshers' week can be quite hectic so it's important to rest to prevent burnout. Attend as many events as you'd like but don't overdo it. Being well-rested in both mind and body will ensure you hit the ground running as classes begin.
Get to Know People Outside Your Own Flatmates
While it's natural to bond with your flatmates, branching out and meeting people beyond your immediate circle can be incredibly rewarding.
Be open and don’t try to put on an act. Uni is a fresh start where you can meet people that like the real you. Whether through societies, study groups or events, try to put yourself out there.
Plan Your Route to Lectures and Seminars
Navigating the campus can be challenging at first, so take time to familiarise yourself with the university.
You will get your timetable during freshers’ week, so walk around to get an estimate on your routes from home to your lecture theatres, seminar rooms and study areas. Being punctual leaves a good academic impression and ensures you don't miss out on any important classes.
Balance Socialising and Studying
There's a lot to do socially during freshers' week but you don't want to end up tired, hungover and with zero motivation as the week comes to an end.
University life strikes a delicate balance between socialising and studying. Make the most of it but also remember that freshers' week involves orienting yourself with the upcoming studies. Make sure you’ve done the required reading ahead of your first few days.
Embrace Cultural and Academic Diversity
Perhaps the greatest benefit of university life is the melting pot of cultures and ideas that come with the people.
Try to chat with people from different backgrounds, attend cultural events, and participate in seminars. This diversity of thoughts and opinions will have a major impact on your overall outlook as you progress through your life.
Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health
Your wellbeing should always be a priority. If you're struggling and finding it uncomfortable to fit in with others, talk it out with a counsellor or a mental health professional, or speak to your parents or a friend.
Uni is scary for everyone but it's always a good idea to express yourself in a way that suits you. Similarly, enjoy all the activities around you but don't do anything risky which may endanger your or your friends' health.
Explore Your City and Surroundings
Your uni is often a reflection of the city it's in. And there's no better time to fully understand its vibe than the freshers' week. There's lots to do outside the uni's scheduled activities. Go for a wander around the city centre, visit museums or art galleries, or find out what the locals are up to so you can really get a feel for your new home.
FAQs
Can anyone go to Freshers’ Week?
As long as you’re a uni student with a valid student ID, you can probably attend freshers’ week events held inside the uni. There’s also the option of attending external events if you might not hold an ID or are from a different uni. Anyone can attend events across the city at places like night clubs and bars.
Can you bring friends to freshers’ week?
While university policy may vary, you may be able to bring someone along to freshers’ events like the freshers’ fair. However, for things like library inductions or course welcome events, only students enrolled on your course will be invited.
If your friends want to visit during freshers’ week for a night out or similar, this is allowed. When bringing friends, you might have them over at your Unite Students space, so we recommend that you check out our guest policy before planning your meet-up.
Are there lectures during Freshers’ Week?
There can be variations depending on your chosen course and university, but generally, lectures start after freshers’ week as students are still getting settled into uni during this period. Check your class schedule before planning out freshers’ week to avoid any confusion.
