“What’s your name? Where do you come from? What course are you doing?” These are the questions that are going to spill from the mouths of everyone you meet during your first week at university. Everyone is in the same boat, eager to make friends and fit in to a new world, and while at times it can seem a little overwhelming, so we have a written this guide to ease you in.
With registration, compulsory course events, campus tours, the Freshers Fair and countless social events organised, Freshers Week aims to introduce you to the housemates, course mates and society mates you’ll be spending a great majority of your university life with.
When you arrive at university you will receive a welcome pack containing some useful items for the first few weeks such as condoms, deodorant and sweet as well as important information on all the events, trips and other aspects of freshers week.
Freshers fair
One of the big events on the Freshers Week timetable, the fair will be filled with clubs & societies trying to sign you up, banks offering free sandwich toasters in exchange for current accounts, local businesses advertising their products and even poster sales, so you can start getting your room looking the way you want it to. Freshers Week isn’t all about free pens, so don’t be shy! Societies love new members and this is a great way for you to join in in an entirely new activity, or in one you’ve been enjoying back home for years. From sports to knitting, you’ll find something that interests you.
Social life
The first night is often at the student union and is another fantastic chance to meet people. It’s a unifying night out with your new housemates as you try Snakebite for the first time, shout requests at the DJ and take advantage of our Freshers Week drink deals.
A typical second night might be a pub crawl in town – a way for you to get your bearings of the city and to meet the locals. Fancy dress is optional, but generally advisable!
Overall the week is made up of comedy nights, movie nights, open mic nights and club nights. Universities and some of the societies will provide a variety of activities so there are quieter events perfect for students not as interested in the drunken parts of university life to have fun.
Freshers ball
A week is a long time for a fresher, so by the time the Ball rolls around you’ll already have a solid group of friends to dance the night away with. It’s the unmissable event on the social calendar, with celebrity guests, competitions and games at the ready to well and truly give you and university life a big, hearty introduction.
Just remember to get involved. Everyone around you is in the same situation and Freshers week is a great way to acclimatise to university and prepare for the next chapter of your life.