Guide to freshers' week

Are you ready for your university classes to begin? Take a breath as before you get started with your course, it's time for freshers' week.

The first week of the university year is when you get to know your uni, its campus, your housemates and the area you’ll be living in – all before your first class. And even without seminars and lectures, there’s still a lot to learn. Don’t worry though, there’s plenty of time for fun too!

Start your first year at uni with a bang by getting familiar with what to expect.

In our freshers’ week guide, we’ll cover:

• What is freshers’ week?
• When is freshers’ week?
• What happens during freshers’ week?
• What is a freshers’ fair?
• Eight tips to make the most of freshers’ week
• Take advantage of freshers' week opportunities

Also known as welcome week, freshers’ week helps you adjust to university life.

Want to learn about your new local area? There are tours of the uni (and sometimes its town or city too) that will make you feel more comfortable in your new location. Keen to get to know people? There are fun activities for you and your housemates to do together. You’ll also meet new people at these events. Your students’ union (or 'SU') will have organised most freshers’ week socials, so the events are made by students, for students.

Plus, you can find out about societies to meet others who have similar interests and experiences to you.

For most universities, freshers’ week is at the end of September with the specific dates varying depending on each uni, but it extends into October for Oxbridge universities.

Your university will let you know these dates in advance so keep an eye out for any letters or emails. You don’t want to miss the big welcome event!

Wondering what to expect from freshers’ week? Here are some of the main events.

You need to let your uni know that you’re coming. Some universities require you to register online before you arrive, so make sure you know what you need to do to make your first day as smooth as possible.

Sometimes, you’ll also need to register in person so you can collect your keys and confirm your attendance. In-person registration often means going to one of the bigger rooms in your university, like a sports or exam hall, and checking in. Some unis require you to show some form of ID (eg. a passport or driver’s licence), student loan documentation or exam results. You might not need these, but it’s worth checking so you don’t have to make a hurried trip to the library to print off the documents!

Your uni wants to make you feel welcome and check that you know what’s expected of you.

Because of this, you’ll likely have welcome talks with a mid to senior-level representative of your university or individual college. You can also expect welcome talks from a head of department or other staff related to your degree subject. These sessions give you a chance to meet your lecturers and coursemates.

Getting to know your way around a uni takes time – especially if you’re at a university with buildings spread out throughout a city. You can expect a staff member or another student to show you around the campus or university buildings.

Learning how to get around will reduce stress and stop you from being late for your classes.

Some unis, especially city universities, will have several libraries. But there’s usually a central library that you’ll use most of the time. The library is a place to study, meet other students to collaborate on work with, and find books which you need for your course. Knowing your way around and how to use the equipment early on reduces last-minute stress before your first assignments.

Going on a library tour means you know exactly where the group work, quiet and silent areas are. Plus, you’ll find out where the sneaky spots that fewer students go to are. Those hidden gems are super valuable at busier times of the year – or when you just want to get comfy with a good book. The reading nook you find during freshers' week may become your favourite spot for the rest of your course.

Freshers’ week is meant to be about having fun! There are many activities organised during the week for you to get involved with, including course-specific, society-led and purely social events. Some will take place during the day, while others will be in the evening. So, whatever your schedule, you’ll find something to join in with.

Local clubs and pubs will likely have promotional evenings you can go to as well. The city’s businesses will want your trade, so look out for welcome offers and find out where the best student discounts are.

Want to make sure you’re not missing anything? We’ve put together a handy guide on navigating uni.

A freshers’ fair is one of the main events at freshers’ week. Some unis call these societies’ fairs.

Societies will have stalls at freshers’ fairs. You can sign up to receive updates on when they’ll start meeting so you can join from the get-go. Additionally, you can spot if there are any gaps. If the group you’re looking for doesn’t exist, create your own!

Outside organisations also attend freshers’ fairs. They’ll usually attend for promotional purposes to let you know about their services, or to encourage you to work with them after you graduate. Either way, it’s a good time to make connections. So, if an organisation catches your eye, have a chat. It’s never too early to think about getting experience to include on your CV after you graduate.

Want to make sure your freshers’ week is the best it can be? Follow our tips for making the most out of your time:

• Party… in moderation! Freshers’ week is all about having fun and getting to know your uni and housemates. Part of this is socialising. While we encourage you to have fun, remember to be safe for yourself and your housemates. Getting lost on your first night is a rite of passage you'll want to avoid. And remember, there are lots of different types of activities at freshers. So, if you don’t want to stay up late dancing, that’s OK – you’ll find like-minded people who’ll prefer a tour of your new city’s coffee hotspots to a bar crawl.
• Set up a budget and stick to it. When the student loan comes in, it’s easy to take your sensible hat off and enjoy the sudden income. But this won’t set you up well for the term ahead. It’s a good idea to make a budget that includes what you’ll need to spend on food, travel costs and books.
• Register for your local doctor’s surgery. While not the most fun thing to think about, being a student often comes with some illness. There’s a reason freshers’ flu exists! Registering with your local doctor during freshers' week saves you the hassle of doing this when you’re ill. It also means your prescriptions can be sent where you need them.
• Register to vote. Elections can come up without much warning. By registering to vote when you get to university, you’re ready to support your chosen party and won’t have to travel home and vote there.
• Find your local supermarket. Some campus universities have an onsite shop. These are often more expensive than larger supermarkets even if they’re more convenient to get to. By knowing where your local supermarkets are, it’ll be easier to make more of your own meals and save money.
• Make your living space comfy. If you’re living in student accommodation for term times, remember to get anything you need to make it a comfortable space to live in.
• Find out where you get pastoral support. Nobody knows what the first year of university will hold. It’s best to be prepared so you know what kind of support you can get, whether that’s deadline extensions or counselling.
• Ask questions! It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Going to uni is a big change and it might be the first time you’ve lived away from family. Remember that university staff are more than happy to help you with any questions. They want you to succeed, so don’t be afraid to reach out.

Want more advice? Read our advice from second, third and fourth-year students who've been there and done that.

Freshers’ week is an exciting time. Have fun and enjoy yourself, but also use this week to build connections. So, take a moment to network with the people living near you, your course-mates, those running the societies you’re interested in and the university staff.

Give yourself the best start for the academic year by attending any talks, tours and activities you can. They’re all designed to help you settle in and feel involved in your new university. Don't forget to visit our freshers’ hub to learn everything you need to know about making the most of your first year.