Freshers’ Week is rapidly approaching, and if you’re a soon-to-be first-year, it’s essential you make the most of this unforgettable experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to socialise with other students and get a real taste of university life!
We’ve covered all our best Freshers’ Week tips to guarantee you’ll have a great experience.
You might have heard of Freshers’ Week (or Welcome Week as it’s sometimes called), but you might not know exactly what it involves. Although every UK university’s Freshers’ Week is a bit different, they are all designed to welcome new students to uni life, give you a chance to make new friends and learn more about your course.
They’ll typically be a mix of admin, academic, and social events you can attend. There might be a couple of compulsory events, such as student registration or talks about your course or department, but mostly, you’ll be free to pick and choose what stuff you want to do.
The social events make Freshers’ Week what it is, so try to get involved with as much stuff as possible. From club nights to fairs, there’ll be a ton of stuff on offer. You won’t have any seminars or lectures to worry about yet, so it’s up to you what you do with your time!
Freshers’ Week is usually the first week at university, but some universities have two weeks of Freshers’ Week. Typically, this is mid or late September, but you’ll need to check your university website or timetable for the exact dates to ensure you don’t miss it!
If you’re not a super social person, you might wonder if attending Freshers’ Week is compulsory…
The short answer is no; most events aren’t compulsory except for some admin tasks or academic talks. Any events you must attend will be clearly marked on your timetable. None of the social events will be compulsory, although there’ll be plenty of non-sober and sober activities.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try attending as many events as possible to make the most of your Freshers’ Week experience. There’ll be a ton of events and activities during the day and night, so it’s easy to pick the stuff that appeals to you!
Many people think Freshers’ Week is only for first-year students, which is only partially true. Although some events will be exclusively for freshers, other events will be for all students. Organised student nights out will typically be reserved for the first years, but things like the Freshers’ Fair or other daytime events will be open to all, where you can snag some cheeky student discounts. Check your university timetable if you’re not sure.
Follow Split the Bills’ top tips to ensure you have the best Freshers’ Week possible!
Your uni will have a timetable with all the Freshers’ Week events – look out for an email or check your uni website so you don’t miss out on the best student experience.
You’ll be living with your housemates all academic year, so it makes sense to try and connect with them, but don’t feel like you have to be besties – Freshers’ Week gives you loads of chances to meet new people. It’s easy to find lots of people who share your interests, are on your course, or play the same sport as you.
Freshers’ Week is jam-packed with events, but don’t feel like you have to attend everything. There’s no shame in taking a day off to rest and chill. Getting enough sleep and eating well will help you avoid the dreaded freshers’ flu.
You have to attend some events because they’re essential admin tasks or academic talks that will give you some much-needed information about your course. Always prioritise compulsory events over optional ones.
Once you get your first student loan payment, it can be tempting to blow it all at once – it might be the most money you’ve ever had in your bank account. However, remember that this money has to last you the entire term!
Check out our guide on how to budget money as a student for more info on managing your finances and saving money.
@split_the_bills Advice before heading back to uni this September 🪩... also, don't forget to set up the utilities for your next student home if they're not included! Hit the link in our bio for an instant quote - we'll bundle all your household's bills into one monthly payment and will manage them all for you 💡 #studentbudget #billsincluded #utilitypackage #freshers2025
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Below, we’ll give you a rundown of a couple of the biggest Freshers’ Weeks so you can get a sense of what kinds of activities and events will be at your uni.
Make the most of this Freshers’ Week with some of Sheffield’s best nights out at their Student Union, Foundry (named best club in Sheffield in the 2023 Exposed Awards!). If clubbing is not your thing, check out their Freshers’ Market and Freshers’ Fair, with many fantastic freebies. They also have a variety of Give it Go activities, full of taster sessions organised by clubs and societies.
The University of Manchester has a lot on in September, from fun-filled bingo club nights to old-school roller discos! There are also loads of more peaceful activities, including yoga, crafting, art, and film nights.
There are many welcome events aimed at freshers and returning students alike, with loads of daytime activities, ranging from keyring making to a rodeo bull. There’s also their popular Monday Funday, where you can try rock climbing and laser tag.
Moving into a new house in Freshers’ Week can be exciting! But if you’re feeling nervous about tackling utility bills, a bill-splitting service can help make the experience much more relaxed and enjoyable.
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