What is freshers’ week? And what does it involve?
Freshers’ week is generally the first week of the academic year - and yes, includes more than just socialising and nights out. 😉
It's a key part of getting started at university or college.
And while this is an exciting time, it can also be overwhelming.
We’re going to break down what freshers’ week is, what happens during freshers’ week and how much it usually costs, giving you some tips to make the most of it.
What is freshers’ week?
Officially called ‘Welcome Week’ or ‘Induction Week’, freshers' week is designed specifically for first-year students, to give you a chance to settle into university or college life before you start studying - no formal teaching takes place during the week.
It’ll give you a chance to:
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Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings
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Meet other students
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Get involved with lots of different activities
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Learn more about your course
When is freshers’ week?
Freshers’ week dates differ by university or college. But it’s always the first week after the summer holidays, between mid-September and early October.
What happens in freshers’ week?
There’s lots going on during freshers’ week. To make the most of it, you’ll need to be organised - not the easiest if you’ve been partying a bit too hard during the week. 👀
Here are some of the main things to expect:
Inductions
There’s likely to be some sort of induction for new students, to give you a run-down of university or college life, what’s available to you and the standards that are expected.
You’ll also probably have an induction session for your course, introducing the main staff members and explaining how the department runs things. If you’re studying more than one subject, you might have to attend multiple inductions.
Freshers’ fair
This is one of the main events of freshers’ week. The freshers’ fair allows you to check out everything your university or college has to offer. This will include:
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Discovering societies and clubs
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Learning about sports teams
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Talking to people from the Students’ Union
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Asking support services any questions you might have
You’ll be able to sign up for any clubs, societies or organisations you’re interested in. There are sure to be lots of freebies on offer too, from free coffee to restaurant vouchers to posters for your room, so make the most of what you can get your hands on.
Taster sessions/workshops
These are usually linked to the clubs, societies and organisations attending the freshers’ fair, giving you a chance to try out things for free before fully committing.
Nights out
Freshers’ week is renowned for lots of big nights out.
One of the easiest ways to break the ice and make new friends is to go out for a drink and a night out, so many students do this most (if not every) nights.
University or college venues will host events, as will many clubs around your local city. These often include themed nights involving fancy dress.
Don’t stress about spending lots of money on an outfit though. Flex your creativity and try something DIY - or there are lots of cheap costume ideas out there.
Nights in
Clubbing isn’t the only evening option during freshers’ week, though. Plenty of evening activities won’t involve drinking or a sweaty, dark club, including:
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Board game evenings
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Live music events
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Film nights
That’s one of the great things about university and college - because there are so many people with different backgrounds and interests, you’re certain to find your tribe.
Sports team trials
Trials for any university sports team will probably take place in freshers’ week, so you need to be prepared if you want to play for a team.
They’ll probably be advertised at the freshers’ fair. You might not get other opportunities to try out during the year, so keep an eye out.
Uni and college sports teams generally have weekly sports nights out during the year. So, if you’re sporty, it’s also a great way to socialise and meet new people.
Book sales
Thinking about buying books for your course? Your university or college might host book sales, with new and second-hand books on offer.
If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to check out our university textbooks guide before buying anything!
Meet new people
One of the main parts of freshers’ week is speaking to lots of people you’ve never met and trying to find people who you could see yourself being friends with.
That being said, you’re likely going to meet at least one person you don’t like. And there’ll be lots of people you have one conversation with and never speak to again. And many who end up as acquaintances: you’ll say hey when you see them in the street and banter on nights out, but they won’t be your best mates.
This is just all part of the experience. 🙏
Hopefully, though, you’ll also meet some people who’ll be good friends for the rest of your time at university or college, or life.
(By the way, freshers’ week isn’t the be-all and end-all. Some people don’t meet their best friends until later in their uni or college life. But freshers’ week is a good time to get started.)
Here are tips for making friends at university or college.
Is freshers’ week only for first years?
Most freshers’ week events are specifically for first-year students. These include university/college-hosted events such as inductions, but also certain club nights, where clubs will only allow entry for first-year students.
But there are also events that students from any year can attend, including the freshers’ fair.
Do you have to go to freshers’ week?
You don’t have to go to freshers’ week. There’s no obligation to take part in any activities unless your university or college says they’re compulsory.
But…it's highly recommended that you get as involved as possible.
Freshers’ week will give you the chance to meet new people, make friends and experience as many aspects of university or college life as possible, which will form the foundation of the rest of your time at uni or college. So it’s best to try to get the most out of the week.
Feeling slightly nervous about it? Don’t worry - all first-year students are in the same boat, not knowing anybody and wanting to settle in, have a great time and meet good people.
So throw yourself into the mix and see what happens.
Registering at your university/college
If you’re a first-year student, you’ll need to register at your university or college during freshers’ week. You won’t get the first instalment of your maintenance loan (if you’ve applied for one) until you’ve done this.
Here’s more information about when student maintenance loan instalments are paid.
How much does freshers’ week cost?
This depends on the events you get involved in and what you spend time doing.
There’ll be lots of free stuff on offer: freshers’ fair freebies, lots of other freebies around campus, free events and free workshops/taster sessions, for example.
Now’s the time to start taking advantage of student discounts. You can get a TOTUM card and simply use your student ID for discounts.
Some events will charge money though. And if you have to pay to sign up for societies or clubs, you’ll often have to pay for the whole year upfront, which could be expensive - so be sure to account for those costs at the outset
The biggest expense for most students during freshers’ week is nights out. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re meeting new people and trying to make a good impression, especially once you’ve had a bit to drink with contactless at your disposal (learn more about the risks of using contactless).
How much should you budget for freshers’ week?
Overall, it’s recommended to budget around £200-£300 for freshers' week (excluding uni essentials like course materials).
On average, this includes:
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Freshers’ week pass - which can cost between £30-£100
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Nights out - students spend between £50-£100
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Societies & clubs - memberships cost around £20 for the year
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Miscellaneous - you’ll want to allocate another £50-£75 for other purchases throughout the week (like Uber Eats on a hangover)
It can be easy to overspend during freshers’ week, especially when nursing a hangover. Read our blog on the cost of convenience for some helpful tips.
If you’re not careful, you can end up spending much more than you want to during freshers’ week. So, we’ve got some money-saving tips and more below. 👇
Tips for a great freshers’ week
Enjoy yourself
Freshers’ week is about having fun and fully immersing yourself in the university or college experience. It can be one of the best times of your life and forms the foundation for the rest of your time studying.
So get out there, meet lots of new people and, most importantly, have a great time!
But keep an eye on your budget
New experiences, meeting new people and not wanting to miss out or seem cheap are a dangerous cocktail that can lead to overspending.
To avoid this, create a budget specifically for freshers’ week and try to stick to it. You don’t want to blow your whole first-term budget or maintenance loan instalment before classes have even started.
Give yourself a bit of leeway in your budget as you can’t be sure how much things will cost and you want to still make the most of the week.
You can download our free app to set a budget for freshers’ week and beyond!
Try new things
Be open to new experiences during freshers’ week!
You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to. But freshers’ week is a great opportunity to learn about and try activities you might not have considered before, especially when it comes to clubs and societies.
After trying things out, you might end up sticking with the same old hobbies and ways of living you’ve always had. But you don’t know until you try!
Don’t do things just to impress others
It’s natural to want to fit in when you arrive at university or college. And you’re sure to feel a lot of pressure to do this.
Try not to do things that you wouldn’t normally do, that don’t align with who you are, just to impress others. This has got plenty of students in deep trouble over the years, especially when alcohol is involved.
Think to yourself: if I have to change who I am to fit in with this group, do I really want to be a part of the group anyway? The answer is likely to be no.
Be careful of your alcohol consumption
Lastly, drinking is a huge part of freshers’ week.
For some, it might be the first time you’ll experience a heavy drinking culture. For others, you might just get caught up in the excitement and overdo it.
Some students have even died from binge drinking during freshers’ week. Alcohol can also eat away at your wallet.
So, enjoy yourself, but be safe.
Freshers’ week can be an amazing time, full of new and novel experiences. It can also feel daunting, in a completely new environment trying to find your feet.
But you’ve now hopefully got everything you need to make the most of freshers’ week and get off to a great start at university or college.
