Freshers’ Week starts in September. These Freshers’ Week tips will help you settle in, make friends and set yourself up for student life and beyond!
1. Get settled in and make new friends
Yes, your course matters. But independence and making new friends is also a big part of why you’re here at university!
If you’re staying in halls of residence, turn up as soon as possible so you can settle in and start getting to know the people on your floor. Unpack with your door open to show you’re open to making new friends.
Sign up to any and all clubs and societies you like the look of in Freshers’ Week. It’s a great way to meet people who share your interests.
Nights out: Check all the flyers, posters, emails and gossip relating to Freshers’ Week so you know what’s on and where. Enjoy nights out, but line your stomach with food before drinking and always keep an eye on your stuff. You don’t want the hassle of a stolen wallet or phone! If you’re heading home at night, travel with (new) friends and stay safe. Stick to licensed mini cabs, too.
2. Get signed up for FREE as a Young Professional
If you’re under 24 and live in the UK, you can sign up for our free Young Professional training. In minutes, you’ll get a certificate to put on your CV and show employers you’ve got what it takes, whatever path you choose in life.
What is Young Professional training? Do a quick quiz when you sign up to see how familiar you are with the five top life skills for work and life:
- Communication
- Self belief
- Self management
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
They’ll help you in uni as well as work and life in general! Make sure you say YES to the newsletter when you sign up and you’ll get weekly tips, challenges and clever ideas on building up these skills straight to your inbox. You’ll also get advice and life stories from other young people, and be the first to hear about opportunities around the UK from Youth Friendly Employers.
Sign up now to become a Young Professional.
3. Visit your university careers advisor
Okay, so you’re not thinking about jobs yet. That’s fine – you’ve got some living to do first! Still, it’s never too early to pop your head round the door of your uni’s careers advice office – or get in touch by phone or email – and introduce yourself. They are always happy to lend a listening ear.
If you’re feeling a bit stuck, don’t know what your options are, or suddenly realised a month or two down the line that you’re not on the right path or studying the right subject – don’t stress. The uni’s career advisors can help you make the most of your CV, discover cool insight and work experience opportunities while you study, and even help you find part-time jobs in your local area if your student budget is feeling the pinch.
University careers advisors can even help you after you graduate, so get to know them early on.
4. Get your student finance into shape
First, sort yourself out with a student bank account.
Next, plan your budget for the term. Yes, that includes Freshers’ Week, where you’re likely to spend more than you bargained for. You don’t want to spend the rest of the year living on ramen noodles.
Student finance tips:
- The Money for Life app will help you save and turn your loose change into money that matters. Give it a try.
- Take a FREE money masterclass with Money for Life Elearning videos. They’ll help you with your student budget planning and more.
- Take some time to understand student loans so you don’t have any nasty surprises.
- Make your student loan go further by getting an NUS card and a 16-25 railcard. Use cash-back sites, collect coupons and explore the dark arts of getting free samples!
See more tips on our student finance advice hub!
5. Your mental health always matters
In Freshers’ Week you might be having the time of your life, but mental health is always worth thinking about as a university student. Exams and revision, friendship groups and isolation, uncertainty about the future, exploring your identity and self-development, dealing with money or health concerns… challenges like these are all a part of student life, and you deserve to feel as well in yourself as you can.
Bookmark our mental health resources hub for wellbeing advice, student support helplines and UK mental health resources. Find out what mental health resources your university offers. You don’t need to contact them straight away – unless you want to. But make sure you’ve got a few helplines and contacts saved to your phone in case you might want to use them one day.
See all college, university & graduate advice on Youth Employment UK.
