Freshers’ week
The first week of university is called Freshers’ week and the
main aim is for new students to settle into their new surroundings
and meet as many people as possible. Although most of the week is
aimed at having fun, there are some forms to fill in. Paperwork
might seem dull, but don’t miss this bit out or you may find
yourself not listed on course timetables, without a union card and
possibly without your student loan! But we’ll get to that
later.
Most importantly, and let’s face it, it’s what Freshers’ week is
all about, the fun stuff! …This could possibly be the most fun
you’ll have in one week. Your students’ union will organise a whole
load of activities and events that go on all day and through the
night. Just go with the flow and try as much as possible. Lose your
inhibitions – these will be some of the best times of your
life!
A lot of freshers’ week is about drinking, but if you’re not a
big drinker, don’t let this stop you from taking part. It’s more
about meeting people – you don’t have to down 10 pints! Talk to
people. Try and find people who are living in the same halls as you
or people who are taking the same course. You’ll meet lots of
people over this week, many of which you’ll never see again, but
some who just may turn out to be your best friends!
Most Freshers’ weeks have a Freshers’ Fair. This is a really
good place to find out about the societies on offer to you. If
you’re interested in an activity, joining up can be a really good
way to meet people with similar interests. You’ll be surprised at
some of the weird and wacky societies that there are – it’s nothing
like school! The best bit about the Freshers’ Fair is the freebies.
Yep, that’s right, there’s loads of free stuff – pens, keyrings,
food, drinks, product samples and the list goes on…
The main rule for Freshers’ week is - enjoy
yourself. Don't go to the book shop and buy all
the books on the reading list with the intention of finishing them
before lectures start. True, you will have to get down to
work once lectures start, but not during fresher’s week.
Registration
For registration, you need to find out where and when you need
to register. This will probably be included in your induction pack
sent to you before you started uni. It normally depends which
faculty you’re in and the initial letter of your surname. So, those
of you who have a surname beginning A to H are usually the unlucky
ones who end up with the early morning registrations! It’s not too
bad though, there’s a lot of queuing and waiting around, but it’s
mainly signing forms – nothing too demanding! More and more
universities are now doing online registration which means no
hanging around and no early start.
Health
If you’re living away from home, you’ll need to register with a
local doctor. It’s a good idea to do this before you actually need
them! Most universities run their own medical centre or work with a
local health centre, so look at your induction pack or check the
university website.
You should also register with a local dentist. Universities also
often have an existing relationship with a dentist.
If your university does not have a recommended doctor or dentist
find your nearest surgery on the NHS Direct website.
Remember, students are eligible for help with the costs of both
prescriptions and dental fees. Find out more about this from the
Department of Health’s
guide to healthcare cost entitlement.
Timetables
In your first week at uni you’ll need to get your timetable
ready for when your lectures start the following week. This can
sometimes seem a bit tricky, so take your time and make sure you
get it right – the first few lectures can be really important. If
you’re not sure, check.