What is Freshers' Week? Find out with our ultimate guide.
You've got your results, you've confirmed your uni place and now you're deep in the packing-list spiral. And if there's one thing you keep hearing about as a new uni student, it's freshers' week.
Whether you're excited or quietly terrified, you're in very good company. Here's the honest breakdown of what freshers' week 2026 actually involves, so nothing catches you off guard in your first few weeks.
In this article:
What is freshers' week?
Freshers' week is a welcome week for new students at the start of uni. It's your chance to meet people, explore your new city, sign up for societies and generally enjoy yourself before deadlines exist. Think of it as a soft launch for your degree.
For loads of students, it's also the first real taste of independence. No one checking what time you got in. No one asking if you've eaten a vegetable this week. Freshers' week is designed to help you settle in, whether that means joining six societies you'll never attend or just learning your flatmates' names.
You'll probably make some proper friends in these first few weeks too. Some of them will still be in your group chat a decade later.
If the whole move feels a bit much, our freshers' guide covers everything from results day to your first lecture.
When is freshers' week 2026?
Freshers' week dates vary from uni to uni. Some run it for two weeks, a few even stretch it across three! So rather than assuming, make sure to check your uni's plans.
Most English, Welsh and Northern Irish unis kick off in late September 2026. The University of Warwick's welcome week runs Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October, and the University of Chester's runs Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October. The University of Manchester starts a week earlier, on Monday 21 September.
Scottish unis tend to go earlier. Glasgow Caledonian University's freshers' week runs Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026, so if you're heading north to study, make sure you don't work off your English mates' term dates.
Basically, your uni's website and social pages will be the most reliable source of information here. Whatever day you move into halls, freshers' events usually follow pretty quickly.
What happens during Freshers’ Week?
Now for the big question on the mind of most first years to be.
Your students' union will have plenty of events running day and night for you during this week, from society taster sessions, alcohol-free daytime stuff, to club nights, and possibly at least one dodgy foam party or random inflatable obstacle course. Whatever your vibe is, there'll probably be something designed to help you meet people, regardless of your interests.
Your uni will make sure you know what's going on; when you arrive at halls, student reps might be present handing out flyers and explaining what activities will be happening on and off campus. If not, there's likely to be a poster or 2 around, or again, check out your uni's social pages and official website for key info.
Remember, you don't have to follow the official schedule, though. There will be lots going on, but if you and your new flatmates would rather explore your new town or find a decent pub, nothing's stopping you. Use the time exactly how you'd like and don't pressure yourself to be present at everything.
That being said, we probably wouldn't recommend hiding in your room all week as this means missing what freshers' is actually for – meeting new people and warming up to your new environment for the next few years. Even if you don't fancy a big night, getting out to your students' union or spending an evening with your flatmates will make a real difference, trust us.
Freshers wristbands
Nowadays, loads of unis sell wristbands that get you into a run of freshers' events. Prices might vary depending on how many events are included, but luckily some unis will chuck in a couple of free ones.
Check your uni website or socials to find out what's on offer and where to buy them once you touchdown on campus.
What student discounts can you get during freshers' week?
One of the better parts of freshers': the student discounts start immediately. Sign up for a Student Beans account, turn your email notifications on and download our app so you don't miss the freshers' 2026 drops.
Whether you need to upgrade your tech before term starts, want new freshers' fits from the likes of fashion BNOC's such as ASOS and boohoo, or just need some food discounts for a big scran and debrief after a night out, it's worth having sorted before you arrive
Which university has the best freshers' week?
Every uni will probably tell you theirs is the best but let's be honest, you didn't pick your uni based on its club night line-up (or did you?).
Either way, one thing's for sure: whatever uni you’re headed to will have a freshers’ week that you’ll love. Whether you're heading to a big city like Manchester or Leeds, or somewhere smaller like Coventry or Bournemouth, you're bound to have a good time.
Freshers' is a pretty universal (and normally fantastic) experience across the UK, and there'll be great events on wherever you land, don't you worry.
How much money do you need for Freshers' Week?
Your first student loan instalment landing into your bank account might feel incredible but remember, it also needs to last a lot longer than one week. So don't go splurging!
There's no fixed number for what freshers' costs, and it depends entirely on what you do and where you go to uni. It's very easy to go big in week one and spend the rest of term rationing pasta, so a bit of planning now saves you a grim October.
We recommend writing a budget before you arrive, while it's still theoretical. There are plenty of ways to budget as a student, and it takes a bit of trial and error to find one that sticks. It's also worth noting your student finance payment dates so you know exactly how long each instalment needs to stretch.
Wristbands help here too. One payment covering a week of events beats paying on the door every night. Nonetheless, a chilled night in with your flat, playing cards and ordering something in, costs a fraction of a night out. It's also a much easier way to get to know your flatmates than shouting over a speaker - so you might want to go down that route instead and save some pounds.
How to stay healthy during your first weeks of uni
Freshers' flu isn't a myth, unfortunately. Hundreds of people from all over the country arriving in one place mean germs spread quickly and far, so here's a note to take a few precautions.
Register with your local GP (this might be on campus or in the town), keep a stash of basic medicine, drink plenty of water, and try to eat something green once in a while. Building a little wellness box before you leave means you're sorted if you do go down with it, because nobody wants to be trekking to a pharmacy while feeling rough. Add it to your uni essentials checklist and include things like:
Decongestants
Paracetamol or ibuprofen
Imodium (trust us)
Chocolate
Tissues
Easy food like instant noodles and soup
Hand sanitiser
A daily multivitamin won't hurt either. For inspo, we've rounded up the best vitamins for your immune system if you want to get ahead of it.
How to make friends during Freshers' Week
Everyone around you is in exactly the same position: slightly nervous and hoping someone else speaks first. Getting to know your flatmates can be as simple as offering to make a round of teas or asking if anyone fancies a supermarket run.
Keep your bedroom door open during the day with a door-stop, and get a flat WhatsApp group going early. Making friends outside your flat takes a bit more effort, but don't worry, freshers' week is built for exactly that. Make sure to chat to people at society sign-ups and in queues whenever you get the chance to.
And remember: people rarely (if ever) arrive at uni with a ready-made friendship group. Everyone else is just as keen to find their people as you are.
What if I don't drink?
Student culture has a boozy reputation, but navigating uni as a sober student is increasingly normal, and more freshers' schedules now include alcohol-free nights as standard.
Daytime events, society taster sessions and sports trials won't involve drinking at all. There's also nothing stopping you going to evening events if you don't mind being the sober one, and plenty of people prefer it.
If big nights aren't your thing full stop, there are loads of alternatives to drinking during freshers'. Chances are your uni has a society for whatever you're into, which is a much easier way to meet like-minded people anyway.
How to stay safe and have fun during Freshers'
Freshers' week is about finding your feet, whether that's making new mates, joining things or just settling into student life. But with so much going on, your own wellbeing is easy to overlook.
Pacing yourself on nights out, looking after your health, and knowing how to get home safely all mean you can actually enjoy freshers' and look back on it fondly. Our detailed guide on how to stay safe during freshers' has the practical stuff covered.
Hopefully that's cleared a few things up ahead of freshers' week 2026. It's your chance to have fun and meet new people, and it's completely normal to feel anxious about it too. Go at your own pace, take in what you can, and don't feel you have to do everything at once. Enjoy!
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