The International student's guide to freshers' week

So you have just arrived in the UK with your oversized suitcases and don't know where to go or what to do? Here are some tips to get you going

Register your interest

Registering when you arrive at university or college is vital. You should have already been told by your institution what you need to do, but if not the best plan is to go to your international student office and ask them. In most cases there will be a welcome scheme and an orientation course, where you get a guided tour of your campus and the chance to meet fellow international newcomers

Freshen up

Freshers’ fair is the place to go to get lots and lots of freebies, sign up to clubs and societies, buy posters, CDs and other essentials and generally meet lots of new people and have an excellent time doing it. However, you could end up getting carried away and joining the sky-diving club or the heavy metal music society, so be careful what you wish for!

Let them entertain you

Towards the end of freshers’ week is the time the freshers’ ball tends to roll into town. If you’re lucky, these events attract some decent bands; if you’re unlucky, you’ll get an ABBA tribute act. All in all however, it is yet another opportunity early in your higher education career to meet new people and settle into what will be your home for the next few years.

Make yourself at home

While you should get a guided tour in your first week on campus, there’s nothing stopping you getting to know the sights by yourself. Take a bus into town, wander between the stacks of books in the library or find a bench in your local park and watch the world go by. The more time you spend getting to know your new surroundings, the sooner they will begin to feel like home.