Starting university and moving away from home can be daunting but it’s also an incredible opportunity to try new things, meet new people, and enjoy your independence. Second year Durham University student Jess Wood shares the things she wishes she’d known before starting at uni.
Try to keep on top of your admin. No one wants to worry about admin once freshers’ week kicks off so it’s worth getting organised beforehand. Register with the local GP as it’s not practical to travel home for an appointment. It is worth noting here that you can only be permanently registered with one practice, so you will need to pick either uni or home.
The easiest way to stick to a budget is by setting out spending caps before starting. I recommend setting up a weekly/monthly direct debit into your current account with your budget for that period. Student bank accounts also come with useful tools for helping you manage your money, so it’s worth shopping around before choosing one. Some also offer railcards, vouchers, cash, or interest-free overdrafts.
Finally, many people will forget to check what’s included in accommodation costs, which may include laundry costs and freshers’ week tickets. Freshers’ week can get expensive with drinks and activities so knowing this in advance may help you to better organise your finances and proportion money appropriately.
Enjoy Freshers Week!
Most universities follow a similar pattern for freshers’ week. There will be university-wide events or events hosted by accommodation blocks during the day, including introduction lectures for each subject. Clubs and societies host free taster sessions throughout the week, and I recommend going to as many of these as possible as they’re a great way to meet new people and try new experiences.
Sports societies often host trials (usually open for beginners too), which are worth attending as places may become limited after. I ended up trying lacrosse, rowing, rounders and ultimate frisbee all in my first week!
In the evening many students will go clubbing, however, there is no pressure to drink alcohol or go out for those who choose not to! I was surprised how many people I met at uni who don’t drink.
I met many of my current friends in the first week, but there is no pressure to make lifelong connections from day one as your social circle will continue to grow and change throughout the year.
Manage your time
You probably won’t have much opportunity in the first week at uni to sit down! While this makes the week memorable, it becomes impossible to sustain such a busy timetable. Trying to balance lectures, sport, societies and socials can be tricky, especially when trying to reserve some free time too. Using a calendar or diary can help to find balance and avoid overlap here.
Keep at least one evening relatively free, and don’t feel guilty about having a quiet night to yourself when you need to. My main mistake last year was leaving assignments to the very last minute, so start them early! Questions for coursework will usually be released long before the deadline and so starting early will avoid those late-night library trips and missing out on socials.
Depending on the university and course, your first year may not contribute towards your final degree classification (it is still worth checking this!), so remember to not let work dominate too much – this is the year to have fun!
Stay on top of the work
Many universities now record lectures and upload them immediately after they take place, so the temptation to skip them may be strong. From personal experience, lectures can be the easiest place to meet people and make friends on your course, and embracing active discussion with your peers and professors is one of the easiest ways to learn.
If you do miss any lectures, try and make sure you catch up on all missed material by the end of the week, whether by rewatching lectures or reading someone else’s notes. Content builds up quickly and can become overwhelming if you avoid it until exam season!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help…
Asking for help is never something to be ashamed of and can come in many different forms. Other students, whether they are your closest friends, flatmates, or merely someone from your lectures, will often have similar struggles, so don’t be scared to ask about your assigned reading, event timetables or even how to use the washing machine!
All universities have a support system: the student union, lecturers, accommodation staff, or wellbeing services whose job is to offer support.
This may be harder to access than when you were at school, but don’t let this deter you from using the services provided. Remember to look after yourself but remember you have a support system too. You will never be the only one facing problems!
Keep healthy: Are your vaccinations up to date?
It’s important to remember that infectious diseases such as meningitis can spread easily in college and university communities, as close contact with other students means you’re at higher risk of catching and passing on diseases. Make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations including:
- the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- the Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine.
And from July 2026, those starting at university, or starting college and living in college accommodation or college halls of residence this September are also being offered two doses of the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine free of charge to help prevent the spread of meningitis. Some other groups students will also be eligible. Find out more here.
