Your First Week at University: 10 Things Every New Student Should Do

Starting university is exciting, but the first few days can also feel surprisingly chaotic.

One minute you are unpacking boxes, the next you are trying to work out where your first lecture is, which bus takes you into town and whether anyone remembered to buy washing-up liquid.

Whether you are moving into student accommodation at the University of Birmingham, starting at Loughborough University or settling into halls at the University of Bristol, your first week is mainly about getting comfortable with a completely new environment.

Freshers’ events are part of the experience, but there are also plenty of practical jobs worth sorting early. Getting these basics out of the way can make the rest of the term considerably easier.

Here are ten things every new student should try to do during their first week at university.

1. Register With a Local GP

It might not be the most exciting job on your university checklist, but registering with a GP should be one of your priorities.

If you have moved away from home, your family GP may now be hundreds of miles away. Registering with a practice near your university accommodation means you will know where to go if you become unwell.

Many universities have their own health centres or recommend nearby surgeries. Students at larger campuses, including universities such as Nottingham, Leeds and Sheffield, will often find medical services located close to major student areas.

Do not wait until you actually need an appointment to start looking.

2. Find Your Nearest Supermarket

Knowing where to buy food is surprisingly important.

Spend some time finding your closest supermarket as well as any cheaper alternatives nearby. The convenience store underneath your accommodation might be useful at 10pm, but relying on it for your entire weekly shop could quickly become expensive.

Look for Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and local food markets depending on where you are studying.

It is also worth finding out whether your nearest larger supermarket is within walking distance or whether you will need a bus.

3. Learn How the Local Public Transport Works

Every university city operates slightly differently.

Find out which buses go between your accommodation, university campus, city centre and main railway station. Check whether students are eligible for discounted travel cards or season tickets.

For example, students living away from the main campus at universities in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham or Nottingham may regularly depend on local buses, trams or trains.

Save the relevant transport apps to your phone and work out how you will get home after an evening out too.

4. Properly Introduce Yourself to Your Housemates

It is easy to fall into the trap of simply saying hello before disappearing into your bedroom.

Try to spend some proper time with the people you are living with. Suggest making dinner together, having a cup of tea in the kitchen or exploring the area.

You do not have to become best friends immediately. Simply creating a friendly atmosphere can make shared living considerably more comfortable.

It is also a good opportunity to talk about practical things such as cleaning, bins, shared food and kitchen space before minor annoyances become bigger problems.

5. Find Your Lecture Buildings Before Classes Begin

University campuses can be much larger than they appear on a map.

Before teaching starts properly, walk around campus and locate the main buildings on your timetable.

Find your department, lecture theatres, seminar rooms, library and student union.

This is particularly useful at universities with large or spread-out campuses. Ten minutes spent exploring beforehand could save you from running across campus desperately searching for Room 2.34 five minutes before your first seminar.

6. Explore Your Local Neighbourhood

Your university campus will become familiar very quickly, but remember to explore beyond it.

Take an afternoon to walk around your local area.

Find the nearest pharmacy, takeaway, café, park, gym, cash machine and convenience shop. You should also locate useful services such as a post office or parcel collection point.

Students living in areas such as Selly Oak in Birmingham, Headingley in Leeds or Fallowfield in Manchester will quickly discover that student neighbourhoods often have plenty going on beyond university buildings.

7. Work Out Where the Library Is

Even if you have promised yourself that this will be the year you never leave an essay until the night before, it is worth finding the library early.

Learn how borrowing works, where the quiet study areas are and whether you need to book desks or study rooms.

Some universities have several libraries for different subjects, so check which one is most relevant to your course.

You might not need it much during your first week, but future-you will appreciate knowing exactly where everything is.

8. Check Your University Emails and Online Systems

Universities send a lot of information during the first few weeks.

Make sure you can access your university email account, online learning platform and student portal.

Depending on your university, this might include Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas or another system.

Important information about timetables, course materials, room changes and assessments is often sent digitally, so getting into the habit of checking regularly is worthwhile.

9. Join Something

Freshers’ fairs can be overwhelming because almost every society suddenly sounds interesting.

You do not need to sign up for fifteen different clubs, but joining one or two can help you meet people outside your accommodation and course.

Sports teams, gaming societies, volunteering groups, cultural societies, music groups and subject-based societies are available at most United Kingdom universities.

Choose something you genuinely enjoy rather than simply joining because everyone else is doing it.

10. Give Yourself Time to Settle In

Finally, remember that you do not have to have university completely figured out within seven days.

Some students instantly find friendship groups and settle into their new city. Others take several weeks or even months.

Both experiences are completely normal.

Your first week is about learning where things are, meeting people and gradually building a new routine.

There will probably be a wrong bus, an awkward conversation, a forgotten lecture room and at least one questionable attempt at cooking along the way.

That is all part of it.

Your First Week Is About Finding Your Feet

Starting university represents a major change. You are suddenly managing accommodation, studying, money, travel, food and a new social life at the same time.

Getting a few practical jobs sorted during your first week can make everything feel much more manageable.

Register with a GP, explore your neighbourhood, understand your transport options and learn where your lectures take place. Just as importantly, spend time talking to housemates and exploring what your university has to offer.

You do not need to experience everything during Freshers’ Week.

University lasts several years. Your first seven days are simply the beginning.