Freshers' Week 2024

What is Freshers' Week?

Freshers' Week happens at all universities across the UK at the start of the autumn term.

It's considered a rite of passage for many students, and gives you an opportunity to explore your new surroundings, make friends and sign up for clubs and societies.

Try not to worry about it - everyone will be in the same boat, and after a few days, you will begin to feel more settled.

How do I survive Freshers' Week?

Don't worry - you won't be the only one worried about Freshers' Week!

Rememnber that everyone's in the same boat, so try to see this as an opportunity to make new friends, socialise, and find out more about your new home for the next few years.

It's also a good idea to explore the local area and make sure you know where the nearest food shops are, and draw up a weekly budget for groceries and other essentials.

This will stop you from overspending and allow you to see how much money you have left over for socialising. You don't want to be worrying about money before you''ve even finished your first term!

It may be easy to get carried away with partying and having fun during Freshers' Week, but it's important to always keep yourself safe.

Let people know where you're going and when you will be back, and make sure you have at least one or two numbers of hall mates you can contact in case of an emergency.

What do I need to pack for Freshers' Week?

There are many things you need to think about packing when starting university, including the following items:

• Documents
• Kitchen utensils
• Study materials
• Outdoor gear
• Healthcare, electrical, bathroom and housekeeping supplies
• Clothing
• Bedding
• Leisure, style and miscellaneous items.

Take a look at our comprehensive university checklist to make sure you don't forget anything!

Do I have to pay council tax as a student?

Council tax is a tax that many students assume they will not be required to pay. 

However, it is a tax on the household and so whether there is tax to pay will depend on not only your circumstances but those of your fellow housemates. How much you will have to pay depends on if you (or your housemates) are full or part-time students, and where you live in the UK.

Find out more in our Student Council Tax Exemption guide.

Do I have to pay tax and national insurance if I work as a student?

If you're a student and plan to get yourself a job to earn some extra cash, you'll have to pay:

• Income Tax if you earn more than £1,042 a month (this is known as your personal allowance).
• National Insurance (NI) if you earn more than £166 a week.

Both of these will normally be deducted through your wages by PAYE (Pay As You Earn).

If you don't earn over these amount, you won't have to pay any income tax or NI.

Find out more information in our Student Tax and National Insurance guide.

Do I need a TV licence as a student?

If you are a student, you must still be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV, or if you download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.

This applies whether you live in halls of residence or a private shared house.

It’s important to realise that television licensing law still applies to you no matter what device you use to watch television programmes as they're being shown on TV, or through BBC iPlayer.

Find out more with our Student TV Licence guide.

How do I budget as a student?

Budgeting as a student is crucial if you don't want to run out of money by the end of your first term. To put together a successful budget, you will need to:

1. Add up your income
2. Calculate your essential outgoings
3. Work out what is left
4. Know what you can live without
5. Set a weekly budget
6. Find ways to make your money go further
7. Remember to swtich deals

For more detailed information, take a look at our Student Budgeting guide.

What else do I need to sort out before Freshers' Week?

As well as everything mentioned above, you will also need to sort out your student bank account.

We have lots of tips on picking the best account and which ones are offering the best deals over at our Student Bank Accounts guide.

You'll also need to think about how you're going to move all your stuff, and how you're going to travel there.

Hopefully Mum and Dad can help you with some of this, but if you don't have a large enough vehicle to borrow, you might have to rent one.