How can Freshers Week be tailored to ensure all students feel as welcome as possible? We’ve compiled a list of things to consider when looking at improving the inclusivity of that first week.
Most students will feel a little nervous about their first week of university. It’s natural to feel this way about such a big milestone, but there is a lot to be excited about, too. For underrepresented students, this can be particularly pronounced. With this in mind, how can Freshers Week be tailored to ensure all students feel as welcome as possible? We’ve compiled a list of things to consider when looking at improving the inclusivity of that first week.
This doesn’t necessarily mean finding other venues or creating grandiose day trips for each day of the week. Rather, it’s about reflecting on the format of activities offered during the week and where they are located. This provides commuting students with a choice in how close or far they would like to travel for Freshers’ events, as well as how much money they’re willing to spend on travel costs in the first week.
Additionally, with students travelling around for events, this may mean longer days with later finishes. Sprinkling Freshers activities across the day allows students to attend without the worry of getting home safely, especially later in the evening when public transportation becomes less regular. The option to attend relevant events virtually is another way to improve accessibility and maximise student involvement, thus building student belonging.
Traditionally, a lot of Freshers Week involves events with an attached cost. This might be a night out at the Student Union where students have to first pay for a ticket, and then for any drinks or food once inside. Perhaps it takes the form of a campus-scale Fayre with opportunities to purchase posters for one’s new room, if they live in Halls of Residence, or coach tours to nearby sites of interest.
While these have proven their well-deserved space in the Freshers Week calendar, not all budgets allow the leeway for additional expenditures outside of day-to-day necessities. There isn’t always space for a student to compromise on their finances, so there is a risk that those facing disadvantage could fail to form the same connections and belonging that their peers are forming through the above events.
A varied offering of free and paid activities during Freshers Week is an essential part of engaging the entire student cohort, regardless of background.
Nightlife is commonly associated with Freshers and the wider university experience, but for many students this isn’t necessarily an interest.
Freshers Week should represent the wide range of students it caters for. If a student feels they can’t see themselves represented, this can deeply affect their level of engagement in the wider uni experience. Harnessing a sense of belonging is especially important in the initial weeks of the first semester, and opportunities outside of the lecture theatre can be a great way to normalise a new environment for students. Students are at university for a reason – because they want to be, and Freshers Week is an opportunity to showcase the breadth of diverse and inclusive experiences on offer.
The overall reason for Freshers Week is to help students settle, to give them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their new environment, and to demonstrate that their chosen university cares about them.
For students facing disadvantage, university can particularly feel like an unfamiliar place or concept. They are more likely to be the first generation to attend, with less examples of people around them having gone to university. With a lack of prior knowledge on what to expect, students can feel unprepared or even disconnected from higher education.
Freshers Week isn’t all about excitement and fun. Former student, Abdullahi Yussuf, reflects on their specific experience starting university:
“…my personal circumstances affected my experience negatively as at the time, all I focused on was getting the best grades possible.”
For some students, it will be a time for them to refocus, settle-in and ground themselves ahead of the start of the academic semester. A moment to pause and prepare. Opportunities to unwind or seek support should be as central as the exciting events on offer.
The likes of homesickness and uncertainty don’t have a set timeframe. Former student Hilal Qahari noted that their Freshers Week “started off slow but picked up the pace soon after”.
No two students will face the same experience of university and everyone will adjust to it at their own pace. So, when the first week is over and the lectures begin, the core principles of guidance and support should be carried throughout the semester. Are there ways to weave in support and touch points throughout the weeks, without solely relying on the student to be proactive in seeking guidance?
Many students will be aware of the support on offer to them but need a gentle push to make that first step. A student may be worried that they’ll face judgement or their issue will be ignored. A positive university culture is one which is built on trust and inclusivity. Finding ways to promote accessible and friendly student support services can be the difference between a good and a bad experience. Again, this is with the university to prove it can help its students and will listen to their thoughts.
We know that many institutions and student unions are working tirelessly to deliver truly inclusive offerings to their students during Freshers Week and beyond. In 2023, numerous Scottish universities reframed the week as a ‘Welcome Week’ with the focus of bringing inclusivity to the forefront, and with it provided a series of diverse offerings to its equally diverse student cohorts. Many universities across the UK have since followed suit, emphasising the consideration of each student joining. In being inclusive in this first week, universities set a precedent of what to expect and demonstrate that higher education truly is for everyone.
