With the long, hot summer almost over and Freshers Week fast approaching we’ve come up with a list of things to make sure you’re feeling nothing but excitement for the next big chapter in your life and tips to help you prepare!

Hannah Tree, 22

Hannah Tree

Look for student rep groups on Facebook

At De Montfort University a student representative set up a group on Facebook allowing you to share which flat you were going to be in so you could try and find who you would be living with. I found this really helpful as I got a rough idea of who I'd be mixing with on a regular basis. It allowed me to build a bit of a network/friendships prior to Freshers Week, which can be really daunting! 

Frankie Plummer, 24

You'll be too busy/hungover to prepare for your first week of study.

With all the new people you'll be meeting, events to go to, shopping to do and nightlife to enjoy, you'll quickly forget you're at university to get a degree!

As such you won't have much time to do your assigned work for your first week of study. Thankfully, as it's so early in the semester the expectations are quite low. What's more important is making sure you have a plan for the next week to make sure you can fit your work into your routine once you have settled in.

You won't necessarily stick with the friends you meet during Freshers week for your whole time at uni, so don't worry too much. 

In your first week, it can seem like you have to make friends with everyone and like everyone you meet. While meeting lots of people in Freshers Week can be a great way to make new friends, don't think it's the be all and end all of your university relationships. 

You'll meet more people on your course, on nights out and through doing activities you enjoy. So don't stress too much about needing to get on with everyone.

Be yourself!

I think it's natural to feel like you have to fit in or show the best version of yourself given you are meeting so many new people during Freshers Week.

But I would say the most important thing is to be yourself and to do what you want to do. Trying too hard to please people, fit in or go with the flow can make you fall into friendship groups that aren't right for you in the long term.

Being yourself is the best guarantee you'll meet people who like you for who you actually are.

Jasmine Lee, 20

Don’t buy books straightaway

When you go to your first lecture, your lecturers will probably stress the importance of having copies of the core texts. This is fine until you realise that books can be at least £30 new and you may not even need them.

Make use of the library and rent the books from there, as there should be plenty of copies for everyone to have some access to. If there’s not, or you’d like your own copy, buy used copies online. You could even buy them from older students; they may have made useful notes in them for you to take advantage of.

Don’t spend your student loan all at once

It’s easy to get excited when the student loan comes in- as after all, it’s all yours, right? Although this is true, don’t forget that chunk has to last until the end of term.

Therefore, it’s important to budget your spending, as those takeaways and nights out will add up and you’ll run out of money before you know it. Put some money aside for emergencies and make sure you have enough money for food.

Take your fancy dress wardrobe

This may sound silly, but you’ll be surprised how much-themed parties happen throughout the year. Freshers is the biggest time for this, so come prepared with a couple of fancy dress outfits you already own. If you don’t own any, pack things like face paint and a spare white sheet and you’ll be ready to go.

Travis Kaschak, 20

Remember to stock up on medicines to prevent Freshers Flu!

Although you’ve heard the rumours, like most students you’ll tell everyone that Freshers Flu won’t happen to you. But it will. At some point mid-term when you’re starting to get tired and the partying has eased off a bit you’ll catch it. If you have an ill flatmate, it’s difficult to avoid it. Make sure you’re stocked up on medicines when this happens.

If you're planning an event for Freshers Week we've got a list of tips here and if you need some inspiration for designing your own Freshers Week wristbands, take a look at the ones we've created for student unions across the country here.