Over 3,000 new students will arrive at the University of Bath for a Freshers’ Week full of activities and events designed to help them settle into campus and city life (Monday 27 September to Sunday 3 October).
The Students’ Union has organised a busy social timetable to help the freshers find their feet before the start of their first academic semester on Monday 4 October.
As well as party nights, quizzes, barbeques, and campus rallies, this year’s event has a strong international flavour, with global language cafés and welcome events designed to help the 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students from abroad to mix with home students.
Sports Day (Wednesday 29 September) will give students the chance to try out some of the sports on offer at Bath, and all the clubs and societies in the Students’ Union will be entering the spirit of Carnival Day (Tuesday 28 September), with street acts and stalls showcasing their activities.
Students can record a radio show or try out the television studio at Arts & Media Day (Saturday 2 October) or have a go at photography or painting.
The Commercial Fair (Friday 1 October) will feature over 60 stalls from national and local companies, charities and other organisations providing services and information that freshers might need. The students will be able to pick up freebies, enjoy cakes and cooking tips from Bath’s Mothers’ Union, talk to Julian House about their bike recycling scheme, as well as enjoy free pizza and candyfloss.
The University’s own Student Services will be at the fair, plus local health and safety organisations including the fire service; the environmental health unit from Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council to give information and advice about noise levels; B&NES waste services to discuss recycling and the changes in the local area, as well as the local police.
New students will be guided around campus by crews of students already studying at Bath. The volunteers will also take freshers on tours to the city centre and to explore the surrounding countryside. These tours will include visits to the Roman Baths and a ride on the open top bus around Bath.
SU President Daniel O’Toole said: “Freshers’ Week is a fantastic experience for so many students.
“For the returning 300 plus students who volunteer throughout the week to make the ideas implemented over the summer a reality, Freshers’ Week is about helping new first year students into a brand-new, unfamiliar environment, picking up leadership, co-ordination and communication skills.
“More importantly, Freshers’ Week for the new students is an opportunity to experience what university life has to offer whilst facilitating fun activities to help intitate and foster the sorts of friendships that could last a lifetime.
“It’s about making the transition from home to Bath as easy and as welcoming as possible so that the students feel part of the campus and city community as soon as they start their academic work.”
For more information about events during Freshers’ Week please visit the freshers’ website.