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Your first weeks at Bath

How you'll get to know the University, your department, and lots of new people during Freshers' Week and Welcome Week.

Leaving home and starting at university can feel a little overwhelming at first. But, whether you’re simply excited to get here, anxious about making new friends or – most likely – a bit of both, we’re here to help you settle in from the moment you arrive.

We have two programmes of events running at the same time – Freshers’ Week, from the Students' Union, and Welcome Week, organised by the University itself. Together, they fill your first few days, with activities to ease you into your department and course, sessions to welcome you into our community, and lots of optional, fun things to do around the campus and the city.

If you feel like you could use some extra help at any point, you’ll find we offer all kinds of support throughout your time at Bath.

Welcome Week events

Welcome Week events are a mixture of departmental and general University talks and activities. Many are compulsory, but they’re informal and focused on equipping you with useful information that’ll help you start to feel at home at Bath.

Students smile and wave from tiered lecture-room seating.

General University events

Among other topics, you'll learn what it means to be an active member of our community, how things work, how to stay safe, and how to make the most of your university experience.

There'll be accommodation talks covering practical things like cleaning, recycling, and reporting maintenance issues, as well as information about social events and activities, getting along with housemates, and wellbeing support.

If you're an international student, we can help you with passport checks and visa collection. We also run the Living In a New Culture (LINC) orientation programme; a series of events designed to help you settle in and get to know other students.

Finally, because we can only fit so much into Welcome Week, as part of your ongoing induction, you'll learn about the Library and the Skills Centre, which can help you develop your academic and writing skills throughout your studies.

Departmental events

Department events are where you’ll meet teaching staff, your personal tutor, and your peer mentor.

You’ll also get more information about your course and timetable, learn how the department can support in your studies, and meet your coursemates.

Freshers’ Week events

Fill your first week at Bath with fun.

A young woman with boxing gloves spars with another student during a boxing demonstration.

Organised by our brilliant Students’ Union, and guided by our friendly and informative Freshers’ Week Captains, Freshers’ Week crams an array of fun (and optional) activities, fairs, tours, and club nights into your first seven days.

Among other highlights you might:

  • sample some of our 180 student groups with our ‘Give it a go’ sessions
  • check out The Edge, our creativity and wellbeing hub
  • find a vintage clothing bargain or two
  • get to know the city on a student-led city tour
  • make new friends at our mixer events on and off campus
  • pick up freebies at the Freshers’ Fair
  • dance into the small hours at our Freshers’ Week club nights

Naturally, there are plenty of non-alcoholic events to enjoy. Above all, we want you to do as much or as little as feels comfortable for you.

Bethany Ketteringham in an orange hoodie, smiling at the camera, standing on a sandy beach at sunset.
‘The University has such a friendly atmosphere and I think I felt at home within the first couple of weeks. Freshers’ Week is a great opportunity to make new friends, and the Freshers’ Fair was the first time that I really felt like I belonged at Bath.’
— Bethany Ketteringham BSc Psychology (Hons) (2023)

Contact us

Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.