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Students on campus at the University of Newcastle

Newcastle University

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Don't know anything about freshers week, etc

I'm going to Northumbria (or maybe Newcastle, if they decide to be kind...) in September. I'm 20 and didn't finish 6th form when I originally went (by choice) and my partner and friends haven't been to uni. I don't really know what goes on with freshers week etc and whether I feel like joining in. I don't know if I'm one for living a student lifestyle! Would like to know more about that and just about starting uni in general.

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Reply 1

vickya91

Hi Laura,

I am also 20, however I did start uni and do freshers before at Leeds. (unfortunately wrong course choice) So I am going to Northumbria this September too.

Freshers was really good before, you do as much or as little as you want. Its simply the first week before your course starts to get settled in, get to mingle and have fun. Before all the work starts. I'd say its pretty useful. Not every one goes mad you will find people who are like you too. They organise all sorts of events/nights/gigs, you can join societies .. if I remember right domino's pizza gave away free pizza slices at leeds when I was there. Haha well students will keep their costs down by eating free food.

My partner is also going to Northumbria and we have some how ended up in the same halls, that's going to be a unique sort of situation. But its going to be fun no matter how you spend it.

I am doing motion graphics and animation. And will be in new bridge street accommodation.

Newcastle University

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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Reply 2

lauraturnbull

Are you from Newcastle? I know you said you were in halls but I do know others who live local but still stayed in halls. We live about 9 miles from town, so I only applied to Newcastle and Northumbria. How do you find out what's happening freshens week?

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Reply 3

vickya91

I am from Hartlepool so about 45mins on the train away. I don't think the plan will be out until after results day. I just keep checking the student union web page :biggrin:

and lots of FaceBook pages..

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004056244124

Reply 4

lauraturnbull

Oh cool. When is as level results day? The course I did already had our results because it was marked by Northumbria.

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Reply 5

lauraturnbull

*a level

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Reply 6

StacFace

A level results are on 16th August, last year the full list of activities for Freshers' and info about buying the wristbands for it etc was published just before then, I think it was about a week before. Also in case you didn't know if you want guaranteed entry to everything at Freshers' you need a wristband/ticket which you buy in advance from the student union website. You can still join in some stuff without one but wristband holders get priority and some events are exclusively for wristband holders (including the launch party) - it's up to you if you think they're worth the money or not.

Reply 7

lauraturnbull

How much money are the wristbands normally? And when you say student union website, is that part of Northumbria's site? I was wondering whether many people go out for freshers who don't know anyone, too.

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Reply 8

vickya91

Yeah I would like to know how much these wrist bands are :smile:

Reply 9

lauraturnbull

And what they get you as well :smile:

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Reply 10

StacFace

The wristbands are normally around £50 (I think it was £52.50 for Northumbria last year) and that gets you guaranteed entry into all the events throughout the week. If you don't get one then there are some events you definitely can't go to (including the launch party on the first night) and for the others it depends on how many wristband holders turn up and I think you have to pay separately for each event you go to as well if you don't have the wristband.

Pretty much everyone will be out for Freshers' Week at least on some of the nights but not everyone will get a wristband because they don't have enough for everyone (due to them not legally being allowed to have all the students in the union at once) and also some people won't be keen on drinking or will prefer going out in Newcastle instead.

Reply 11

lauraturnbull

I assume most people will know at least one other person of they're going to the launch party or is that not the case? I don't know anyone who is going to uni here. £50 sounds like a lot of money considering I'm used to most bars in Newcastle not even charging to get in! It must be good lol.

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Reply 12

StacFace

Original post by lauraturnbull

Well you'll have met your flatmates and maybe the students in the neighbouring flats within your halls but most people don't actually know anyone. That doesn't really matter though as a big part of Freshers' Week is meeting new people and making friends. In fact I'd say not knowing anyone is better as otherwise you might find you just stay with the people you know and don't get properly involved.

Reply 13

lauraturnbull

I won't be living on halls as the house I have now is only 9 miles away. :smile:

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Reply 14

lauraturnbull

*in

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Reply 15

Kayl<3

Original post by lauraturnbull

I won't be living on halls as the house I have now is only 9 miles away. :smile:

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Im not living in halls so I wont know anyone either. :frown:

Reply 16

lauraturnbull

What are you studying Kayl?

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Reply 17

wulfyrokujuyon_64

Don't know about Northumbria, but at Newcastle for Freshers you buy a Freshers' wristband for about £50 as everyone else has said. Is it worth it? Depends on how much you think you'll use it. Last year there was a lot of events involving clubbing and partying, you know, the usual. But there was also events that weren't so exciting such as a trip to the beach and touring restaurants in the area. There were also outdoor events such as quad biking and Go Ape! (basically a big outdoor assault course). If you're going to take full advantage of the events it's totally worth it. I regret buying one because I didn't use it - was too scared to go to events I liked alone. Kinda silly now that I think of it :redface:

During Freshers and on the first week you basically have an introductory week. It will vary depending on the course, but will basically involve you having an introductory talk about your course and the people who teach it, what you need to do and when, you'll get your course handbook etc. etc. You'll also meet your personal tutor. Usually there's an event where you can get to know other people from your course. I'm taking Linguistics with Japanese and after the big talk they basically told you to go talk to each other, and maybe get some coffee and biscuits from the back. Though I missed the big socialising event because I had to go to the module briefing for Japanese, though I didn't miss much.

During Freshers' you also sign up for elective modules. Basically go to your dept., talk to a member of staff and get signed onto the module. If you're doing an outside module, you'll have to get a special form and get it signed by a staff member of the module and take it back to your school.

That's all I can remember at the moment :smile:

About a week before they'll send out all the info you need in an email so don't worry about it. So check your uni email/personal email often!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 18

lauraturnbull

I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it! £50 for the wrist band then transport to and from town...all sounds very expensive.

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Reply 19

Kayl<3

Original post by lauraturnbull

I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it! £50 for the wrist band then transport to and from town...all sounds very expensive.

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Im going to be doing Operating Department Practice, you?

I dont think im going to be able to afford £50 either. I have a little boy so I wont be able to go out every night anyway.
Was thinking about maybe just going out on the 15th around Newcastle, but still, wont know anybody to go out with, so not sure what i'll do yet :frown: