If you’re a fresher starting university in Dundee this year, then
congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting journeys of your life. It can be daunting settling into a new city and making new friends, but don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ve compiled our top 10 tips for settling in quickly and easily during your first few weeks at university. Read on to find out more.
1. Moving in
Arrive as soon as you can, once you’re allowed to move into your halls of residence . This will give you time to get unpacked, settle in and get to know your new surroundings before the craziness of Freshers’ Week begins! Getting in your flat as early as possible also means you can, try to meet your flat mates before everyone else moves in. This way you’ll have a few friendly faces around when things get hectic and you’ll be able to ask them for help if you need it.
2. Making friends
If you can, try and meet some of your fellow students beforehand too. Social media is a great way to do this – there are usually
groups set up for each year at each university, so make the most of them! These groups will also give you information on the
top events of the week and help you plan your time. Once you’re actually at university, don’t be afraid to say hello to people – everyone is in the same boat as you and is probably feeling just as nervous! There are loads of ways to make friends at university, so get involved in as many things as possible.
3. Freshers Deals
Many clubs and bars across Dundee are offering great deals for new freshers, make the most of them! The
wristband deals offered are definitely worth purchasing as they will save you lots of money on entry and drinks throughout Freshers. One of the top passes for 2022 freshers is the Dundee Members
Gold Pass, these passes offer so many benefits that such as queue skip, free cloakroom, exclusive discounts across Dundee Clubs and more!
4. Be sensible with money
As tempting as it is to spend all your money in the first week be sure to save some for the rest of term. You’ll be thankful you did when you’re skint at the end of the month! Try using spending apps such as
Plum, this app is free and allows you to keep track of what you are spending throughout the month!
5. Join a society
Joining a society is a great way to meet new people with similar interests as you. It’s also a great way to try something new that you might not have had the opportunity to do before.
Dundee University and
Abertay University have over 200 societies each including everything from sports to cooking to even Harry Potter!
6. Check out Dundees night life!
Dundee isn’t rated the top student night life for nothing! Dundee has a range of top clubs, pubs and events – there is something for everyone to enjoy. A few of the most popular clubs in Dundee are
AURA and
Club Tropicana. (Be sure to get your
wristbands fast for these clubs as they are likely to sell out!)
7. Do a decent food shop
Make the most of your family dropping you off. Every student will tell you the struggles of hiking back to your student flat with your full food shop so make the most of having a car and stock up. If you’re struggling for ideas on what to buy, there are plenty of student cookbooks available with cheap and easy recipes.
8. Take the right stuff with you
Make sure you check what is included in your accommodation before you move in so that you don’t end up taking things you don’t need. Most halls will provide you with a list of things they recommended you to bring these lists are really useful so be sure to use it!
9. Attend the Freshers Fair
The Freshers Fair is a great opportunity to sign up for all the things you want to do during your time at university. There will be stalls from all the different societies as well as other opportunities such as volunteering and part time jobs. It’s also a great place to pick up some freebies and discounts so make sure you go along!
10. Do the boring admin stuff
Freshers week is all about having fun but if you’ve moved away from home you’ll need to do some life admin to make sure you’re settled in. For instance,
register at your local doctor’s surgery and dentist. It’s not the most exciting way to spend your time but it’s important to get sorted so you don’t have to worry about it later on! (This will be handy if you catch the famous freshers’ flu!)
11. Make sure you are ready for starting University
Although freshers week is about having fun and making friends be sure to get organised for starting University. Check you are fully enrolled in your course and
download any timetables you need for the week. This way you can make the most of your time and not have to worry about missing any important lectures! (Don’t worry if you are stuck on this, there will be plenty of people to help you!)
12. Have fun and don’t worry too much!
Freshers week is a great opportunity to make friends and try new things so make the most of it! And don’t worry too much, everyone is in the same boat as you! If you have any questions or need any help, there will be plenty of people around to help you out.
So there you have it, Dundee Freshers’ Top Ten Tips for Settling In! Follow these top tips and you’ll be sure to have a great time at university! If you’re looking for more tips on how to make the most of your nightlife at university, be sure to check out our other blog posts on the top hot events in Dundee!
