Freshers Guide 2024: What You Need To Know About Freshers & Student Life

15 Aug 2024, by Mikaela Bartlett, min. read

Applying to uni and becoming a fresher can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. Student life certainly has its ups and downs but there’s so much to look forward to at the same time. You’ll learn so much in your first few weeks and not just from your lecturers. Making new friends, taking up new hobbies and learning to take care of yourself will shape your university and adult life and make it something you’ll remember forever.

We recently asked over 1,000 16-18-year-olds all about their expectations for freshers and student life in general and we’ve used their responses to create this in-depth guide to help you get from results day through freshers and beyond.

You can check out the full 2024 Freshers Report right here or read on for our tailored student advice.

In this guide:

We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about results day, student finance, freshers’ week (and the dreaded freshers flu), maintenance loans, moving in, making friends and much more in this helpful guide!

And of course, don’t forget to sign up to Student Beans, for the best student discounts across all your favourite brands, to make settling into uni that bit easier.

Preparing for university

When is A Level results day 2024?

We know that waiting around to find out if you’ve been accepted to your first choice uni is stressful. But rest assured, you aren’t going through it alone.

A Level Results Day 2024 is Thursday 15 August 2024, with results will coming out anytime after 8am. You won’t be able to see what grades you’ve achieved on UCAS Track, though, you’ll just be able to see if you’ve got into your chosen university/universities or not. Our guide lists everything you need for A-Level results day.

Clearing 2024: everything you need to know

The thought of not getting into your chosen university and, instead, going through Clearing might feel daunting. But Clearing, which is how universities and colleges fill any places they still have vacant on their courses, can sometimes be a blessing in disguise — matching you with universities you hadn’t considered.

It also gives you an opportunity to pursue higher education, even if you don’t make your grades. So if you’re thinking that you might apply to uni through Clearing, here’s what you need to know.

Everything you need to know about student finance

If you’re planning on applying to uni this year, or are starting uni soon you may be left wondering just how do student loans work?

The truth is, it’s actually a lot less complicated than it might seem and we’ve got all the answers to your questions about student finance, how student loans work and everything you can expect from your maintenance loan, from borrowing it to paying it back.

The cost of going to uni in the UK is currently up to £9,250 per year, plus you’ll also need to cover the costs of your accommodation as well as your social life and everyday utilities. Luckily, the student loan scheme in the UK will help you cover the costs of all of this, so here’s everything you need to know about student finance.

University Maintenance Loan Payment Dates 2022/23: England, Scotland, Wales and NI

University maintenance loan payment dates 2024/25

Three times a year you’ll get a payment from student finance with a portion of the student loan money that you’re entitled to. If you’re budgeting term by term, you’re going to want to keep note of these important student finance dates.

The exact student finance date will depend on your course and your university. As instalments are split between terms you can normally expect a payment at the end of September or the start of October, at the start of January and at the start of April. To track the exact dates you can expect to be paid your maintenance loan in 2022, log into your Student Finance England account to see the exact schedule. We’ve got everything you need to know about student finance payment dates in our guide.

Student Maintenance Loans Guide 2022/2023: How Much You'll Get, When It's Paid And More

Student maintenance loans guide 2024/2025

Your student maintenance loan is one of the crucial parts of going to uni. Maintenance loans are designed to help you out while you studying, paying it back after you’ve graduated. However, student loans can also be complicated to get your head around as there are a lot of technical terms.

Everyone is eligible for a different amount of money from the government, which depends on a variety of factors including location, age and parental income.

So, if you’re wondering how much you’ll get, here’s what you need to know about your maintenance loans.

Moving to university

Freshers Week: What Is It, When Is It and How To Make The Most Of It (update)

Freshers’ Week: what is it and how to make the most of it

Get ready for freshers’ week 2024 with our ultimate guide on what to expect!

You’ve got your results, you’ve confirmed your uni place and now you’re probably busy preparing for the next chapter in your life. If there’s one thing you’re probably hearing lots about as a prospective uni student, it’s freshers’ week. But just what is freshers’ week and what does it involve? Well, we’ve got all the info you need to know about just what to expect from your first week of uni.

Our survey of over 1,000 16-18-year-olds showed that over 44% of you feel your Freshers experience will be highly impacted by the cost of living, so we’ve compiled tips to ensure you have fun whatever your budget. We also found out that over 70% of you are open to enjoying a sober Freshers week, so we’ve made sure to include some advice for a drink-free freshers week too.

two people sat on sofa next to each other smiling - how to make new friends at uni

How to make friends at university

There’s a good chance that you won’t know anyone when you arrive at uni, and that alone can be incredibly nerve-wracking. In fact, our survey suggested that 64.4% of you are worried about making friends at uni.

It’s important to remember that your new uni housemates, course mates etc will all be in the same boat as you! But in case you need a little more encouragement, we’ve got top tips on how to make friends at uni.

What is Freshers’ Flu? Cures, symptoms & causes

You’re getting out there, meeting new people, attending events. Until you wake up with a hangover that’s hitting differently…

Whether you’re currently wrapped up in a duvet praying for freshers’ flu to end or just trying to make it through freshers’ week without getting sick, we’ve put together everything you need to know about uni freshers’ flu and how to beat it.

What I wish I knew before moving into halls

Are you moving into halls for the first time? Well, we spoke to graduate Charlotte Cropper and asked her what she wished she knew before moving into student housing for the first time.

Here’s everything you should know about bonding with your flatmates, navigating any cohabitation drama and making the most of your new home.

>> Open the video on YouTube

When do you move into university halls? Your questions answered

Moving to university is a big deal and it’s normal to have loads of questions about the move to uni. To start with, check out our university checklist so you know what to bring with you and — more importantly — what to leave at home.

Our survey data told us that nearly half of you starting university in the next 1-2 years are concerned about the accommodation you’ll be allocated while a further 52% are anxious about moving in with strangers. So, if you’re nervous about the big move, you’re really not alone.

If you aren’t sure about your move-in date, don’t know the protocol about moving into student halls or simply want advice surround student accommodation, our guide on when you move into university halls is sure to put you on the right path.

Coping with and combatting loneliness at university

Struggling with loneliness? More than one in four students feel lonely at University, after all, it’s likely to be your first time living away from home, with all new people, routines and expectations. So, go easy on yourself. Remember you aren’t the only one who’s probably struggling to settle in. In fact, our recent survey of over 1,000 16-18-year-olds showed that over 64% of you are worried about making friends.

For some, university can be a tough adjustment period which can lead to isolation, culture shock and other things that affect our ability to make new connections. Don’t panic, we’re totally here for you — we’ll take you through the why and how of combatting loneliness at uni.

Student Beans’ university jargon buster

Can’t decipher your dissertations from your coursework deadlines? You’re not alone. Student life is a whole new world and with that comes a dictionary load worth of new words and concepts. To save you time and the embarrassment of actually having to ask what something means, we’ve created the ultimate guide to university jargon.

This A-Z of university jargon will have you breeze through freshers week and well beyond.

Image of a tv playing a movie in a student house

Your ultimate guide to managing student household bills

You know you’re becoming a fully-fledged grown-up when you start thinking about how to manage your household bills in your student house.

But with utility bills getting more expensive and our purse strings getting tighter, it’s totally worth making sure you’re the designated Responsible Person and getting on top of your household bills. It’ll make your life a lot easier if everyone is on the same page, especially when you’re just making new friends. Our guide will help you figure out how to set up your bills and even how to take a meter reading.

Laptops and gadgets laid out on a table with students

Your guide to student contents insurance in 2024

With moving to uni comes big responsibility – especially for your gadgets! Protect your belongings with student contents insurance, so that if the worst happens, you’ll be covered.

With our guide to student contents insurance, you’ll find everything you need to know about what it is, what to look for when comparing quotes, how to save money and even the best insurance providers for your gadgets.

University life

Transferring or dropping out of university

Not happy at your current university? That’s totally okay. It’s possible to transfer universities and this guide will show you how to do it the right way.

Changing universities in the UK is quite simple. The only complexities that arise are when you’re changing to an entirely different course, a university of a higher standard of entry and whether the course actually allows transfer mid-year. So if you’re thinking about transferring universities, then we’ve got a guide to help you.

Looking after your mental health during exam season

With 69% of 16-18-year-olds that we surveyed saying they believe mental health could impact their freshers experience, we know that preserving your mental health is front of mind for a lot of you while at uni. While each university will have their own welfare resources that you can use, we’ve compiled a list of helpful resources and advice to get you through when you’re struggling.

If struggling with exams is on your mind, we’ve got tips on how to manage your mental health while studying.

Best revision techniques for uni students

If you’ve just started uni, you’ll most likely be feeling a big difference between studying for your A-levels and your first year university exams. Most university courses expect you to work and think independently and while you can always go to your tutor or lecturer for support, we’ve compiled tips from our own student experiences to help you ace your exams and coursework.

Find out what expert consultant clinical psychologist Dr Nihara Krause has to say on the topic of revision as well as the difference between active recall and spaced repetition to find the best way to revise for you.

How to save money on student travel

With rail fares through the roof, we totally don’t blame you for hunting down some travel discounts — and your student years are the best time to find them. Student life is expensive enough nowadays, so you need to save every penny you can.

Luckily fo you, we’ve rounded up the best and most cost effective passes for buses and trains to save you money whether you’re travelling home or hopping across campus.

How to budget as a student

Student life is all about good budgeting. From your nights out to your food shop and electricity bills, if you can stay within budget then you’re doing a better job than most.

However, we found from our recent survey of over a thousand of prospective students, that over 80% of you feel underprepared by the education system to manage money. Even worse, a further 56% of you aren’t confident about managing bills. Well, we’re here to change all that.

While sticking to a budget might feel like rocket science, we’ve broken down everything from the best apps to use to how to work out your outgoings. You’ll be a budget boss in no time with our guide on how to budget as a student.

Long-distance relationships at university

Our recent survey results of young people due to start university in the next couple of years showed that the majority of those in relationships were worried about them lasting while at uni. However, over 68% of you believe a long-distance relationship can stand the student life test.

We’re also all for a bit of romance and a good love story here at Student Beans, so we put together this handy guide to help you and your significant other through.

From advice on virtual dating to communicating, we’ve got everything you need to make your relationship work.

Yellow, blue, red and green recycling bins

How to recycle in your student house

Now you’re settled into university, it’s time to start feeling like a real grown-up. Which means recycling. We know. It’s all the glamour around here. But the sooner you get your head around all the little recycling symbols and what they mean, the less time there is to panic when the bin men refuse to take your bin because your housemate put cheese in the recycling box.

Want to read more about what 16-18-year-olds think and feel about starting uni and freshers? We’ve got a whole lot more for you in our 2024 Freshers Report — don’t miss it!

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