Freshers' Quickstart: 10 Things to Do Before Term 1

September is coming — get the small stuff done now so you can enjoy Welcome Week and bolt straight into study, work and social life.

The 10 quick wins

1. Confirm housing — make sure your contract, inventory and move-in date are locked.
2. Sort student finance — apply for loans and maintenance early so funds arrive on time. See the official guide at GOV.UK.
3. Open a student bank account — compare offers and pick practical perks (railcard discounts, overdraft terms).
4. Prepare a 1-page CV for part-time jobs and societies. Keep it ATS-friendly with headings: Education, Experience, Skills.
5. Book travel and luggage storage — cheaper early, and gives you peace of mind.
6. Join the students’ union & societies — Freshers fairs are where you find your tribe.
7. Set up basic tech — cloud backup for coursework, a tidy Notion/Google Drive folder, and a GitHub/portfolio if you’ll present projects.
8. Apply for part-time work now — many employers hire for term-time roles before arrivals (see Indeed for listings).
9. Health & registration — register with a local GP and set up your student health services access.
10. Make a budget — map loans, savings and expected rent/food costs to avoid surprises.

Quick links

• UCAS: What to expect from Freshers' or Welcome Week
• Student Finance (GOV.UK)

Pro tip: Do the 10 things in order of paperwork first (finance, housing, registration), then social + job stuff — paperwork is the cause of most first-week headaches.