Before all the hard work and studying begins at Scotland's universities, new students come together at their respective campuses for the annual freshers week shenanigans.
Depending where you come from you might call it orientation week, frosh week, welcome week or - as we say in Scotland - freshers week. Whatever label you slap on it, the week-long celebration welcoming new students to Scotland's 19 universities is packed full of events to help new students get to know their new home. Here's what you should expect from freshers week in Scotland.
When you move to a new city anywhere in the world, it's always best to familiarise yourself with your surroundings. The added bonus in Scotland just so happens to be that most of your new surroundings are stunning landmarks and streets packed with unique history. This means that whenever you have any down time during your studies, there are a huge range of incredible experiences to lose yourself in.
With more than 50,000 international students studying in Scotland every year, we know that it's important to find the right type of accommodation. This is why almost all of our universities offer a wide range of living options. From the comfort of student halls, which provide cleaning and catering, to the independence of our student houses, we have the perfect combination of places to live, study and meet new people.
When you're a student it's more important than ever to make sure your pounds and pennies go the extra mile for you - thankfully, freshers week is a great opportunity to pick up a few freebies. Whether it is tickets to attractions, those all important pens and notebooks, or a couple of packets of instant noodles, most freshers weeks will have a large fair filled with generous companies and brands eager to give away their wares.
Freshers of Edinburgh! Our William Wallace will be at Potterrow today between 2-4 pm handing out free tickets to the Dungeons to all you poxy students... Get your hands on 'em while you can! #freshersweek pic.twitter.com/9X7p7Htkxa
— Edinburgh Dungeon (@EdinDungeon) September 11, 2018
Sometimes you can be presented with so many different things, that it can be a lot to take in, especially if you are in a new country. You can avoid sensory overload by grabbing flyers to all the different events that are happening across your university's freshers week. This means that you can continue to soak everything up, without worrying about missing that all important night out.
It's a #freshersweek flyer face off with @thatweeman and @realmarkdallas!
— BBC Scotland (@BBCScotland) September 14, 2018
There can be only one... pic.twitter.com/DJU7LuqIz1
Listen, we're not here to brag - well, actually we are, but that's besides the point...Yes, Scotland has a world-renowned reputation for providing a first-class education. However, we also have an equally excellent rep for throwing a party and having a good time. Scotland's open, friendly and inclusive nature means that no matter where you come from and what you're here to study, you're sure to find a great night out.
���� TONIGHT FROM 7PM ����@AnnieMac & @DannyHowardDJ bring the Rave Lounge to @StrathUnion, @UniStrathclyde with special guests @hannah_wants & @illyandbarri! ���� pic.twitter.com/qDWB1FLpUj
— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) September 14, 2018
If you're not much of a night-out kind of a person, that's cool, we've still got you covered. Some of our universities are many centuries old, and still carry out some of their ancient traditions today. These occasions can be a great opportunity to really immerse yourself in the culture and history of your university while getting the chance to do something completely different - an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.
I'm really excited for the @UWSstudents freshers ceilidh tomorrow night! The band we've got in are great, and all the dances are taught so everyone can join in and best of all it's free for @UniWestScotland students! pic.twitter.com/JZD28nKFSX
— Dr. Sabina Lawrie (@SabinaLawrie) September 11, 2018
The friends you make at university will probably stay with you for the rest of your life. Whether it is meeting for coffee, arranging study dates, or just taking advantage of some free time away from the books, friends are a big part of your student life. Scotland welcomes more than 50,000 international students from over 180 different countries - meaning that you've got plenty of new friends to choose from. The locals are quite nice too!
What’s the best cure for Thursday blues? DOGS! Hope all of our Edinburgh #HWFreshers were able to come and meet our therapets today at @HWUnion ❤️�� pic.twitter.com/lxTAGs1lm4
— Heriot-Watt Uni (@HeriotWattUni) September 6, 2018
Trust us - no matter what you're into, you can most likely find a club or society in Scotland that covers it. From football to quidditch, most of our universities offer a wide range of groups to suit all tastes. These groups can be the perfect way to unwind after a hard day with your nose in the books, find new friends with similar interests, or maybe you just want to try something completely different for the first time.
With over 200 clubs and societies to choose from there's something for everyone! We tried our best to get around to all the stalls today, but it's almost impossible. So here's just a taste of what Freshers' Fair had to offer.#UofGFW18 #TeamUofG pic.twitter.com/j5DEvG77qb
— University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) September 11, 2018
However you spend your freshers week, you can be sure that Scotland is always going to give you a big, warm welcome.