Be prepared before leaving for uni so that you can relax and enjoy the whole freshers’ experience, as Michelle Higgs explains
“Budgeting is one of the most important life skills you can learn”
“Ask whoever does the most cooking at home to give you some tips and show you how to cook a few basic recipes”
“Your university is probably in a completely new city that’s unfamiliar to you. But there’s a lot of online research you can do before you even get there to help familiarise yourself with the place”
Facts/stats
29% of students live in university accommodation in term-time
(Save the Student, National Student Accommodation Survey, 2025)
74% of students wish they’d had better financial education before starting uni
(Save the Student, National Student Money Survey, 2024)
34% of students use a banking app from a traditional bank as a budgeting method
(NatWest Student Living Index, 2024)
Before you start at uni, you’ll probably be feeling a mixture of excitement, anxiety and everything in between. But there are certain things you need to do before you go, or as soon as you get there, that are within your control and will make your first few weeks much smoother. Don’t leave it to the last minute because you might need to learn a few skills, such as budgeting or cooking.
Apply for your accommodation
As a first-year student, you’ll probably be offered a place in university accommodation. But you’ll need to apply for it as soon as applications have opened because it’s usually on a first come, first served basis. The date from which you can apply differs between universities; it could be after the ‘A’ level results come out or earlier if you have an unconditional offer. You should check this with your preferred university. All the uni accommodation listings will be online, so you can do some research and identify your first and second choice of halls beforehand.
Before you go to uni, check if you need separate contents insurance. University accommodation includes basic insurance of items in your room. You may also be covered by your parents’ contents insurance policy, so ask them to check. If neither applies, you’ll need to arrange your own policy – it isn’t something you can do without.
Get a student bank account
You can usually open a student bank account when you have an unconditional offer from your preferred university, or after your ‘A’ level results if the offer is conditional. Check with your chosen bank as some have different requirements. You’ll need proof of your identity and address, such as a passport, birth certificate and/or driving licence, plus your student finance letter. You also need to be 18 before you can apply for an overdraft.
Remember that the best student bank account is not usually the one with the most tempting freebies. You need to look for what every student needs to see them through university: an arranged interest-free (0%) overdraft. This is the agreed amount that the bank will lend you, up to a defined limit, without charging interest. Compare accounts and choose one that has the largest arranged 0% overdraft for the longest period of time.
Start a budget
Budgeting is one of the most important life skills you can learn. Setting a budget and sticking to it puts you in control of your money, and reduces any bank charges/interest. This means you can keep as much of your cash as possible to spend on whatever you want, from festival tickets and new clothes to a well-earned summer break.
Start by adding up all your income over one term, including your maintenance loan, any scholarships/grants, money from parents/relatives, and earnings from part-time employment. The total is your termly income, so divide this sum by the number of weeks in the term to give you a weekly figure.
Then add up your compulsory outgoings over the term. This should include your rent and household bills such as gas and electric, water, broadband and mobile, plus contents insurance (if applicable). Divide this total by the number of weeks in the term to get a weekly figure for compulsory outgoings.
Finally, subtract your weekly compulsory outgoings from your weekly income. The difference is the money that’s left for living expenses such as groceries, travel and non-essential items each week.
There are loads of budgeting apps out there, so no excuses! They can help you track your spending, set daily or weekly limits, and send you alerts if you’re close to that limit.
Learn to cook
If you’ve never cooked before, now’s the time to learn! Knowing how to cook meals from scratch using staple ingredients is almost always cheaper than buying convenience foods. Ask whoever does the most cooking at home to give you some tips and show you how to cook a few basic recipes. Alternatively, look online for step-by-step videos for beginner cooks.
Avoid complicated recipes with lots of ingredients. Instead, keep it simple and try basic recipes with fewer ingredients for tasty meals that can be varied with different vegetables, herbs and spices. Stir-fries, omelettes, pasta bakes and risottos are all easy to make, and one-pot meals such as curries, stews and chilli con carne are great because there’s less washing up! When you get to uni, you can try cooking with your housemates to swap recipes and try new flavours.
Register with a local doctor
While you’re at uni, there are lots of things you won’t be able to rely on your parents for, and one of them is looking after your health. Back home, you probably go to see your family’s GP if you are ill, but at uni you’ll have to sort this out yourself. All you need to do is register with a local doctor. This is vital if you have a medical condition and already take medication, or you need contraception. Being registered with a GP is also necessary if you develop any mental health issues and need to be referred for therapy. It’s much more difficult to be seen by a doctor when you’re not registered, so don’t wait until you’re ill!
Research the local area
Your university is probably in a completely new city that’s unfamiliar to you. But there’s a lot of online research you can do before you even get there to help familiarise yourself with the place. Try looking at online maps to find out where the nearest bus/tram stop is, and check out the timetable for getting to uni from your accommodation. You can also look up where the nearest supermarkets and other shops are; how far away the GP surgery and bank are; identify green spaces and walking routes; and earmark the best cafes and pubs to visit. In your first couple of weeks at uni, try to set aside a morning or afternoon to just be a tourist and explore the city on foot. Or make a day of it and invite some of your new mates to go on a bus tour to see the sights.
Original documents to take to uni
- National Insurance letter
- University acceptance letter
- Student finance letter
- Bank details
- Insurance details
- Passport and/or driving licence
- A stack of passport photos!
4 ways to make the most of Freshers’ Week
- Pace yourself
The Freshers’ schedule is full-on so identify the events you really want to go to, and for everything else just go with the flow.
- Say goodbye to FOMO
You don’t have to attend every single Freshers’ event or be drunk every night, so don’t put pressure on yourself to do so.
- Have an at-home event
Invite your housemates for a few beers in halls; it’s much easier to get to know them with fewer people around.
- Don’t sign up for everything
There’s no need to join every society that’s there, especially those that ask for a fee. You can decide later which ones you’d like to join.
5 Starting uni apps
Any.do (Android, iOS, free)
A clever to-do list app that makes any essay or project feel manageable. If you’re doing group work, it’s also good for sharing lists and tasks.
Notion (Android, iOS, free)
A great note-taking app that can sync your notes across all your devices – you can also use it to manage your essay deadlines.
Revolut (Android, iOS, free; Revolut Plus, £3.99 per month)
A useful all-in-one finance app with built-in budgeting features, plus the option of recurring transfers and spare change round-ups on card transactions into savings ‘pots’.
SuperCook (Android, iOS, free)
This clever app will find and suggest recipes using only the ingredients you have at home – no need to go shopping!
Trainline (Android, iOS, free)
Use this great app to book train and bus tickets across the UK and Europe for the best prices.
