Ultimate Guide to Freshers' Week in Leicester

About the author: Hi! My name is Kayleigh Graves and I am a Journalism and Creative Writing student at the University of Leicester. I spend most of my time out running, watching women’s football, trying to plan my next concert without breaking the bank and questioning how I will make it through my ever-growing tower of books.

Arriving in a brand new city for university and starting a new chapter of your life might just be the definition of terrifying as well as exciting.

On top of all of the new streets to learn and hundreds of people to meet, there are countless events which all seem to be happening at once. Freshers’ Week is designed to help you transition into university life and experience what your city has to offer, but often so much is happening that it can very quickly feel overwhelming.

Having been through Leicester Freshers' twice now (soon to be three times!) I’ve pulled together this guide to highlight the Freshers’ events students usually love in Leicester – so you know what most would say is, or isn’t, worth attending.

Students' Union (SU) club events

Both the University of Leicester and De Montfort University kick off Freshers' Week with a ‘Welcome Party’ which is the first big night out. These events are always buzzing with energy, prizes flying into the crowd and so many people to meet.

Hosted at each university’s SU, they’re super close to the on-campus accommodation meaning you don't have to worry about being far from your new home.

After the welcome night, most of the SU club nights during Freshers’ Week are a hit due to their location and the tickets either coming included in the Freshers wristband or being fairly cheap.

💡 Tip: the energy on nights out during Freshers' is always great and nobody expects you to drink if you go; it’s all about the atmosphere and meeting new people! If you don’t drink, check out our guide to sober Freshers' too.

Beyond clubs

Freshers’ events like the Bingo Lingo and Student Takeover at pubs and bars tend to attract smaller crowds. These can feel slightly underwhelming compared to clubbing events, and the locations of these events are often closer to Leicester's city centre and so are less convenient for those living further out. Unless you’re really eager, it’d probably be best to skip these events and save your pennies.

ResLife events

UoL’s ResLife team host great activities during Freshers' which are perfect for those who aren’t looking to party and prefer something more chilled but still want to meet people. They host tours of the city, free food, games nights and so much more, which are all carried out close to the ‘City’ accommodation and ‘The Village’ in Oadby.

Freshers' highlight: Freshers' Ball!

The Freshers’ Ball marks the end of Freshers' for both DMU and UOL and it’s an amazing night full of dressing up and dancing in a stunning venue with all your new friends.

The ball feels more like going to a big social gathering rather than clubbing, so don’t fret if you’re worried about it being crazy lively as it's not that sort of atmosphere. This is always a hit with UoL students as they have previously provided free bus transport to the event!

Student Night at Highcross

The Student Night at Highcross shopping centre is when lots of shops put on limited discounts for students that night during Freshers'. To be honest, in recent years these offers haven’t been much bigger than regular student discounts and have been overall quite disappointing – especially for those who were expecting some big savings. If you’re eyeing up an expensive purchase, perhaps wait until Black Friday in November for a better deal and give this one a miss.

City centre events

Lots of the clubs and bars in town put on deals and events for Freshers' which are definitely worth venturing out to rather than just sticking with the University Freshers’ events.

Mosh isn’t just another club: it’s the Leicester club which everyone somehow always ends up at. During previous Freshers’ Weeks, they’ve handed out wristbands at campuses, giving you cheaper entry and drink deals at their events. Keep an eye out if they do wristbands again!

Other bars and clubs such as Club Republic and Fat Cat also put on events, which usually become more popular towards the middle/end of Freshers' after students have had a few too many nights at the SU and feel braver heading out into town.

Once you’re ready to start venturing to new venues, check out our guide to Leicester’s best student nights out.

Final take

The main thing to remember? Everyone is in the same boat. Nobody knows the city yet, nobody has a ready-made friendship group and everyone is just trying to figure it all out. Go to the events which you fancy, take it at your own pace and enjoy Freshers' in Leicester!

Our UniHomes Content Ambassadors are current students across the UK who share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. If you're interested in writing for our programme, click here for more details.

Whilst you’re out having fun in your new uni city, remember that UniHomes promotes responsible drinking, and any alcohol products featured within this article are for ages 18+.

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student blogs.