I Don't Drink: What Do I Do at Freshers'?

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This post is part of our "Next Stop: Uni" series which guides you through each week of the summer between finishing school and Freshers so you can start uni prepared and excited.

Next Stop: Uni by UniHomes

Despite its reputation, Freshers’ Week isn’t just about drinking. Whether you’re teetotal or just not looking to drink every night of the week, there’s loads you can do as a sober student, all while meeting new people and making some friends along the way.

🎥 Watch: Our guide to Freshers' Week when you don't drink on TikTok

Go out out 🪩

A wild card, we know. But you don’t have to drink to enjoy pres or going to a bar with your new housemates. If you love shouting along to club hits or 2000s anthems on the dance floor then you’ll probably still enjoy going out even if you’re not drinking any alcohol.

Freshers’ fairs 💙

Besides helping you explore campus a little further, Freshers’ fairs are a great way for you to discover what your uni has to offer. Check out society stalls and get to know your SU, and keep an eye out for freebies like pizza and tote bags – you never know, you might even see the UniHomes team around offering out free houseplants.

Taster sessions ⚽

No one expects you to know exactly which societies or sports are right for you straight away, which is why you’ll find that most socs and teams offer free taster sessions. Give anything and everything that strikes your fancy a go, and you just might find that you find a new lifelong hobby.

Quizzes 🏅

Hear us out. Pub quizzes are becoming more and more popular, and it’s not hard to figure out why. With jackpots often consisting of cash prizes and free drinks, quizzes are definitely student (and pocket) friendly – they’re also a great way for you to get to know your teammates, whether you’ve gone out as a group with your student halls or convinced some course mates to come along.

Freshers’ markets 🪴

From poster sales to houseplant pop-ups, you’ll probably see a load of Freshers’ markets around campus. They’re worth having a nosey at, and you might end up coming away with some new decor to make your room in halls feel more like home.

Sober socials 🎤

Mocktail workshops, board game nights, movie screenings, craft days… the list is endless. Give the karaoke a go with your friends for a laugh, or brave a paint and sip session solo and meet some new, likeminded people – either way, social events that aren’t centred around alcohol are an easy way to have fun and make friends.

Get to know campus 🎓

Top tip: set aside an afternoon during Freshers’ Week to go for a walk and have a wander around campus. Not only will you become more familiar with your new home, you’ll also get a feel for where your classrooms and lecture halls are. You can even time how long it takes for you to get to your classes from your halls, which is something you’ll be grateful for on the first day of teaching when you don’t show up lost and late.

Explore your city 🏙️

Whether you go out by yourself or team up with your housemates, Freshers’ Week is the perfect time to explore your new city before lectures start! It doesn’t matter if your university was your first choice or if you scored your place through Clearing, acting like a tourist in your uni city is a wonderful way to fall in love with your new home and start to settle in.