Durham Freshers’ Week: What’s worth going to and what’s worth skipping

With Freshers’ Week on the horizon, it can seem like there are opportunities being thrown at you at every corner, and a peak at your college’s timetabled events, new societies’ first meetings, and any bar or nightclub’s list of themed nights can reveal a confounding mess. However, hopefully this list can help make head and/or tail of this myriad of overlapping opportunities, by outlining the things you should definitely go to – and the few you can get away with skipping.

Worth going to: Freshers’ Fair

Perhaps the most useful occasion of the entire week, the Freshers’ Fair is where you’ll be introduced to pretty much every sports group and society Durham has to offer, in the form of maximally decorated stalls and senior society members who couldn’t be more eager to get your name on the handy sign-up sheets and your camera on the QR code for the society’s Instagram. So whether it’s rowing, Barbershop choirs, or floorball you’re interested in, we can guarantee Durham has the society for you. Most colleges also run their own Freshers’ Fairs with college-specific societies, which are just as worth showing up to if you want to get to know your college community a bit more.

Worth skipping: One too many high-intensity nights

Most Read

Every single picture and video from Bonnie Blue’s school stunt with 20-year-old Penelope Peaches

Lily Phillips shares utterly disgusting ‘before and after’ video and now I’m traumatised

Key fact about the cruise ship actually proves there’s ‘no way’ Amy Bradley fell overboard

While it might be your urge to get yourself on those cobbled streets and under club lights every night you can, it’s worth being mindful of daytime activities, lectures on next week’s horizon and, of course, the curse of Freshers’ Flu, which despite its name can continue well into February if you’re not careful (not that that’s a personal experience or anything). While you’ll undoubtedly see your fair share of late nights, adventures, and staying up until sunrise, just remember you do have a future to keep in mind and maybe take the occasional night in.

Worth going to: Matriculation

This one can seem boring and very tempting to skip. After all, there’s only so many ways you can dress up a dressed-up early start, a walk to the cathedral, and a ceremony that feels right out of the Victorian era (or possibly Hogwarts). But trust us – this one will be worth it for the photos, the memories, and the feeling of officially joining the college community. Whether it’s listening out for your favourite celebrity in the list of alumni or looking photogenic as ever against the backdrop of the cathedral or Prebends Bridge, there’s something to enjoy for everyone. Not every university has something like this, so give yourself over to this one and really feel all that A-level hard work pay off.

Worth skipping: Sleep!

While this might seem contrary to our earlier entry, it’s important not to be too cautious or go too far in the other direction. Balance and playing it by ear are key in Freshers’ Week, and you’ll regret it if you miss literally everything. Even if club nights aren’t your thing, there are plenty of college-specific late-night events to make friends in, which you won’t want to avoid. It’s the one week this term where you won’t need the early nights to make 9am lectures – might as well use that to your advantage.

Worth going to: College formals

These ceremonial, high-end, somewhat bizarre occasions are a Durham tradition you won’t find at many other universities. Their frequency and formality varies depending on your college. We Hill scum know only rumours about the Hatfield and Castle formals – but most colleges hold at least one in Freshers’ Week, so it’s a great opportunity to get all old-fashioned, pop on your gown if you have one, and find out whether you’re going to be frequenting more of these events throughout the year. Formals are often themed around holidays, Durham events, or times of year, so there will be something for everyone.

Worth skipping: House viewings with day one friends

This one might be a bit controversial, but housing in Durham is a complicated mess overshadowing every student’s first term, with a dwindling supply of homes threatening first years from day one and motivating rapid decisions as early as October. That said, be wary about moving in with the people you meet on your first day. Make sure they’re the type of people you’ll really want to spend a year living with, and ideally that you’ve known them for more than a few hours or days. And be extremely cautious about moving in with Freshers’ Week sweethearts. That can turn out to be very awkward.

Worth going to: ‘Meet your subject’ events and gatherings

This will vary between colleges, but many offer casual events in Freshers’ Week for you to meet members of your college also studying the same course as you. This is a great way to make long-lasting friends, as you’ll find a group of like-minded people you’re guaranteed to share interests with. You can also meet a group to walk to your first lectures with, as those will be starting very soon. Even if your college doesn’t facilitate official meet-ups, it’s worth trying to get together some of your college course-mates and taking advantage of those Freshers’ Week group chats that always pop up at this time of year.

Worth skipping: Fake events

Amid the chaos of the weeks leading up to Freshers’ Week, you’ll undoubtedly see all sorts of attractions advertised across social media, each begging for your attention. But it’s worth looking out for scam events, which will advertise themselves to curious prospecting students with overpriced tickets, only for there to be no actual event that takes place. A key giveaway for these is the lack of a real location given in the advertisement information.

Worth going to: One of everything

Ultimately, as we said earlier, balance and variety are the key to a perfect Freshers’ Week. With so much thrown at you all at once, it’s tempting to stick to the first thing you figure out you love and avoid the unfamiliar. But if you stick your head round the door of as many different functions, meet-ups, and nights out as you can while staying sane, you’ll thank yourself later. After all, each one is an opportunity to meet new people and send your university life in a new direction.