Here are the 11 things you’re likely to do in your first year at Exeter Uni

University is a unique journey, and no two people experience it in quite the same way. Your course, the societies you join, the friends you make, and even how you spend your weekends can all play a huge role in shaping your time at uni.

However, no matter what you make of life at Exeter, there are some universal experiences that almost every first year student goes through – and I’m certain you’ll end up doing at least one of these 11 things.

1. Pay too much for a TP Wednesday ticket

Freshers soon realise that TP Wednesdays are the top tier night in Exeter. But unless you are one of the lucky few who managed to get their hands on the first release tickets, securing a ticket means getting yourself on Overheard and forking out up to £35 – sometimes more.

2. Attend or host a flat party

Flat parties in first year are a must. They mean BYOB (cheaper drinks), a wannabe DJ set up in the corner, and the opportunity to get to know your fellow freshers in an overcrowded kitchen.

What they also mean is broken furniture, food mysteriously disappearing from fridges, and the inevitable attendance of campus security to shut it down. My one piece of advice would be to stick to attending rather than hosting – at least if you want your deposit back. 

3. The trek up Forum Hill

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Living as a student in Exeter means that leg day is every day. As a fresher, you have to get used to hiking up Forum Hill every day just to make it to lectures and arriving at them looking as if you’ve just run 10k. And if you’re in Birks, you’re better off skipping lectures than attempting to climb Cardiac Hill. 

4. Have your first Efes

Your first Efes is a spiritual experience, and one that you will never return from. One bite of a chicken box and you will find yourself queueing up after every single night out, partially for the food and partially for the good vibes and music. 

5. Join Overheard

As a student at Exeter, Overheard is an essential for securing tickets to pretty much every event. Without this vital tool, you will have no way of securing those last-minute fever Monday and TP Wednesday tickets – but keep an eye out for the scammers. 

6. Be made to dress up and do something embarrassing at a social

While this may not be an exclusive experience for Exeter freshers, we definitely do it the best. I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories of freshers chopping pints in lakes or running through the streets with rum in their mouths.

Sport socials as a fresher often mean you get the hard end of the bargain when it comes to dressing up or initiations. If you’re planning on joining any society as a first year, you will inevitably find yourself walking down Sidwell Street dressed as a baby or a schoolgirl at least once.  

7. Make the most of the beaches

One of the best parts of moving to Exeter is having the beach practically on your doorstep, and first year is the time to make the most of it. If you aren’t skipping revision in your third term for an impromptu trip to Exmouth, you’re doing something wrong. 

8. Use pictures of Reed Hall for your first year Insta dump

Being an Exeter fresher means fooling your Instagram followers into believing life in Exeter consists of cute cafes and beach trips. And of course, no first year Exeter dump would be complete without an aesthetic picture of Reed Hall on a sunny day. Though a picture of the physics building might be a more realistic depiction.  

9. Realise the stereotypes are true

At some point, you will realise that the stereotypes are actually quite a realistic depiction of the population here. It is impossible to get through a year of university at Exeter without meeting your fair share of private school “rah” girlies and mullet rocking rugby boys. But you’ll also find that they’re much nicer than you’d expect (well, most of them are).  

10. Have your first Venom

£9 for one drink?! But what you’re failing to account for is the magical properties that a venom contains. Namely, having the ability to get you 10 times more drunk than your average drink.

Having your first venom in Exeter is honestly a rite of passage. But the real milestone is deciding if you are team red or green venom, and quickly realising that under no circumstances can you be team purple. #BleedGreen 

11. Realise how much there is to do in Exeter

For a small uni city, Exeter has so many events to offer. We have EGB, Hijacked, Varsity, the Exeter fashion show, the races, and so much more. No matter what you’re into, there is something for everyone. And as a fresher, it’s pretty much obligatory that you attend as many of these events as you possibly can.  

And when first year finally draws to a close, what will you have to show for it? Killer calves from Forum Hill, a significant dent in your bank account attributed to TP tickets and venoms, and enough memories to make all of it worth it.