All the ways that you can spot a Newcastle first year

A few things that make us first years a little different


Every September thousands of freshers flock to Newcastle University after hearing about the cities infamous trebles. It’s currently the time of year where old freshers are about to become second years and a group of new freshers are doing their exams ready for the best three years of their lives.

So, what makes a fresher? Although you may think it  impossible to tell them apart from their second and third year counter parts, there are a few giveaways that set them apart.

They’re a member of every society

Freshers are easily influenced at the beginning of the year and usually sign up to more societies then they will ever actually go to. In fairness this is because they are ambushed with leaflets, free pens, stickers, magnets etc at the freshers fair.

Freshers are also easy to spot within societies, just look for the most embarrassing costumes on a Wednesday night and an f for fresh on their forehead.

The gap yah

Ok, so not every fresher is a gap year student but its pretty easy to spot these guys. Being a full year older than the other first years they seem desperately keen to show off how much wiser they are.

In the first twenty minutes of conversation you’ll most likely hear about a life altering experience that really changed their perspective when they spent a week volunteering in Thailand, Kenya or Peru.

They’re always ill

Every fresher experiences the dreaded freshers flu. In the first few weeks of uni, every fresher looks constantly pale and sickly.

At first, it’s hard to tell if they are experiencing a week long hangover but then there’s the tell tale sign of the most vile cough. Even if you can’t see a sick fresher you can definitely hear one.

They can’t cook

This is pretty unfortunate considering majority of first year accommodation is self catered. So, when freshers aren’t burning pesto pasta you’ll find them dipping into the overdraft for a Deliveroo or getting their most substantial meal of the day; cheesy chips and garlic mayo.

Freshers probably make up the majority of Newcastle’s takeaway business and you’ll find them here any night past 3am.

They own all the kitchen ware

Every fresher owns enough pots and pans to man a michelin star restaurant so if you walk into any first year flat you’ll know immediately that only a few weeks ago their mum was running round half of Ikea, only for them to use one pan to both cook and eat out of.

They collect road signs

Of course the ultimate give away of a fresher accommodation would have to be the vast array of collected road signs used to decorate their kitchen. This can of course escalate from signs to kegs or even bath tubs.

The whole collection is hilarious until the night before their monthly kitchen inspection when the freshers move their precious monuments back to where they found them or risk it hiding under their bed.

They never bring a jacket

Freshers have probably only just left home and are sick of their parents yelling them to put a coat on . They are utterly determined to show off their new PLT dresses and WILL risk hypothermia in the sub zero temperatures of Newcastle.

Also there’s the added bonus of not paying for a cloak room (not that anywhere seems to have one).

Old school merch

This one says it all, with a big 21 on the back of a hoodie its impossible these students could be anything but freshers.

The good news is the leavers hoodies aren’t worn long, only until the freshers get hold of sports stash. The initialled puffer coats are then a staple for the rest of the year.

They’re wearing Loosedays bands

For the entirety of freshers week, first years will proudly wear their Loosedays bands. It’s probably sticky with all the trebles knocked over them but allows freshers to queue ridiculous amounts of time to go into the most crowded club that night.

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