Setting up for success: Welcoming students to City, University of London

Thousands of students are beginning the next step of their education this September, and at City, University of London much is being done to help ensure their university experience begins in the right way.

September sees us welcoming new students to City. This is an important time in students’ early university experience and one that can play a valuable role in helping them make a successful start to their studies.

At City, students are given the tools to succeed from the moment they arrive and have access to the award-winning #KeytoCity campaign. These support streams include weekly themes ‘Getting set up at City’, ‘Support at City’, ‘Getting involved at City’, ‘the Key to City’ and ‘Welcome Week’ which provides all the information students need to prepare for university. The week will end with ‘Unlocking the rest of the year’ which will outline all the activities students have to look forward to in the year ahead before the transition into teaching.

The month of September will provide an opportunity to meet the central teams on campus, learn about what they do and how they can help, plus how to contact them. There will also be orientation sessions of the campus and local area, plus Greater London.

Aside from registration, there are numerous activities and societies available for domestic and international students, with the schedule created by students, staff, and faculty members to support new students and returning students connect and reconnect.

The popular City Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair is on Thursday 29 September at Islington Business Design Centre between 9am and 5pm. The fair spans over two floors and students will be able to speak to representatives from more than 80 societies, plus sports clubs, university services and pick up some freebies.

New this year is the Big Hello from Student Support Services. This is an opportunity for students to find out how the teams can support their learning, health, wellbeing, career and more. Students can come and meet the teams, play games, enjoy a bite to eat and make new friends. A student who attended the first of the Big Hello events said “There has been diversity between the communication styles of the different staff which is nice. It's an informative event and really useful for me as a new student.”

For international students, the official Welcome Day is on Saturday 24 September between 11 and 5pm, with sessions in the next fortnight to inform on registration, ID cards and visa and immigration queries. The full list of dates can be viewed here.

Sian Thurgood, Director of the Student Experience at City, said: “City is excited to give a warm welcome to all the new students starting this year. We look forward to helping them get settled into university life and becoming part of our City community. Students should be supported throughout their studies, and this includes before they begin, to ensure they can thrive during their time with us.”

The chance to meet City’s various student support groups and societies, including: City’s Students’ Union, which is leading different meet and greet sessions with the Schools, and is leading open top bus tours around London, as well as activity nights, theatre trips to the West End and breakfasts at Bayes Business School; CityBuddies, where first-year students can be mentored by a second- or third-year student in their first term; Thriving@City, who will introduce students to key support services available during their time at City; plus CitySport and the Sustainability team.

The full Welcome Week programme and additional information can be viewed on the City Student Hub.

Students can share their Welcome journey using #KeytoCity / #MyCityUni.

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