Freshers Festival

Freshers Festival London 2023 – UK’s Biggest Freshers Fair for All Students

admin — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:11:00 +0000

Are you ready for the most anticipated student event of the year? We are thrilled to announce that Freshers Festival London 2023 is set to take place on the 23rd of September at the iconic Business Design Centre, Islington. Last year’s event was a massive success with more than 15,000 students registering, and this year, we’re taking it up a notch with even more amazing brands, networking opportunities, free food and drink, fun experiences, discounts, and freebies for students to enjoy!

A Festival Like No Other

Freshers Festival London is your one-stop destination for everything student life has to offer. With a diverse array of brands, from retail giants like Amazon and MAC Cosmetics to food favourites like Costa Coffee and Tortilla, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone. Last year’s event featured a stellar lineup, including Contiki, Just Eat, and many more – and we’re excited to see which incredible brands will join us this time around!

Unleash the Networker Within

Get ready to mingle with thousands of fellow students from across London and beyond, as Freshers Festival London 2023 promises to be the ultimate networking event. Whether you’re looking to make new friends, join clubs, or discover exciting opportunities, this event is the perfect chance to forge meaningful connections that could last a lifetime.

Indulge in Free Food and Drink

We know how important it is to keep your energy levels up during such an exciting event. That’s why there is always lots of free food and drink on offer. With a wide variety of delicious food samples and lots of free drinks, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Experience the Fun

Freshers Festival London is not just about discovering new brands and networking; it’s also about having lots of fun! With a range of fun experiences and interactive activities, there’s never a dull moment. You can expect everything from games and photo booths to live performances and exclusive workshops – all designed to help you create unforgettable memories.

Unbeatable Discounts and Freebies

What’s a festival without some amazing giveaways? At Freshers Festival London 2023, you’ll have the opportunity to grab some of the best discounts and freebies on offer from our participating brands. From exclusive student deals to exciting prize draws, you won’t want to miss out on these fantastic offers!

Don’t miss out on the event of the year! Join us at Freshers Festival London 2023 on the 23rd of September at the Business Design Centre, Islington, and kick-start your student journey with a bang. We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets will be going live on the 3rd April, so be sure to follow us on TikTok to keep up to date on launch announcements.

An Introduction into our Freshers Festival Season

Jonty — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:16:49 +0000

Please scroll to the bottom for our video version of the article!

We are very excited here at Freshers Festival as it is less than a month until both our Glasgow and London Freshers events. With the Freshers period coming up, we thought we’d give you a brief summary of what brands can expect during this time, as well as some information about our events this year!

On the 18^{th of} August, A-level students finally got their results and they have now found out if they got into the university of their choice. The number of international and national students applying to university in 2022 was at its all time high, with almost 3 million students applying with 667,000 applications made from international students (UCAS Chief Executive).This trend is likely to be exceeded each year for the foreseeable future, which is exciting for student-friendly brand like ourselves (UCAS).

Since announcing our Freshers events, we have had a lot of comments from our followers explaining how they were so excited for a ‘normal university’ experience as this will be the first time in roughly 3 years that students haven’t had to face any covid restrictions at university. As a result. there has been a huge interest in this years Freshers period for both new university students and students who have already been at university who never got to experience a ‘real’ fresher’s week. Due to all the hype, we are expecting this year’s event to be even bigger and better than ever before.

This year we are holding our annual Freshers Festival event in both London and Glasgow. Our Glasgow event will take place over a 2-day period on the 14^th and 15^th September at the Platform. We have been using the Platform as a venue for many years as it is such an incredible underground venue that really adds to the vibe of the event. At our previous Glasgow events we have seen a huge interest in both university and college students, meaning it is one of the best events to target a student audience 16+. As we have been running our Freshers event in Glasgow for so many years, it is one of the most epic events we run and is a highlight for us in our calendar, with thousands of students already signed up. As always, we have some amazing brands signed up that have come year after year as well as many new brands that we are excited to work with for the first time.

Our London Freshers event will take place on the 24^{th of} September at the Business Design Centre in Angel. The Business Design Centre is a huge venue with so much space for some incredible activations to take place, so we are excited to see the event unfold. Not only is this one of our biggest venues we’ve ever had, but so-far we’ve received record sign-ups and interest, meaning this year’s London event is set to be our biggest ever!

At both of our events we still have space for brands to market to a student audience. Not only do we work with lots of global brands and organisations, but we also cater to more local companies and restaurants looking to reach students within the area. Please drop a message to a member of our team if you would like to attend either our Glasgow or London event, or if you would like to get involved with our digital marketing campaigns.

This is going to be one of the biggest freshers periods to date, with more students attending university and no more covid restrictions, and we cannot wait to see the events play out.

Student Recap of The Week: 28th July 2022

Jonty — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 10:42:03 +0000

Please scroll to the bottom for our video version of the article!

Student news:

A-level students are only weeks away from getting their results which will reveal if they have been accepted to the university of their choice. Whilst this is a rather daunting time for students, it is also an exciting one as they will be getting ready to leave home for the first time. It is also a very exciting time for student friendly brands like us, as the university period is just around the corner!

Students starting their studies are in the market for new products and services to help them celebrate, prepare for and settle into university life. Research has shown that students tend to buy products for university in August and September, meaning this is a great time to target this particular audience. Students have an annual spending power set to top £30bn per annum (UCAS). Imagine capturing your share of this market, what could that mean to your bottom line?

To help engage students, many brands offer freebies and giveaways. Every year popular restaurants such as Nando’s give away free food on results day and this gives students the incentive to return, likewise many brands will run giveaways related to moving out e.g. vouchers to re-vamp their uni wardrobe or the chance to win handy university items like stationary for the new year.

Giveaways work for students as they feel like the company is giving back to them, which will give them more of an incentive to become a loyal customer in the future.

Marketing news:

Speaking of giveaways, during the summer months in the UK, a number of festivals take place up and down the country. One that has just taken place is Wireless festival. This year they partnered with YouTube Shorts, the short-form video platform with 1.5 billion logged in monthly users. This year to celebrate their collaboration, they have like many other brands, started a giveaway for students who attend the events. To win festival goers this year had to create a YouTube short of their time at the festival and submit it. The giveaway prize included free tickets to the 2023 Wireless Festival, as well as VIP access and meet and greets with the headliners.

Collaboration is a powerful business tool for companies, regardless of their size or industry. By combining the effort and expertise of different organisations, all partners in the network are better able to innovate and grow and increase their competitiveness on many levels.

Although YouTube Shorts has been around for a while now, it has a lot of high competition with TikTok and Instagram. Collaborating with a very popular festival such as Wireless will have helped increase awareness of YouTubes new platform and generated more users as a result.

Student polls:

Speaking of festivals and collaborations, this week we asked our students if they enjoy when different brands collaborate together. 59% of our student audience said yes – brand collaboration is becoming more popular as it generally creates a buzz around both the brands and it gives the customer a new experience which is exciting.

Often when brands collaborate, there is a lot of social media advertising around the collaboration as well as competitions to draw in the customer. We asked our students if they, as the customer, become more loyal to a brand that runs competitions 61% said yes. When you as the brand give back to your customers, they are more likely to become loyal and increase their interest in the brand.

Freshers Festival:

We are holding our annual Freshers events in both Glasgow and London this year and we are expecting them to be even bigger and better than ever before – with some amazing brands already signed up. We still have more spaces available, so if you are looking to reach a student audience this September, be sure to get in contact with us.

3 Reasons Why Event Marketing Works

Jonty — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:58:05 +0000

Please scroll to the bottom for our video version of the article!

Why Event Marketing?

Have you ever wondered why so many of the world’s most influential brands spend their time and budget engaging with their audience through event marketing?

In this article we will explain the 3 key reasons why we believe event marketing is so powerful in 2022.

1. The Power of Interactions

With the rise of technology and social media, digital marketing is a top priority for many businesses. But even in an increasingly digital world, the ability to meet potential customers face-to-face is still extremely valuable for generating leads, increasing sales and improving brand awareness.

At events, brands can demonstrate what their product does, interact with the attendees and have the ability to offer a deeper level of worth to consumers than other content because they combine value with experience. Face-to-face marketing can also provide valuable insights into the needs of your target customers. Listening to their questions, reactions and objections can help to shape your future marketing and sales strategies.

Face-to-face interactions, particularly through taste, smell, sound, or touch, are extremely memorable, and lead to far greater brand recognition. Customers feel more secure when they recognise a brand and are able to speak to someone in person, and this is how long-term customers are formed.

2. Social media engagement and UGC

Another advantage of event marketing is how it can drive engagement online. Data suggests over 90% of event attendees now share some form of the event online, whether through a photo, review, video chat, or social media story. User generated content is extremely powerful, leading to a much greater return on investment than traditional branded marketing.

At Freshers Festival London last year, we received over 200 Instagram story shares, and over 1 million views from user-generated social content. Events are no longer confined to their physical attendees, and now have the power to reach so many more people through online sharing and content.

3. Brand Image and experience

Brand image is one of the most important reasons why a brand will be successful or not, particularly amongst the student audience. Being associated with a fun, exciting, and lively event can help reflect these values onto your brand, a process often known as ‘festivalisation’.

Festivalisation is the notion through which companies and groups try to create a powerful, social, and integrated experience for their customers. In the event industry, this involves creating a fun ‘festival-like’ atmosphere at events in order for customers to have positive feelings about the brands which attend them. This is due to the process of ‘affect transfer’, where a customer will ‘transfer’ the feelings of fun and excitement that they are experiencing at an event towards the brands that are attending it. It’s simple psychology: A customer is happy, a customer sees a brand, a customer relates the feeling of being happy with the brand.

Many brands have created an extremely strong and powerful brand image around the notion of festivalisation, and if you want to improve brand image or experience, event marketing is undeniably the best way to do this.

The Student Money Guide

Jonty — Thu, 19 May 2022 15:30:44 +0000

This article is brought to you in collaboration with money.co.uk. For the best money saving hacks, including finding the best student bank accounts and credit cards, be sure to visit their website.

Money is one of the biggest challenges that most students face at their time in education. Trying to buy food, pay rent, and maintain a decent social life can be a fine balancing act. This content offers some general tips and tricks to keep your bank balance positive this year, from sorting out your student finance to getting a part-time job!

What is Student Finance?

Before even going to university, you should have sorted your student finance loans. Most students in the UK take out Student Finance to pay for their university course (Tuition Fee Loan) and their living / accommodation costs (Maintenance Fee Loan). These can be up to £9250 / year for Tuition Fees, and up to £12,600 for Maintenance Fees, depending on where you go to university and your family household income.

The Tuition Fee Loan money is never seen by the student, it is paid directly to your university. The Maintenance Fees, on the other hand, are paid in instalments in September, January, and April to the student. In terms of paying these loans back, you have to be earning a minimum amount (somewhere between £20,000-27,000) depending on which plan you are on. Find out more information about plans and your repayments here. Once you earn above this, repayments will be taken out of your salary.

It is important to budget your maintenance fees as you are only paid 3 times per year. You need to work out how much your ‘fixed costs’ will be, such as your accommodation, and ensure you have enough of your maintenance loan saved so that you can pay your rent each month. Once this money is set aside, you will have a better idea of how many nights out, takeaways, and Frappuccinos you can treat yourself to each month.

If you want to find out more about Student Finance, visit our friends at money.co.uk or see the official government website.

Student Bank Accounts

One of the first things you need to do before going to university is sorting out your student bank account. Student bank accounts are better than normal current accounts, as they often come with interest-free overdrafts and other benefits. This means you can go into ‘negative’ on your account (up to a certain amount) and won’t be charged interest on it. Many student accounts also offer awesome rewards such as free railcards, Amazon vouchers, and others.

Why is an overdraft important? Since you only get your student loan paid in every few months, it can sometimes get to a point where you need to go a little bit into your overdraft until your loan is paid in. Overdrafts can be up to £3000 for certain accounts, and you won’t have to pay them back for a while, meaning it’s easier to keep on top of your money!

We recommend all students to get a student bank account, and all you need to set it up is proof you are a student (UCAS code), your passport/driving license, and proof of an address.

Choosing which account to get can be tricky, and there are a few things you should be asking yourself:

Overdraft amounts?
What freebies do they offer?
Reputable company?
How is the online banking/app?

Fortunately, our friends at money.co.uk have a useful comparison tool to help you decide which student bank account you should be looking at.

Credit Cards & Building a Credit Score

Whilst credit cards/scores are not required for students, moving out of home gives you the best chance to start building up your credit score, which is going to be very useful later in life.

If you want to get a credit card, or even when thinking about a mortgage/loan in the future, credit scores are extremely important.

There are many ways to improve your credit score, including:

Paying all bills & direct debits on time
Get on the electoral roll and register to vote
Apply for/use a credit card
Avoid payday loans

Do you want to know what your credit score is? There are many websites you can use to track it.

Again, this is not something that current students need to be thinking about in too much detail, but it should always be in the back of your mind, and when it comes to graduating/applying for credit cards, this will become much more important.

How to Save Money & Budget at Uni

Even with the help of Student Finance, money can be tight whilst at university! Statistics show how 78% of students in the UK worry about keeping on top of their finances, but over 30% of students are still not budgeting.

Use money.co.uk’s student budget planner to help you stay on track of your cash whilst at university

Here are a few tips for saving money whilst at university:

Cook:

Takeaway food, restaurants, and even microwave meals are usually significantly more expensive than home-cooked food. Putting together some pasta with sauce can cost less than £1, and is probably healthier than most takeaway food. You don’t have to cook for yourself every single day, but the more often you do it, the more money you will save in the long term. If you want some student cooking tips, check out our guide here.

Limit spending in clubs / bars:

For many students, one of the largest costs of university is drinking. Alcoholic pre-drinks, bar drinks, and clubs can all cost a huge amount. Whilst this is difficult to avoid, you can take steps to reduce spending. Buying drinks in clubs, particularly for other people, can be of huge expense. Try not to take your bank card on a night-out, or set a temporary limit on your card (something many banks allow) so you do not spend too much! You should also make use of student discounts / deals. Most clubs have a student night where both entrance and drinks are significantly cheaper, so concentrating on attending these nights will certainly help you out. Finally, avoid pre-drinking in bars. A home-made cocktail or store-bought beer will only cost you around £1 – £2 / drink, whereas a bar could charge up to £10! Of course bars are great to go to occasionally, but you can often have just as much fun in a student house or halls for significantly cheaper.

Make use of student cards:

Students can get so many student deals from almost every shop and restaurant. Investing in a ‘Totum’ card or another student card will be hugely beneficial for you, as they only cost £10-£15 and can save you hundreds of pounds over the course of the year. Similarly, you should probably invest in a 16-25 Railcard. They cost just £30, but save you 33% on all train-fares, including the tube! If you live in London, or take any train more than 2-3 times per year, then this is definitely worth investing in. Lastly, before going to any restaurant, check if they do a student discount (most of them do)! When you ask for your bill, simply show them your student card, and you’ll get a tasty 25% off or sometimes more!

Find good-value accommodation:

Some students, particularly in big cities such as London, spend extraordinary amounts on their accommodation. It is important to make informed choices before choosing your accommodation, as once you sign the contract it is very difficult to get out of. There are many things you can do to reduce accommodation costs, such as moving in with more people, moving out of the city centre, or making use of university-owned accommodation. If you want more detailed advice, visit our accommodation page here.

If you want more tips for saving money as a student, check out our ‘Smash your Student Spending’ blog.

If you are living in London, we have lots of tips for you, including 10 things you can do in London for a tenner or less.

How to find a job whilst at University:

Finding a student job, particularly whilst studying at university, can be tricky. You have to spend time applying, go to interviews, and then find time to actually attend the job when you get it! So finding a student job really isn’t for everyone, and some universities don’t even allow their students to get a job whilst studying.

You have to make the right decision for you. Are you struggling with uni work? If so, then a student job may not be the best idea, as you could end up falling even further behind. Are you struggling with finances? Then a student job could be perfect for you, with an extra £150-£200 / week helping you to get by at uni!

But how do you actually find a student job? There are many ways. Of course job websites, such as Student Job, Indeed, or Milkround, all have fantastic sections for part-time work. Go on there, upload your CV, and wait to hear back! You can also do things the old fashioned way: Print off your CV, walk around the local area, and see if any shops or pubs are looking for part-time employees. You would be surprised how often people are looking for workers! For more information on finding a student job, please see our report on student work.

What student job should I get?

What job you should get entirely depends on your personal circumstances. Here are 3 of our favourite jobs you can get as a student:

Tutoring:

This obviously isn’t for everyone, but it by far the best paid (per hour) student job you can get. If you can speak another language, or achieved a high grade at A Level or university for a particular topic, then you should consider tutoring! There are many websites, such as First Tutors or My Tutor, that you can easily sign-up for free of charge. You can tutor in person or online via video chat, and you can easily charge £20-£40 / hour!

Work for your university:

This can be hard to find, but working for the uni can be extremely rewarding! Universities often have many jobs open, from general admin work, to manning the telephones, to working with students with disabilities. Disability work can be particularly rewarding, and jobs such as transcribing lecture notes for students with hearing difficulties can often be found at university.

Temporary work websites:

There are many websites, such as Temptribe, which give you access to hundreds of ‘temporary’ (one day) jobs. This gives you great flexibility to work only when you want, so if you have a busy schedule or deadlines due, you don’t have to worry about getting off work! These jobs such as working at football stadiums or for large events, can be an easy source of income if you are not looking for a regular part-time job.

For our full guide to the best student jobs, check out our top 5 student job blog here. Or, if you are looking for summer jobs, see our ‘Finding Summer Work’ guide.

If you still can’t decide what sort of job you want, then why not get a job with some fantastic employee discounts! Many jobs offer 30-50% off for employees, and some even extend the discount to friends / family as well. Places such as Nando’s offer brilliant employee discounts for your entire table, something which may help sway your choice when deciding on a job. Check out our list of the best employee discounts here.

Side Hustles:

These days, some of the best money can be made doing side hustles. Whether that involves selling clothes / items on sites such as Depop or Ebay, or starting a small business using a site like Etsy, there are hundreds of ways you can make some extra cash.

With social media, things are even easier. If you have a half-decent following (even just 1000 people), you could be considered a ‘micro-influencer’, and be paid to promote products from companies. Even if not paid, you can definitely get stuff for free!

You can find some more information about side hustles here, and don’t forget to speak to your university – sometimes they can give you grants or bursaries if you are starting a small business at uni, so it could be some free money!

Get Free Stuff at University:

Aside from making use of student discounts or getting a job, another way to save money can be getting free stuff! Here at Freshers Festival we have numerous guides to getting freebies, including attending our Freshers Festival events! Here are our top 3 ways to get freebies:

Freshers Week:

Freshers Week is obviously the best time to get freebies. Every university has a Freshers Fair, a Freebie Fair, or a Freshers Festival where you can go to get free stuff in your first week at university! Even if you’re not a first year student, these fairs will still usually be open to you, and it is something you should definitely make the most of. Remember, if you are a student in Sheffield, Glasgow, or London, then make sure to attend Freshers Festival where you can get all the free food, drink, and giveaways that you can carry!

Freebies from Apps:

Downloading apps is a great way to get free stuff. If you download the KFC app you will be rewarded with 3 virtual ‘stamps’, which is enough to get you a free side or starter such as 2 KFC hot wings! Similarly, if you sign-up for free to the ‘Friends of Krispy Kreme’ you can get a free doughnut. This isn’t on an app, but still an online way to get you free food!

Amazon Student:

This is an obvious one, but don’t forget to sign-up to Amazon Prime Student. Simply give them your university email, and sign-up to your 6 month free-trial of Prime Student. This gives you free access to Prime delivery, Prime Video, Prime Music, and more! You will also be sent a number of student discounted products. You can cancel your Prime Student membership right after you sign-up, which means you won’t be charged after the first 6 months, but you will still get the 6 month access to Amazon Prime.

But is Amazon Prime worth it? Will you make your money back and more? Find out more here.

If you want to find out how to get free flights or at least extremely cheap plane tickets, then check out our report here.

If you live in London, we have multiple freebie guides, including how to get free food in London, and a comprehensive list of free things to do in London.

The Ultimate Student Guide to Glasgow

Jonty — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:11:48 +0000

This guide is brought to you in collaboration with St. Enoch Centre. If you are looking for something fun to do in Glasgow, St. Enoch Centre is home to over 90 shops, restaurants + bars, Scotland’s biggest food court, new Vue cinema plus competitive axe-throwing and darts at Boom: Battle Bar.

The Ultimate Student Guide to Glasgow

Welcome to our ultimate student guide to Glasgow, where we give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about student life in the city. From university and accommodation options, to a current student’s perspective, this should give you an overview of exactly what being a student Glasgow is all about.

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, home to over 600,000 people. It’s famous for its art, history, and football, as well as being one of the best cities to study (and party) as a student! Glasgow has a number of universities, including University of Glasgow, one of the oldest unis in the world! With over 80,000 students within the city, you’ll be sure to find something for everyone. With bars, clubs, restaurants, and activities galore, as well as being a very affordable place to live, it’s no wonder Glasgow is so popular with students.

Universities in Glasgow

There are 5 universities in Glasgow, including some of the top ranked in Scotland. The two largest are University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde, which boast over 20,000 students each. University of Glasgow regularly ranks as the second best university in Scotland, and in the top 100 worldwide, however the other universities also score well, particularly in terms of student satisfaction.

Full List of Glasgow Universities

⦁ University of Glasgow
⦁ University of Strathclyde
⦁ Glasgow Caledonian
⦁ Glasgow School of Art
⦁ Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Choosing Your University

How exactly do you go about choosing a university? Students often look at league tables to see which is ‘best’. The Guardian, Times Higher Education, and others offer some great ranking indicators, however it’s important to look in more detail.

For example, universities are ranked per subject, so one university might not rank the highest overall, but for specific subjects they could be the best in the country. Similarly, rankings in terms of student satisfaction are also important – that takes into account reviews from students, meaning a good student satisfaction is extremely important to show a university is supporting its students.

We have done a fun overview of every university over on our Futures Fest page, so be sure to check that out.

We also do daily university content and releasing the video versions of the ultimate student guides on our TikTok, so be sure to follow us on there too!

Glasgow Student Accommodation

Understanding where to stay in Glasgow is vitally important. Your quality of life, bank account, and overall experience will all be highly impacted by where you stay, so make sure to do your reasearch!

Glasgow has been called the ‘most affordable city in the world’ by Time Out, and it’s certainly true that you can get some great deals in the city. It’s supposedly 43% cheaper than London, meaning accommodation is far better value for money

There are 3 major types of accommodation you can choose, so first we will give you a brief overview of each one:

Student Halls

This is accommodation which the university itself provides, and it is where most 1^st year university students live. Student Halls are usually located within or very close to the university, and generally consist of long corridors with multiple different rooms sharing a kitchen/living area. Since student halls are provided by the university, they are generally cheaper than other forms of student accommodation. However, some student halls / accommodation is incredible, as explained in our guide to the 5 best student accommodation in the world

Private Student Accommodation

This is accommodation specifically built for students, but run by private organisations. This often has a similar look and feel to student halls, but is generally considered to be of higher quality, and often comes with extra facilities such as games rooms, gyms, and a concierge. To find out more about the features of private student accommodation, check out our 8 reasons why student accommodation rules.

Scroll down for some highlights of our favourite private student accommodation in Manchester.

Student Flat / House

This is accommodation not originally built for students. Unlike other forms of accommodation, you will probably have to find other people to live with in order to move into a flat. All of the bills and rent should be shared across everyone in the flat. Sometimes students will rent with strangers, but usually people move into a flat / house in their 2^nd or 3^rd years of university with some of the friends they met in 1^st year.

If you want to find out more about each type of student accommodation, and discover which one we think is best, then please visit our What Student Accommodation Should You Choose guide.

Finding Accommodation

Whilst freshers will not usually have to find their own accommodation (as they are put into halls), 2^nd and 3^rd year students will have to find accommodation on their own. But how do you find student accommodation? Most universities should offer a list of ‘trusted’ landlords or estate agents who they recommend for students. You can visit these agents with your future flatmates, tell them your budget, and they will give you a quick tour around some potential student houses!

Many websites such as Right Move and Zoopla also have sections for student flats / houses. You can look on the main section of these websites as well, but many landlords will refuse to rent to students, so make sure you ask if they are willing to rent to students before you go to visit the property.

We have a few words of warning for renting, as it can be disastrous if done incorrectly! Firstly, be careful of websites such as Gumtree, as they have limited regulation. You can face landlords looking to scam students, with high deposits, fake costs, and poor quality accommodation. Websites such as On The Market, Right Move, and Zoopla are much more reliable. Secondly, always make sure you go and see the accommodation before you agree to rent. Some photos can be extremely misleading on websites / in estate agents, and only by seeing the property can you get a true idea if you want it or not. Lastly, don’t pick the first accommodation that you visit (unless you really really love it)! It is useful to view a few different properties so you can compare and contrast, and you could end up regretting it if you only visit one.

Best Student Areas in Glasgow

Whilst Glasgow is a fairly cheap place to live, the costs can vary significantly depending on where in the city you are staying. As well as that, most students live and hang out in similar areas, so it’s important you choose the correct place to stay!

Dennistoun

Located a bit further in the East End of Glasgow, Dennistoun still offers a great and affordable area to live, whilst still being in walking distance of the city centre. Dennistoun often comes in Time Out’s ‘UKs coolest neighborhoods’ list, and with so many bars and things to do, it’s not hard to see why.

Hillhead

Located in Glasgow’s West End, Hillhead is easily located just a couple of minutes from University of Glasgow. It has a number of stylish bars and clubs, making it a great place to go out and enjoy. However, due to its location and quality, Hillhead is fairly expensive!

Anniesland

Located a bit further West, Anniesland is more cost-effecive than Hillhead. A quick 15 minute bus will get you into the city centre (or a 45 minute walk), and there are still loads of things to do! Lots of college students live here, and with great links across the city it’s a hugely popular area with students!

Partik

Partik is another area that is hugely popular with students, again due to its location near University of Glasgow. Described as one of Glasgow’s ‘hippiest’ neighborhoods, you can get some great vaue accommodation here, and there is loads to do for those who love a night out!

Social Life for Students in Glasgow

Glasgow is well-known for its social life, with affordable bars, restaurants, and clubs making it a perfect place for students. Aside from the nightlife, Glasgow is a beautiful city with some amazing art galleries, museums, and parks to explore. Ranked as the 34th best student city worldwide, there is plenty to do for everyone.

Here are some of the awesome things you can do in Glasgow:

Clubs & Bars

Every student needs to know the best and cheapest students bars and pubs to visit whilst you’re studying at uni. If you live in Glasgow, how many of these places have you visited?

Sub Club

Sub Club is great for those who love the rave scene. It’s a small, underground venue that can barely fit 500 people, but it’s definitely worth it! It’s previously been voted as one of the top 10 nightclubs in the world, and is also one of the oldest underground clubs that’s still operational. It’s a fantastic place to spend a night!

The Garage

This is Scotland’s biggest nightclub, open 365 days a year! Spread over 6 rooms on 4 different levels, the DJs play a variety of music suiting all tastes. They have hosted some of the biggest names on the planet, and it’s no wonder that The Garage is so popular amongst students.

Buff Club

One of the funkiest clubs in Glasgow that plays some great soul and disco music. Buff Club has a mirror ball, laid back vibes, and has some decent priced drinks to boot.

Cathouse

Cathouse Rock Club has been going since the 1990s delivering power-age rock and metal tunes. Drinks from £1 and a large venue make this perfect for students wanting to experience something a little different to their traditional clubbing experience.

Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the most popular clubs for students in Glasgow. A number of rooms playa variety of chart and dance anthems, and their club nights are pretty huge! During Freshers Week, this place is packed, and it’s easy to see why!

Things to do in Glasgow:

Students in Glasgow are spoilt for choice, with some incredible things to do for free in the city! From special events, to shopping experiences, there is no surprise Glasgow has been ranked one of the best student cities. Here are some of our favourite things to do in Glasgow:

St. Enoch Centre

Located in the heart of Glasgow, St. Enoch is a student hotspot you don’t want to miss out on. It comes with an incredible shopping experience, including some student faves such as Superdry, H&M, The Body Shop, JD Sports, and more. But it’s not just the shopping which drives students to St. Enoch.

The Centre is home to the city’s widest food and drink offer under one roof. From Scotland’s biggest and busiest food court including favourites McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Blue Lagoon, Di Maggios and Wongs, to the best coffee shops and cafes, including Starbucks, Costa, Muffin Break, MooBoo and more. Plus, a brand new restaurant quarter include’s inludes a second Nandos (yes that’s right, there’s two Nandos), an all you can eat Cosmo and Namaste by Delhi Darbar. And there’s more to open in the Summer including Handmade Burger Company and Donut King.

You can also catch the latest film releases at the city’s newest cinema, Vue. Every seat at Vue St. Enoch is a luxury leather recliner, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a couple of hours of uninterrupted bliss as you watch the latest releases as they were made to be seen – on the big screen.

And if you’re looking for a great night out with new friends, check out Scotland’s only Boom Battle Bar (now open – see below) and arriving this summer, Level X will be home to bowling, free roam virtual reality, crazy golf and lots more.

Boom: Battle Bar

Boom: Battle Bar has come to Scotland! Located in St. Enoch Centre, this is an awesome student hangout with themed food/drink, party games, and awesome competitions. Try your hand at axe-throwing, augmented reality darts, and crazy NOLF, as well as loads of other fun activities. Find out more here.

Fresers Festival Glasgow

We’ve been running Freshers Festival Glasgow for almost 20 years, and it’s one of the biggest events on the student calendar. Hundreds of freebies from your favourite brands, bars, and restaurants in the city, and of course… free pizza! We hold the event for all students (16+) in September, so be sure to get your free tickets when you can!

Art Galleries

Glasgow is known for its incredible art, and there are loads of art galleries for you to enjoy in the city. Kelingrove Art Gallery was ranked as one of the top 500 experiences in the world by Lonely Planet, and it’s a great place to go visit. What’s more exciting is that every art gallery in Glasgow is free, meaning you can go and explore without breaking the bank.

Botanic Gardens

Glasgow has a number of free parks and gardens to explore, preferrably when the sun is out! The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are one of the best, with extensive greenery and some incredible glasshouses to explore. Be sure to check them out on a weekend!

Life in Glasgow – A Student’s Perspective

You’ve heard what we think, but what do students say about living in Glasgow?

There are plenty of video reviews that can also be found on Futures Fest, so be sure to check them all out. But here are a few of our favourites:

https://youtu.be/JhI7–2ghx0

Plus remember to follow our TikTok for some ‘alternative’ Manchester guides, including booziest universities, unis with the most male/female students, and more!

The Ultimate Student Guide to Birmingham

Jonty — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 10:35:52 +0000

The Ultimate Student Guide to Manchester

Welcome to our ultimate student guide to Manchester, where we give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about student life in the city. From university and accommodation options, to a current student’s perspective, this should give you an overview of exactly what being a student in Manchester is all about.

Manchester is the third biggest city in the UK, and is known for a number of reasons – Its fantastic music scene, LGBT support, industrial history, South-Asian heritage, and more. It’s also known for being one of the best student cities – Great value, thousands of bars/clubs/restaurants, and loads to do. There are around 100,000 students in Manchester, including 20,000 international students, making it an incredibly diverse and exciting city to live.

Universities in Manchester

Manchester has a number of universities, colleges, and specialist insitutions. However, the main 4 are: University of Manchester, University of Salford, Manchester Metrpolitan, University of Bolton.

The largest university is University of Manchester, which has 40,000 students, making it the third largest university in the UK. This is considered one of the most prestigious university you can go to in England, and ranks highly in a number of subject areas.

To find out more about studying at Manchester, be sure to check out our student videos both here and at the bottom of this guide!

Full List of Manchester Universities/Colleges:

Choosing Your University

We have done a fun overview of every university over on our Futures Fest page, so be sure to check that out.

We also do daily university content and releasing the video versions of the ultimate student guides on our TikTok, so be sure to follow us on there too!

Manchester Student Accommodation

Understanding where to stay in Manchester is vitally important. Your quality of life, bank account, and overall experience will all be highly impacted by where you stay, so make sure to do your reasearch!

There are 3 major types of accommodation you can choose, so first we will give you a brief overview of each one:

Student Halls

Private Student Accommodation

Scroll down for some highlights of our favourite private student accommodation in Manchester.

Student Flat / House

If you want to find out more about each type of student accommodation, and discover which one we think is best, then please visit our What Student Accommodation Should You Choose guide.

Finding Accommodation

Best Student Areas in Manchester

Manchester costs vary significantly, with some areas being far more pricey than others. As well as that, most students live and hang out in similar areas, so it’s important you choose the correct place to stay!

Fallowfield

The largest and most famous student area in Manchester, home to 8 halls of residence. It’s the perfect place for food, bars, and a party atmosphere.

This is THE student hub in Manchester, and it’s only 30 mins walk from the city centre.

Rusholme

The ‘Curry Mile’ with some of the best Indian restaurants you can find in Manchester! This place is extremel affordable, making it good for second or third year students moving out of halls.

However the quality can sometimes be lacking, so be sure to rent from a trusted landlord!

Hulme

Only 20 minutes walk from the city centre, but a much quieter student area.

Hulme is a relaxed area with some nice restaurants and pubs, as well as some excellent high-qualiy student accommodation.

Didsbury

One of the more expensive parts of Manchester, with higher end bars, restaurants, and beautiful parks.

It is slightly further out than other areas of Manchester, but the accommodation you can get here is incredible if you’re willing to pay the price.

Here is a short video guide about Manchester accommodation options:

Social Life for Students in Manchester

One of the best parts about living in Manchester is the social life. It’s well known as one of the best party cities in the UK, with clubs being both more affordable and arguably more lively than those in other parts of the country. It also has some great restaurants, museums, parks, and hundreds of cheap things you can do.

Here are some of our highlights for Manchester…

Clubs & Bars

Every student needs to know the best and cheapest students bars and pubs to visit whilst you’re studying at uni. If you live in Manchester, how many of these places have you visited?

Lola Lo

This club in Manchester is perfect for a student night out! Every Monday through to Thursday they hold student nights out which means double vodka drinks for just £3.50 and Jager bombs for £1.95! At the moment they are just open as a bar, but wait till June 21st!

Dive NQ

Not only do they have low lighting, DJ’s and an ‘Instagrammable’ interior, but they also have happy hours everyday of the week from 17:00- 22:00pm. During this time, you can get their 2-4-1 cocktails, £2.50 beers and massive discounts on their bottles of wine.

Twenty Twenty Two

This is Manchester’s number 1 ping pong bar in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Sometimes you want to spice up your night and here you can enjoy food and drinks with your friends whilst getting a little bit competitive playing ping pong.

The Font

The Font is an independent bar in Manchester, and if their Unicorn Juice cocktail doesn’t make you want to go, then we don’t know what else will. Their cocktails start from £3.00 and you can get cute Instagram photos whilst you’re having a good time out.

Slug and lettuce

This bar is a chain so you may find them in most major cities! They are the place to go any time of the week as they have 2-4-1 cocktails all day everyday and you can get a pornstar martini cocktail tree – what could be better?

Free Things to do in Manchester:

Going out for the day or even just an afternoon doesn’t need to cost you your whole student loan! Here are some fun FREE / cheap activities you can experience by yourself, or with friends, in Manchester:

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

This is Manchester’s oldest Comedy Club – so you know you’re going to have a laugh! Most shows are in the evening and the majority are under £6, so you really won’t have to break the bank to enjoy some laughs.

Fletcher Moss and Botanical Gardens

Did you know that going out into nature and being in the fresh air reduces stress? If you have a lot of deadlines coming up you need to make sure you look after yourself properly and include breaks into your schedule. The gardens are free, so even if you only have 30 minutes to spare, this could be the perfect little getaway from work to help you relax.

The National Football Museum Football

It won’t be for everyone but if you’re a sports fanatic then why not visit this museum? It will only cost you £10.50 and you can spend the afternoon walking around the exhibits and the Hall of Fame. Manchester is famous for its football teams after all!

Platt Fields Park

It is nearly summer which hopefully means sunshine and dry days out! Buying some food from the supermarket or grabbing a pizza and having a few drinks in the park with your friends is the perfect way to spend your summer evenings!

The Whitworth

If you’re a fan of the arts and enjoy looking at different paintings and artwork, then this free day out can be a fantastic way to spend your free time. With over 60,000 pieces of art for you to enjoy, this is something to put on your bucket list of things to do in Manchester

Life in Manchester – A Student’s Perspective

You’ve heard what we think, but what do students say about living in Manchester?

There are plenty of video reviews that can also be found on Futures Fest, so be sure to check them all out. But here are a few of our favourites:

Plus remember to follow our TikTok for some ‘alternative’ Manchester guides, including booziest universities, unis with the most male/female students, and more!

The Ultimate Student Guide to Manchester

Jonty — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:20:01 +0000

The Ultimate Student Guide to Manchester

Universities in Manchester

Manchester has a number of universities, colleges, and specialist insitutions. However, the main 4 are: University of Manchester, University of Salford, Manchester Metrpolitan, University of Bolton.

To find out more about studying at Manchester, be sure to check out our student videos both here and at the bottom of this guide!

Full List of Manchester Universities/Colleges:

Choosing Your University

We have done a fun overview of every university over on our Futures Fest page, so be sure to check that out.

We also do daily university content and releasing the video versions of the ultimate student guides on our TikTok, so be sure to follow us on there too!

Manchester Student Accommodation

There are 3 major types of accommodation you can choose, so first we will give you a brief overview of each one:

Student Halls

Private Student Accommodation

Scroll down for some highlights of our favourite private student accommodation in Manchester.

Student Flat / House

If you want to find out more about each type of student accommodation, and discover which one we think is best, then please visit our What Student Accommodation Should You Choose guide.

Finding Accommodation

Best Student Areas in Manchester

Fallowfield

The largest and most famous student area in Manchester, home to 8 halls of residence. It’s the perfect place for food, bars, and a party atmosphere.

This is THE student hub in Manchester, and it’s only 30 mins walk from the city centre.

Rusholme

The ‘Curry Mile’ with some of the best Indian restaurants you can find in Manchester! This place is extremel affordable, making it good for second or third year students moving out of halls.

However the quality can sometimes be lacking, so be sure to rent from a trusted landlord!

Hulme

Only 20 minutes walk from the city centre, but a much quieter student area.

Hulme is a relaxed area with some nice restaurants and pubs, as well as some excellent high-qualiy student accommodation.

Didsbury

One of the more expensive parts of Manchester, with higher end bars, restaurants, and beautiful parks.

It is slightly further out than other areas of Manchester, but the accommodation you can get here is incredible if you’re willing to pay the price.

Here is a short video guide about Manchester accommodation options:

Social Life for Students in Manchester

Here are some of our highlights for Manchester…

Clubs & Bars

Every student needs to know the best and cheapest students bars and pubs to visit whilst you’re studying at uni. If you live in Manchester, how many of these places have you visited?

Lola Lo

Dive NQ

Twenty Twenty Two

The Font

Slug and lettuce

Free Things to do in Manchester:

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

Fletcher Moss and Botanical Gardens

The National Football Museum Football

Platt Fields Park

The Whitworth

Life in Manchester – A Student’s Perspective

You’ve heard what we think, but what do students say about living in Manchester?

There are plenty of video reviews that can also be found on Futures Fest, so be sure to check them all out. But here are a few of our favourites:

Plus remember to follow our TikTok for some ‘alternative’ Manchester guides, including booziest universities, unis with the most male/female students, and more!

The Ultimate Student Guide to London

Jonty — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 13:48:55 +0000

The Ultimate Student Guide to London

Welcome to our ultimate student guide to London, where we give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about student life in the capital. From university and accommodation options, to a current student’s perspective, this should give you an overview of exactly what being a student in London is all about.

As well as being the biggest city in the UK, London also has the most students, with 382,000 students studying at the 40 different higher education institutions in the capital. London also has a large number of international students, with over 30% of London’s students coming from outside the UK to study. This gives the city and incredibly diverse and cultured feel, and allows you to make friends with people from completely different areas and backgrounds.

Universities in London

This wouldn’t be the ultimate student guide to London without talking about the Universities. London has 38 different universities, ranging from small satellite campuses to some of the largest and most prestigious universities in the UK.

Some of the biggest universities in London include UCL, LSE, Imperial, University of London, and King’s College. For a full breakdown of every university in London, as well as some of their rankings, for a more in depth look at each institution, be sure to check out our Futures Fest content.

London is also home to a number of satellite universities. These are smaller ‘versions’ of a larger university from somewhere else in the UK. Places like Coventry University London, Newcastle University London, and Warwick Business School are all options for people wanting to study in the capital, but still be part of a larger UK community.

London is perhaps most famous for its postgraduate and Master’s courses. Places such as Imperial, UCL, and Birkbeck offer fantastic opportunities for Postgraduate study, and places like London Business School offer prestigious MBA courses.

Full List of London Universities:

Choosing Your University

We have done a fun overview of every university over on our Futures Fest page, so be sure to check that out.

We also do daily university content and releasing the video versions of the ultimate student guide to London on our TikTok, so be sure to follow us on there too!

London Student Accommodation

Knowing where to stay in London is vitally important. Your quality of life, bank account, and overall experience will all be highly impacted by where you stay, so make sure to do your reasearch!

There are 3 major types of accommodation you can choose, so first we will give you a brief overview of each one:

Student Halls

Private Student Accommodation

Scroll down for some highlights of our favourite private student accommodation in London.

Student Flat / House

If you want to find out more about each type of student accommodation, and discover which one we think is best, then please visit our What Student Accommodation Should You Choose guide.

Finding Accommodation

Cheapest Areas

Perhaps the biggest negative about living in London is of course the costs. Rents are far higher in the capital than in other parts of the UK, and for students this can often be tricky to manage. For more information about London costs, check out this awesome blog.

London prices vary fairly dramatically depending on exactly where you are staying, so it’s important to know the cheapest areas.

North – Finsbury Park, Camden, Manor House

Fantastic tube access and some beautiful parks/rivers make these areas great for staying in North London. If you are studying in a central London university, you will easily be able to travel in.

East – Mile End, Bromley-By-Bow

Mile End station is right next to Queen Mary University, but is on the central line and has easy access to a number of London Unis. East London has some of the best bars/restaurants/clubs, and also some of the cheapest rents you can get in London.

South – Brixton

If you are staying at a South London or central university, then Brixton can be a great place to stay. Fantastic value, easy overground access, and low rents can make these areas great for living as a young person.

West – Wembley/Shepherds Bush

West London is notoriously expensive, but if you can go slightly further out, you can find some really good value areas. Wembley and Shepherds Bush are known for their shopping & food/drink experiences (BoxPark, Westfield, etc.). They still have great access on the tube to central London, and they offer some really good value accommodation as well!

Our Favourite Private Accommodation:

Social Life for London Students

One of the best parts about living in London is the social life. London has some of the biggest and best clubs in the UK, as well as 18,000 restaurants with every possible food you could think of!

London also has some fantastic events for students. We run Freshers Festival London, the London’s largest freshers fair each year in September. It’s a fantastic event where students can meet the UK’s top brands and grab some free food and lots of goodies. It’s open to any University or College student (16+), so if you want to sign up for free to this year’s event then you can do so here!

Clubs & Bars

If you go to university in London, it’s likely that you will have a dedicated student bar that will offer much cheaper prices than London bars/clubs. These student bars will often run club/dance nights, weekly discounts, and more. Lots of students choose to mostly visit their student bar as it’s better value for money and gives you a chance to meet students at your university. However, you can’t live in London without venturing into some of the most famous bars and clubs…

Everyone knows the major clubs in London – Ministry of Sound, Fabric, XOYO. But what are the best student bars?

Ballie Ballerson – Shoreditch

This is one of the most famous bars in London, mostly because it has ball pits! You can also enjoy delicious candy themed cocktails and even bottomless drinks! Across their two ball pits, they have 1 million, yes you heard that right, 1 million balls for you and your friends to jump in…

Tiger Tiger – Leicester Square

Tiger Tiger is both a bar and a club! The bar has a happy hour every single day of the week so you and your friends can enjoy those 2-4-1 cocktails. The club itself is spread out over 6 different rooms, all of which have different genres of music playing so there will 100% be a room for everyone to dance the night away in!

Slug & Lettuce – Everywhere

Slug and Lettuce is a cheap bar chain and has venues dotted all around London. They offer cheap drinks and 2-4-1- cocktails all day every day! If you fancy a classic cocktail, or a more ‘Instagrammable’ rainbow cocktail – then this is the place to be. They also have lots of delicious food to snack on in case you get a little hungry!

Zoo Bar and Club – Leicester Square

Zoo have special nights just for students! On a Monday and Tuesday their in-house DJ will be mixing all your favourite tunes! If you fancy a ‘cheesier’ night out, on a Wednesday they play all the chart and party anthems, and all the classic and cheesy hits.

Junk Yard Golf Club – Shoreditch

If you fancy going for a few drinks with your friends, but you also want to do a fun activity, this is the place for you! Whilst you’re sipping on your drinks, you can also play crazy golf at their 4 different themed courses. If you take your student ID, you will get 50% off their tickets prices too – what a bargain!

Free Things to do in London:

London isn’t all about drinking and partying. If that isn’t for you, then there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained. In fact, you won’t even have to pay for lots of things! Here are some of our favourite free things to do in London:

Free museums in London

Most museums in London are free, and can be a great activity to do with the kids (or your partner / friends). Our favourite is the Natural History Museum, which is perfect for any dinosaur or animal lovers. However, there are many other museums which can make a great day out in London!

Free Parks in London

London is infamous for its incredible parks, which are well-known as some of the oldest and grandest in the UK. Whether you are looking for a peaceful walk in London at the weekend, or you want to explore one of the big London parks, there is something for everyone in this city!

Free London Tourist Attractions

London has a variety of top tourist attractions, but did you know that most of them are free? Unless you want to go to Madame Tussauds or the London Aquarium, which might cost you a reasonable amount, then you will find most outdoor tourist attractions to cost absolutely nothing. Here are some of our favourites:

Free London Markets

London has an amazing range of markets, all of which contain a plethora of international tastes and smells that you could only find in such a multicultural city such as London. Most markets will also offer you a number of free tasters, so here is our list of the best markets in the capital.

If you are interested in free food in London, then checkout our dedicated article here.

Best Instagrammable Spots in London

Where are the best photo spots in London? Where can you get the best Instagram photos? Where is the best place for views of London? Whatever you want to take a photo of, we’ve got you covered with some of the best free places to take your perfect Instagram shot:

Shopping Experiences in London

Obviously, most shopping streets / centres are free to look around, but London has some of the best shopping in the whole of the UK. Whether you are looking for a new pair of underpants or a wedding dress, the City has a great range of shopping areas which are worth checking out:

Life in London – A Student’s Perspective

You’ve heard what we think, but what do students say about living in London? Here’s a brief student guide to London, given by a current student at QMUL.

There are plenty of video reviews that can also be found on Futures Fest, so be sure to check them all out. But here are a few of our favourites:

Plus remember to follow our TikTok for some ‘alternative’ London guides, including booziest universities, unis with the most male/female students, and more!

Top UK Unis to Study a Business Masters

Jonty — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:13:28 +0000