Your Official University of Bristol
Freshers
We’re a union for all students, so our “Freshers” is called Welcome. It’s a massive, annual Welcome to all University of Bristol students, new and existing!
What is Welcome?
We host a Welcome Week that includes an amazing line-up of events, including club nights, arts and crafts, alcohol free socials and tours of Bristol!
Alongside events run by the SU itself, our 350+ student groups run Give it a Go! sessions to give you a taster of what it would be like to join the group.
We also hold our famous Welcome Fair where you can meet a fantastic array of local businesses, organisations and brands to help you enjoy your time in Bristol.
Student Groups
We have over 350 student groups and Welcome is a great time to try them out. No matter where your interests lie, we’ve probably got a club for you!
During Welcome, groups hold Give it a Go! Sessions which are often free or cheap to attend. Use these events as an opportunity to try something new!
Want to browse our groups? Use our Student Groups Finder.
Welcome Fair
It’s our biggest event of the year, the Bristol SU Welcome Fair: your big introduction to Bristol SU held on The Downs!
What should you expect? Think festival vibes! There will be lots of freebies from local businesses and big brands, plenty of food options, plus the chance to meet student groups and learn more about the SU.
You can also meet student groups in-person at our Welcome Fair and see them performing at the fair’s Give it a Go! Arena.
Stay in the Loop
Soon to be a “fresher” and want to know what to expect from Bristol? Be the first to know what's on our Welcome programme - from events to student group sessions and, of course, our Welcome Fair.
Sign up to our Welcome mailing list to hear all the details.
Your questions answered:
When will tickets be released?
Bristol SU will release their official events programme and event tickets from August 2025!
Any Freshers / Welcome tickets you see on sale now are for unofficial events - we strongly advise waiting until official tickets are released in August to buy yours. We know it seems a while away yet - but it's worth the wait!
Watch out for tactics often used by unofficial event organisers - such as fake profiles on socials and tiered pricing that makes it seem like tickets are selling out faster than they really are! We find that lots of students regret rushing into buying tickets instead of waiting for the official release. These unofficial events often don't turn out to be all that they've promised, so don't set yourself up for disappointment!
How can I keep up to date with all things Freshers / Welcome?
Join our Welcome mailing list! Be the first to know what's on the official programme for University of Bristol Students - from club nights, events to student group sessions and, of course, our Welcome Fair 🎪 You can also follow us on our Instagram!
When does Welcome start?
Welcome events start on Sunday 14 September 🎉 Welcome Week is a chance to settle into University and meet new people, without the pressure of a full-on week of lectures.
When is the Welcome Fair?
Welcome Fair will be held in September on the Clifton Downs (date TBC!) 🎪
Who can come to the fair?
The Welcome Fair is for University of Bristol Students only, non-students will not be able to gain access to the site. Exceptions to this rule include:
- Carers of students attending the event
- Children under the age of 18 who are accompanying their parent/care giver to the event
- Pre-registered commercial stallholders
To access the event you will need to show a valid U Card, if you do not yet have a card or forget it on the day we will register you into the event using your university email address e.g. AB12345@bristol.ac.uk
I’m not a first year student – can I come to the fair?
The fair is open to all University of Bristol students no matter which year you’re in. You’ll just need to bring your UCard with you.
Can I buy Welcome tickets if I don’t live in halls?
All Welcome tickets are open to all UOB students!
I’d like to buy a ticket for my friend who isn’t at UoB. Is this possible?
No sorry, as much as we’d love to meet all of your mates, our events are for University of Bristol students only.
I’m a postgraduate student – are there any events for me?
Yes! All events are open to all students, but we’ll also have several events specifically aimed at Postgraduate students to help you meet other Postgraduate students in Bristol.
I’m an international student – are there any events for me?
Yes! All events are open to all students, but we’ll also have several events specifically aimed at International Students to introduce you to your new city, meet students from around the UK and across the world, and help you to settle in your new country.
Accessibility Information
Bristol SU is committed to running safe and accessible events for all students. If you have any questions about access to our events please email the Bristol SU Events team on bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk
We welcome attendees who need to bring medicines, food, or drink to manage a medical condition, or medical equipment. Please email us on bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk or speak to a member of staff on arrival if you have any questions or concerns.
If you need to step out of an event to find a quiet space, please notify a member of staff as you’re leaving so that they can let you back in.
