8th October 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The so-called freshers’ week, when thousands of new students (or freshers) descend on Universities across the country, is notorious for excessive drinking and partying. Yet some are now saying after years of getting increasingly “out of control”, students are turning their back on this rite of passage in favour of getting on with learning.
Although the evidence at this stage is anecdotal at best, there seems to be a rise in the number of students taking a more laid back approach to starting University. This coincides with the sharp increase in the cost of studying, which appears to have students taking their time at University more seriously. Traditionally freshers’ week involves a plethora of social events designed to welcome new students and initiate them into all manner of clubs and societies, as well as getting to know each other and the local night life. While those arriving for the first time might see this as their first taste of freedom, others, particularly returning students, see this week long binge as a waste of time and money.
With the amount spent in just over one week totalling almost £400 million, the cost to freshers is simply too much for students with tighter financial constraints. Increasing fees, student grants being scrapped and tighter limits on government loans, mean more and more students find themselves struggling to pay their way to the end of term, and simply cannot afford to indulge in a week of expensive social events, which so often involve buying and consuming large quantities of alcohol. This new generation of students are seeing University as an investment, not only of substantial sums of money but of their time, meaning that with such short terms, every moment counts.
The freshers’ week model needs to be reformed to be more inclusive, with more opportunities to meet a diverse range of people across a wider variety of events. Surveys show students are increasingly using different spaces, like coffees shops over unions and bars, and these could play a pivotal role in encouraging social integration without the financial burden or sacrificing their education.