So many events, but what should I do?

UCL is such a vibrant community, and that’s reflected in the huge range of things happening during the first few weeks.

This is not a typical Welcome Week and our events are not your typical Welcome events. We’ve had to think a bit differently this year, but at the heart of everything we’ve got planned is our mission to help you make friends, settle in to UCL and find out how to make the most of your time here.

With that in mind, here are five useful tips:

Be picky

There’s enough going on that you could fill every day and evening with events and socials, but you shouldn’t. Balance is key, so be picky with what you do. Make sure you find time to relax and decompress, take in your new surroundings, get comfortable with your degree subject, and look out for those chance encounters with people on your course or in your accommodation.

Put the big events in your diary

Talking about being picky, there’s two events you should make a note of in your diary.

First up, on Tuesday 29 September, come along to our online ‘Welcome to UCL Support Services’ talk. We’ll cover everything from where to get mental health support, to when to start thinking about your career journey. Book on via the Welcome to UCL app. 

And then on Wednesday 30 September, come along to the Digital Welcome Fair. You’ll be able to virtually meet all of our clubs and societies, see some amazing live performances, and meet Students’ Union and UCL support services. If you miss it on Wednesday, we’ll do it all again on Saturday 3 October.

Try something new

Step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Challenge yourself with one our Virtual Escape Room games, take a virtual Bollywood dance class, cook-along with a virtual cooking class. Look for the weird stuff, and jump in.

Look out for the Hey Team

Each year we recruit a group of volunteers to welcome you to campus and help you settle in. Usually the Hey Team are on campus and can be found wearing bright yellow hoodies. This year they’ll be online, still in bright yellow hoodies. They’re running lot of different events like Speed Friending, Introductions to London, and Playlist Making. Join in and make friends.

Club and Society Taster Sessions

These are free sessions to help you get a feel for a club or society before you join. This is a great way to try new things and test the water before committing. Some of our clubs and societies will also be doing in-person taster sessions, if you want to meet up for real.

All the events can be found on the Welcome to UCL app.

Make the most of UCL Life team