Join events year-round
From crafts, day trips, wellbeing workshops, and more.
As a current student at Portsmouth, you can take part in a range of events at the university throughout the year. They’re a good way to meet people, try something new, and get more out of your time here.
Featured events
Living Well in Halls: Webinars
Feeling excited, nervous, or somewhere in between? Join our interactive pre-arrival webinar to get the inside scoop on life in halls, meet the Res Life team, and pick up tips for settling in, making friends, and thriving from day one.
International Orientation Week Events
Our International Orientation Week events are designed to help new students settle in and make the most of their start at the University of Portsmouth.
Common Ground
Learn practical restorative skills to communicate confidently, manage conflict early, and create a positive living environment. Join regular training sessions, practise real-life scenarios, meet students from across halls, and enjoy some freebies.
Thursday Afternoons at Chaplaincy
Some of the sessions may offer the chance to try something arty or crafty, possibly linked to a special occcasion or an idea from the previous week. Some weeks we play with lego and chat. Some weeks we play group games - We have lots of games to choose from. Just turn up and see if you want to join in. If the craft doesn't interest you, you can still play a game!
Beyond Borders Cafe
Come to meet students from all over the world, share your story, and enjoy free snacks! A place to connect with students from different cultures and discover yourself in others.
International Book Club
Join us monthly for discussions about books, poems, and short stories. The Book Club is a great way to meet people, practice your English, and explore literary connections in Portsmouth.
September
Dates:
Saturday 12 September
10.00am-3.00pm, Gun House Green
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rosalind Franklin
Join us for a night of fun icebreaker games, meet other students joining university, make friends, and feel right at home in Portsmouth.
Sunday 13 September
10.00am-3.00pm, Gun House Green
4.00pm-8.00pm, Langstone Student Village
Join us for a variety of activities and icebreaker games in our Langstone student campus. We will be hosting an assortment of games and activities like clay modelling, icebreaker games, short film screenings, a snooker tournament and many more.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Bateson Hall
Join us for a night of fun icebreaker games, meet other students joining university, make friends, and feel right at home in Portsmouth.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Catherine House
Join us for a night of fun icebreaker games, meet other students joining university, make friends, and feel right at home in Portsmouth.
Monday 14 September
8.30am - 10.30am, Catherine House
Find us at the reception for a free cereal bar to get your day going strong, and get a chance to meet our RAs!
8.30am - 10.30am, Rees
Find us at the reception for a free cereal bar to get your day going strong, and get a chance to meet our RAs!
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Greetham Street
Join us for a night of fun icebreaker games and get to know other students joining university, make friends, and feel more at home in Portsmouth.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rees Hall
Get settled into University and meet your peers! This event is particularly for neurodivergent and disabled students with updated games.
Tuesday 15 September
1.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy
From Tuesday to Thursday during Freshers Week 2026, come and paint your own mug (to take away with you), make friends, have fun and relax.
4.00pm - 8.00pm, Neptune Building Common Room
For a space to relax outside of the freshers, come join our event! This event is particularly tailored for Neurodivergent students with fun activities!
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Catherine House
Find us at the reception where you can decorate Cupcakes for you to take home. This is a drop in so there is no need to signup!
Wednesday 16 September
1.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy
From Tuesday to Thursday during Freshers Week 2026, come and paint your own mug (to take away with you), make friends, have fun and relax.
3.30pm - 7.30pm, starting at Gun House Green
Join us for a new tour of your home, Portsmouth!
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rosalind Franklin
Come with us to decorate your room with personalised decor!
Thursday 17 September
1.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
From Tuesday to Thursday during Freshers Week 2026, come and paint your own mug (to take away with you), make friends, have fun and relax.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Chaucer House
Join us for a night of fun icebreaker games and get to know other students joining university, make friends, and feel more at home in Portsmouth.
Friday 18 September
11.00pm - 3.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
On the Friday of Freshers Week 26, drop into the Chaplaincy Lounge, bring or make new friends and choose from one of our many games to play.
Monday 21 September
11.00am - 2.00pm, Eldon Building
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
2.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
On a quieter Monday, the week after Freshers 2026, come and paint your own mug (to take away with you), make friends, have fun and relax.
Tuesday 22 September
10.00am - 1.00pm, Richmond Building
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
10.30am -1.30pm, Hub, Dennis Sciama
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
Wednesday 23 September
10.30am -1.30pm, Terrace Cafe
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
12.00pm - 3.00pm, The Huddle, Neptune Building (UPSU)
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Catherine House
Come with us to decorate some Tote bags for you to take home!
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rees Hall (Halls of Residence)
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Langstone Student Village (Halls of Residence)
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
Thursday 24 September
10.00 - 1.00pm, Portland Building
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
10.30am -1.30pm, Park Building Cafe
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rees Hall
Join us for a celebration of all of our different cultures! We will be playing loads of activities, games, trivia, and best of all we will be handing out snacks from around the world!
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Chaucer House (Halls of Residence)
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Greetham Street (Halls of Residence)
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
Friday 25 September
11.00am - 2.00pm, University Library
Our September Welcome & Foundations campaign introduces students to the support, information and skills needed to build a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
5.30pm - 8.30pm, Eldon Building
Join us to watch the incredible movie 'Moonlight' from the film studio 'A24'
Saturday 26 September
9.00am - 6.00pm
Spend a day exploring the vibrant seaside city of Brighton. Discover the famous pier, wander through the historic Lanes, relax on the beach, and enjoy the city's unique mix of culture, shopping, and cafés. It's also a great opportunity to meet new people and spend the day with fellow international students.
Wednesday 30 September
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Bateson Hall
Participate in this fun game, where you can only work on a canvas for a set time before you have to pass it along to the next person.
October
Dates:
Thursday 1 October
2.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
From 2-4pm every Thursday, we are hosting drop in sessions for students to either play boardgames or have a go at something artistic.
Thursday Afternoons' in the Chaplaincy Lounge - A Variety of Games & Crafts
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Langstone Student Village
Join us for a celebration of all of our different cultures! We will be playing loads of activities, games, trivia, and best of all we will be handing out snacks from around the world!
Friday 2 October
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rees Hall
Join us for a night of beautiful singing, loud shrieking and lots of fun!
Wednesday 7 October
1.00pm - 2.30pm
Join the International Student Adviser Team for an informal session designed for current Student Route visa holders. Learn more about the visa you hold, the responsibilities attached to it, and how to protect your immigration status throughout your studies. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and gain a clearer understanding of the requirements that affect you during your time in the UK. These workshops run three times per year.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Chaucer House
Create some beautiful cards with pressed flowers!
1.00pm - 3.00pm, Library Atrium
Thursday 8 October
1.00pm - 2.30pm
Join the International Student Adviser Team to explore the work conditions attached to the Student Route visa, including working hours, employment restrictions, and common compliance issues. Bring your questions and gain confidence in understanding your work permissions in the UK. These workshops run three times per year.
2.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
From 2-4pm every Thursday, we are hosting drop in sessions for students to either play boardgames or have a go at something artistic.
Thursday Afternoons' in the Chaplaincy Lounge - A Variety of Games & Crafts
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Bateson Hall
Come and play games that have survived centuries!
Friday 9 October
1.00pm - 2.30pm
Join the International Student Adviser Team for an informal introduction to the Graduate Route visa. Learn about eligibility requirements, the application process, and the conditions of the route. There will be time for questions and an opportunity to better understand whether the Graduate Route is the right immigration option for you after your studies. These workshops run three times per year.
ISA Workshop: Graduate Route Visa Essentials
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Greetham Street
Become a detective for the night and participate in a fun murder mystery game!
Wednesday 14 October
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rosalind Franklin
Join us to decorate some pebbles and make them your own!
Thursday 15 October
2.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
From 2-4pm every Thursday, we are hosting drop in sessions for students to either play boardgames or have a go at something artistic.
Thursday Afternoons' in the Chaplaincy Lounge - A Variety of Games & Crafts
5.00pm - 8.00pm
Sharing a space with new people is a big part of uni life—and it doesn’t always come naturally. Common Ground helps you build the skills Restorative Practice skills which include communicating clearly, handling disagreements, and creating a better living environment.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Catherine House
Join us for a relaxing evening playing your favourite games!
Friday 16 October
5.00pm - 8.00pm
Sharing a space with new people is a big part of uni life—and it doesn’t always come naturally. Common Ground helps you build the skills Restorative Practice skills which include communicating clearly, handling disagreements, and creating a better living environment.
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Greetham Street
Create Mocktails with us, and play some fun games!
Wednesday 21 October
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rosalind Franklin
Join us for a fun evening of modelling with Air Dry Clay!
Thursday 22 October
2.00pm - 4.00pm, Chaplaincy Centre
From 2-4pm every Thursday, we are hosting drop in sessions for students to either play boardgames or have a go at something artistic.
Thursday Afternoons' in the Chaplaincy Lounge - A Variety of Games & Crafts
6.30pm - 8.30pm, Rees Hall
Join us for a relaxing evening playing your favourite games!
Friday 23 October
5.30pm - 8.30pm, Eldon Building
This film screening is in celebration of both Black History Month and Halloween.
Learn more about our Student Services
Discover our resources on study skills, financial management, health, wellbeing, and more.
Support in halls
Our Res Life team can offer help and advice if you're living in University halls. From wellbeing support to community events, we help you feel at home.
Student Wellbeing
Your health and wellbeing matters. Access resources for your mental and physical health, including support from Student Wellbeing, university counselling, and tips for self-care.
Careers support
Get ready for your future career. Find expert guidance on CVs, job applications, interviews, and career planning from our dedicated Careers Support team.
Student Money
From budgeting better to finding finance, we don’t judge, we just help. Learn about student loans, scholarships, bursaries and grants, plus find expert money saving tips from our Student Money team.
Disability Advice
Here you'll find expert support for students with disabilities or additional learning needs. Get confidential advice and support on disability-related issues.
International Student Advice
All you need to know as an international student, including what to do during your first weeks. Find information on visas, healthcare, jobs and working, and settling into student life in the UK.
Chaplaincy
Whether you have faith or not, to talk or be still, our space is yours. The Chaplaincy is there to support all students, of any faith or none.
Academic skills support
Looking to improve your academic skills and enhance your uni work? Our faculty learning support tutors can help you develop key study skills, and you can also access our online learning resources too.
Enable University alerts
Turn on notifications for critical updates like closures, safety alerts, and urgent service disruptions.