Welcome Month October 2021

Welcome to Portsmouth

Explore our Welcome Month activities and get started with university life

Your first month of uni is a great chance to meet new people, settle into your accommodation and get to know your campus and city.

Join in with a mix of virtual events and face-to-face activities that will help you meet other students, make new friends, explore and join clubs and societies, get to grips with your studies and learn more about life at uni.

Pre-arrival and Welcome Month – important dates

1 September: Countdown and Connect Challenge registration opens
9 September: Get Connected – Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre transition event
20 September–3 October: Moving in weeks
27 September–1 October: International Orientation (in-person, online and on-demand)
4–8 October: Course induction and Fresher's Fayre

You'll need to complete your registration before Welcome Month.

Themes

Welcome Month events are in three main themes. Use them to help you plan your events diary and spot the events most important to you.

Student life

Discover the opportunities available to you outside study by exploring societies, new hobbies and Portsmouth.

Support and guidance

Attending support and guidance events will help you get set up and prepared for the new year ahead.

Countdown and Connect Challenge

Jump to week

Pre-arrival

Week 1: 20–26 September
Week 2: 27 September–3 October

Welcome Month

Week 3: 4–10 October
Week 4: 11–17 October
Week 5: 18–24 October
Week 6: 25–31 October

Moving in weeks

Moving in weeks take place from 20 September to 3 October, with the main check in period from 23 to 26 September. You should try to arrive ahead of induction week starting on 4 October.

If you're in halls you'll find events posted on your halls noticeboard and be sent updates to your student account email address. If you're in private accommodation or living at home, take a look at the events below for moving in activities taking place outside of halls.

Find out more about moving into uni halls or private accommodation.

Week 1: 20–26 September

Monday 20 Sept

1.00pm: Local tour of Gunwharf Quays

4.00pm: Local tour of Old Portsmouth

International students in Portsmouth

Tuesday 21 Sept

1.00pm: Local tour of GPs and walk-in centres

4.00pm: Local tour of independent shops

Student union tour

Wednesday 22 Sept

12.00pm: Local tour of Student Union and Advice Service

2.00pm: Local tour of the Library

2.15pm: Countdown and Connect Zoom Meet Up with Welcome Ambassadors and UPSU Elected Officers

Nuffield centre

Thursday 23 Sept

12.00pm: Local tour of Nuffield Centre

2.00pm: Local tour of supermarkets

South parade pier

Friday 24 Sept

1.00pm: Local tour of Commercial Road

4.00pm: Local tour of the seafront

Week 2: 27 September–3 October

If you're an international student, you can attend extra activities and events run by our Global Office during this week. You'll get the opportunity to meet students from all over the world and the UK while trying out new hobbies, exploring the city and getting tips for your upcoming year. Find out more about International Orientation 2021.

Smiling female student

Monday 27 Sept

11.00am: Campus tour from Bateson Hall

3.00pm: Campus tour from Harry Law

7.30pm: Icebreakers at Rosalind Franklin

7.30pm: Scavenger hunt at Trafalgar Hall

7.30pm: Speed friending at Rees Hall

Students watching a movie

Tuesday 28 Sept

1.00pm: Campus tour from Greetham Street

3.00pm: Campus tour from Catherine House

7.00pm: Film night at Bateson Hall

7.30pm: Karaoke at Chaucer House

7.30pm: Scavenger hunt at Burrell House

Student playing playstation

Wednesday 29 Sept

11.00am: Campus tour from Margaret Rule

1.00pm: Introduction to Google Suite

2.15pm: Countdown and Connect Zoom Meet Up with Welcome Ambassadors

3.00pm: Campus tour from Chaucer House

7.30pm: Quiz night at Rosalind Franklin

7.30pm: Games night at Catherine House

7.30pm: Icebreakers at Greetham Street

Ambassador on campus tour

Thursday 30 Sept

11.00am: Campus tour from Trafalgar Hall

12.30pm: Organising your studies with technology

1.00pm: Campus tour from Rees Hall

7.30pm: Virtual games night

7.30pm: Karaoke at Bateson Hall

7.30am: Speed friending at Margaret Rule

Student playing uno

Friday 1 Oct

11.00am: Finance Friday: Focus on student finance applications - what's next?

11.00am: Working remotely

1.00pm: Campus tour from Bateson Hall

3.00pm: Campus tour from Burrell House

7.30pm: Icebreakers at Catherine House

7.30pm: Games night at Rosalind Franklin

7.30pm: Speed friending at Greetham Street

8.00pm: Ghost walk

Food on a BBQ

Saturday 2 October

11.00am: Welfare stand

11.00am: Building treasure hunt

12.00pm: Welcome BBQ

Welcome ambassador giving advice

Sunday 3 October

11.00am: Welfare stand

11.00am: Building treasure hunt

12.00pm: Welcome BBQ

Week 3: 4–10 October

Course induction

You'll attend induction events to introduce you to your course tutors and hear more about our services including the Library, Careers and Employment, and the University Wellbeing Service. We'll contact you on your University email to tell you how to access your induction schedule before your first week, or find your timetable here:

Postgraduate Research students will be invited to the Graduate School's Getting Started with Your Research Induction event. If you haven't received your invite yet, please contact graduate.school@port.ac.uk.

Freshers Fayre: 4–8 October

Get involved with Freshers' Fayre to meet our student groups, discover new hobbies, pick up freebies from student-friendly businesses across the city, and explore what the Students' Union offers.

Learn about student discounts with TOTUM, explore how the Union represents you, and find out about volunteering locally or abroad with the Union as a Course Representative or Challenge Leader.

Sign me up

Give Me Sport: 7–10 October

Held over four fun packed days, you can try over 36 sports clubs as part of the Give Me Sport event. Try a sport you like or try something new while making new friends.

Get a taste of sports including American football, archery, cheerleading, climbing, equestrian, golf, rowing, ski and snowboard, ultimate frisbee, water polo and many more.