>Welcome Week is the busiest and one of the most exciting moments of UofG life. You may have already been to some of the campus’ buildings before – it was my first stop after settling in the accommodation some days earlier – but this will be your first proper student experience. It is hard to describe the excitement of seeing the streets packed with students from multiple countries, speaking different languages, walking to every possible direction, and exploring the spaces with the same curiosity and anticipation you will probably be feeling.

I’m not going to lie, it can feel overwhelming at times if you, like me, came by yourself from a place that is still underrepresented at the UofG – Latinos are already scarce, but Brazilians even more so. This feeling is brief, though, as the atmosphere of walking around, participating in events and discovering places quickly takes over and the city shows that its slogan “people make Glasgow” is very much accurate. Here lies my first piece of advice for welcome week then: let the atmosphere sink in and embrace the crowd; walk every walk, check every booth and flyers being handled, and gaze at every building sensing that you are now part of the university’s incredible history.

As a matter of personal choice, I did the walking by myself and had an incredible experience, but every now and then I would stay close to one of the multiple tours taking place at welcome week and heard some amazing facts about the buildings and the university itself. Whether you are more of a lone walker or a group one, it is imperative to download the My SRC app to follow up on tours and other multiple events taking place at Welcome Week. There are more events than one could possibly attend, but the SRC does an incredible job in summarising and timetabling them so you can plan and have your own personalised experience settling in the university life.

In addition to the SRC App, I strongly recommend you browse through UofG’s hundreds of societies and sports clubs in advance (these are available here on the SRC’s website). Because there are so many options, most but not all of them make it to Welcome Week so it is good for you to be informed thereof. The events and the societies are great opportunities to meet people with common interests and who might be your first and strongest bond with your new environment.

Finally, both your school and course inductions should be priorities if you can attend them. More than the essential practical information about your studies, you will get a first opportunity to meet some of the people with whom you will be in most contact during your term. These inductions are pivotal to immerse you on your project and get you ready to start your experience as an UofG student. Having walked the walks, learned about the array of social and academic opportunities lying before you, and known the key features about your course, you are set to start the most challenging and exciting year of your life (so far!).

First published: 15 January 2025

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