‘Welcomed with open arms’: A Freshers’ Fortnight Triumph
“The University welcomed a massive new intake, and higher education in Derby got back in full swing last month, as it hosted an immensely successful Freshers’ Fortnight.”
The quote you see in the headline above is from Joe Katers, a post-graduate student who is one of the new intakes at the University of Derby this year. Along with many, many others around him, he was thoroughly enjoying the Freshers Fair on the 24th of September and was extremely impressed by the friendly welcome he had received from the University of Derby ‘from day one’. His sentiments were echoed by Feebee Maloney, a first-year history student who, as a brand-new member of the History Society, was already taking the many opportunities university life has to offer her. The University of Derby prides itself on being the university of warm welcomes, and it seems as though this is certainly true.
Feebee was also impressed by the cutting edge Kedleston Road campus. According to her, everything is ‘all in one place’ and ‘easily accessible’. Moreover, Katherine Barham-Westcott ‘really like[d]’ the ‘vibrant and friendly’ atmosphere as she recalled how she had heard ‘horror stories’ about university. Although, when it comes to Derby, ‘it’s surprised [her] as to how friendly its been’. These were just some of the positive aspects of the university which were on full display for new students and visitors alike during the hustle and bustle of the Freshers Fair. People like Joe Katers were ‘really impressed’ by the ‘modern’ campus which has clearly been specially constructed for the modern student using ‘a lot of money’.
The atrium was filled with the smell of free pizza, the content faces of those brandishing their Wetherspoons vouchers and the constant background noise of chatter as new students spoke with second and third year veterans about exciting new opportunities and the many ways the university could help them during their time here.
However, successful though it was, the Freshers Fair was definitely not the only event for new and existing students to enjoy. Scattered across the fortnight were activities from an indoor Outdoor Cinema to a Q and A with the former Radio 1 breakfast DJ Nick Grimshaw, a student shopping night, comedy nights, a night at the museum, a freshers ball, halls wars and, of course, the world famous History Society Pub Quiz. These activities gave new students the chance to make friends which may last a lifetime, engage with and obtain valuable advice from existing students, get to know their respective campus and the wider university as well as, obviously, providing the opportunity for you to get absolutely trousered at the academy bar and the many clubs Derby has to offer. The most glamourous of student past times, as I’m sure you’ll agree.
Overall, this past month has provided the perfect introduction to a university going places. The UoD is rising up the university league tables and keeping up staggering student satisfaction as the students of Derby showed grateful newcomers that they did, indeed, make the right choice. If you are new to the university this year and are reading this, you will soon find out that the person who told you that ‘university will be the best years of your life’ was definitely telling the truth. I myself would like to say to you personally that you’re going to love it.
Good luck, and a very warm welcome to the University of Derby.
