Things to do on Campus as a First Year

So you’ve accepted your placement at the University of Warwick. Well first, allow me to offer my congratulations. I’m sure all the feelings, thoughts and emotions that swirl through one’s mind during a change or transition are occurring as the day that you move into your accommodation and, subsequently, the day life as a university student begins etches closer and closer. I assume, if you’re anything like me, excitement and optimism are towards the top of the list of feelings. So, what is life like on campus as a first year and what are the best things to look forward to doing, I hear you ask. Well ponder no further, as here are my suggestions for what to look forward to doing on campus

Welcome Week

Well this is probably the big one, the first experience of life as a Warwick student. In fact, at first sight it can almost seem quite daunting, but I must implore you not to worry – there is plenty of time, after all, it is a whole week. Being the event that it is, I may lend a whole blog post to the topic sometime down the line, but for now I will advise that you take part and engage with as much as you wish: all the societies and events are led by wonderful and welcoming people, so feel free to participate as you see fit.

The Dirty Duck

Home to many a great memory of my own first year, The Dirty Duck is the University of Warwick’s very own pub. A great and welcoming atmosphere means it’s perfect for an evening get together with flatmates, societies or course mates, but it is the weekly events that it hosts that gives The Dirty Duck its real charm. From a weekly pub quiz to weekly karaoke – where you will definitely find me belting out a tune above my vocal abilities – a visit to The Dirty Duck became a permanent fixture of my week during first year, and I highly recommend a visit there yourself.

The Student Cinema

Surprising no one, as a film student I spent many evenings of my first year in the student cinema, and for good reason, not least of which being the fact that I’d live in a cinema if I could. The student cinema offers a diverse range of both new release and older reparatory screenings of old classics, all at a much cheaper price than is usually found at the typical multiplex or arthouse cinema. Not only that, the student cinema boasts 35mm projection, which offered great excitement to myself. As a first year living on campus, becoming a member of the student cinema is a necessity!

Sports Facilities

Something I, regrettably, didn’t take full advantage of during my first year, campus is home to the Sports and Wellness Hub, offering everything you’d expect from a sports centre, from gyms to a swimming pool, badminton pitches to a rock climbing wall. Located only a brisk walk from most campus accommodation, the Sports and Wellness Hub offers a great example of the benefits of living on campus as a first year. 

All of the above considered, I’m reminded of something my mum said when she came to visit me at some point during first year. She observed how, with the activities available combined with the fact that I lived there, it was like being at a Centre Parcs (or another similar holiday location/brand). On reflection, she wasn’t far off…