All you need to know for Freshers' Week 2012
On this page is everything you need to know as you prepare to arrive for Freshers' Week, including a link to the
online edition of 'Your first week' and regular updates on what's going on throughout the week to help you start your studies.
Bookmark this page now and check for updated items where you
see this
symbol.
Last Freshers' Village today! Wednesday 3 October
There's so much to take in when you first arrive at university. Freshers'
Village on Square 4 is here to help you get settled in. Helpful,
friendly University staff and students will be on-hand on our market stalls to
answer any questions you may have on anything from Arts to Zumba - via
Accommodation,
Careers and Employability,
Equality and Diversity, IT helpdesk, International students' welcome,
Nightline,
our Multi-faith Chaplaincy Centre, the
Sports Centre and getting
about by bus, rail or
cycle.
Freshers' Village, Square 4, Colchester Campus, Wednesday 3 October, 12 noon-3pm
Buses and bikes to get you around
If you're at our Colchester Campus then it's easy to walk, cycle, or get a bus on and off campus.
If you like cycling you may wish to buy a recycled and reconditioned affordable bicycle when you get here
from the charity Re-cycle - visit their website here who are coming to Fresher’s Fair,
Colchester Campus, on Saturday 6 October 2012 - on Squares 2, 3 and 4 from 12 noon until 4pm. Prices start at around
£50 and proceeds go to some fantastic African projects. Working with First Essex Buses and the Students' Union,
we have also have negotiated a special discount that saves students more than £300 off zone 1 annual bus tickets.
These tickets will be available from the First Bus stall on our Colchester Campus during and after Freshers’ Week,
from the Burrow – the Students’ Union ticket office, on Square 3. It's all good!
Accommodation may still become available
If you are living off-campus in Colchester, but would still prefer to live in University-provided accommodation,
it may be worth your while to join the accommodation waiting list
as places on-campus may become available as term gets underway. Just contact our helpful
accomodation office staff by e-mail to be added to the waiting list
Stay safe when frying your breakfast! 
Whether you’re frying your breakfast, straightening your hair, using a toaster or lighting candles -
if you’re living in University-provided accommodation or off-campus in a shared flat,
it's important to know how to stay safe to avoid fire hazards. We ask all students to watch
this short video ,
made by Campuslife, so that you know what to do in case of a fire, and to help you avoid
fire hazards happening in the first place. Please take a few minutes to watch it so you stay safe at Essex. Also, read the tips below, print
them out now, have a read, and why not bring them with you to keep in your new kitchen!
Immigration and visa information
Are you coming to Essex from overseas? Then please read all this important information about
immigration, visas and finance. And don't miss your International Students' Welcome Talk on
Monday 1 October at 4.15pm in the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall.
Colchester Campus guide
We've produced a new campus guide for students coming to our Colchester
Campus, that gives you a 360-degree
look at all the places to go, and services and support available to you throughout your
period of study.
It will be in the post with all your other pre-arrival information, but you can also view the PDF version right now.
Make sure you have pre-registered to access your IT account
On Monday 10 September you received an e-mail from the University asking that you
pre-register via this link. This means you can now go online to check your personal details,
address details, course details and give us your emergency contact info, upload a photograph for your student card,
sign up to the University’s regulations, and check and pay your tuition fees (if you need to). We also ask that you check your
University e-mail account regularly as we will use it to send important information about your studies and University life.
So don’t forget to pre-register now!
Your first week: online editions
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Southend town trail - download it now!
If you're coming to our Southend Campus, then why not download this fun town trail walking tour
and accompanying map? It will help you find your feet around town during your first week, and visit some interesting places,
right on our doorstep!
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Have you watched our Freshers' video yet?
Well done - you've got your place at Essex and you're getting ready for an
experience of a lifetime. Our handy two-minute video on YouTube, introduced by Jenny, one of our brilliant student ambassadors, will help you get
ready.
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Southend Campus video
And if you're coming to our Southend Campus, lucky you!
It's in the heart of town, has excellent academic facilities, and lots of nearby
coffee bars, shops and places to eat within easy reach
of our award-winning University Square student accommodation, as this new
Southend Campus video shows you.
Other Freshers' Week events
Students' Union Freshers events - a full week of social events organised by the
Student's Union
Freshers' Fair at
our Colchester Campus on Saturday 6 October - Squares 2-5
Southend Campus
Freshers' Fair on Wednesday 3 October at 5pm in the Students' Union