With Christmas and the end of the first semester rapidly approaching, universities across the country have been spreading festive cheer to their freshers.
We spoke to university students from across four universities, Martha, Harriet, Molly and Isabelle, about how they’re spending their last days before they travel back home and the festive season begins.
What University do you attend?
Martha: I’m at Marjon
Harriet: I go to the University of Salford
Molly: I’m at Edge Hill Uni
Isabelle: I go to Bath Spa
What events is your University hosting around Christmas?
Martha: At Marjon there have been a variety of different events going on during the christmas period such as beer and carols, a christmas quiz, a nativity play, a carol service and many others
Harriet: My uni is doing Christmas markets and a Christmas quiz in the sports hall
Molly: None that I’m aware of, mostly carolling stuff
Isabelle: My uni has done a number of events, such as winter balls, ice skating events, arts and crafts nights and quizzes.
Have you gone to any of these events?
Martha: I’ve gone to the nativity and the carol service
Harriet: I haven’t gone to these events because I went home before them. But a lot of my friends went
Molly: No…
Isabelle: I have gone to an ice skating event and my course held a winter party thing which I went to.
Are you feeling homesick at the moment?
Martha: I’m not feeling homesick just very excited to go home
Harriet: Before i went home, I Felt very homesick since i didn’t go home for three months
Molly: Yes, I haven’t gone home since i got here
Isabelle: At the minute I’m feeling a little bit homesick because it’s so close to Christmas and the end of term. But usually not very much.
Do these events help or hinder you?
Martha: They’ve been fun additions to do
Harriet: These events help people get into the Christmassy mood and perhaps make students cope with the wellbeing at being at uni more
Molly: they help bring others together
Isabelle: These events do help as it gives me a chance for me and my friends and people on my course to speak more and bond with each other more.
Quizzes and carols seem to be very popular in uni’s up and down the country, with each of our students having their own unique events available to them, but it seems that many students don’t go to these uni events, despite seeing their helpfulness.
How are you filling your time before coming home for the holidays?