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Welcoming new students

Each September, hundreds of thousands of students arrive at Uni for the first time. Some will already be Christians, but many will never have met – or even heard of – Jesus Christ.

The start of a new academic year is an important time in the CU calendar to:

  • recruit new students to join the CU, strengthening the team of returning students committed to living and speaking for Jesus.
  • serve the many students arriving with big, unanswered questions and who could embark upon a journey to faith through the friendships with Christians they meet early on at uni.

We've created these resources to help you and your CU meet these two aims. The resources take into account the different conditions that might prevail on your campus.

Results day to welcome week

Students start to think about their university experience from results day, when students get the grades they wanted or find a Uni place through clearing.

It is on and around results day that students will start looking for the CU. Therefore:

  • On results day – make sure you have a welcome message (maybe a video) on social media to all new students.
  • Following results day – active social media engagement inviting new students to join a freshers group. Through this group, new students can start to build friendships before they arrive at Uni.
  • A few days after results day – hold a well-publicised CU in-person gathering or a CU welcome zoom call for new students.
  • Between the meet-up and welcome week – run a ‘Start Here’ course for freshers.

Welcome week

Freshers will be arriving at Uni from all over the world. When they arrive, the CU will want to offer a warm welcome and an opportunity to find community and meet Jesus. We've created these resources to help you and your CU meet these aims: