If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the position we’ve all been in over the last few years – planning every detail of what your university experience is going to be like to distract away from results day anxiety. If that’s the case, then strap yourself in, because you’re about to be hit by some brutal truths, wacky recommendations, and general big sister advice that you really should take on board.
We can’t cover everything, as everyone’s uni experiences are different, but trust us when we insist that you’ll end up at Level Wednesdays at least twice in your student career, that bulk buying Fat Frogs is never the answer to a situationship breakup, and that the 699 being on time happens once in a blue moon.
From niche advice to things you might not have thought about yet, here’s a guide to everything you need to know before you start at the University of Liverpool in September. Oh how we wish we could go back to being silly freshers.
You will not use everything you’ve packed, honestly
First things first, don’t fall victim to the TikTok packing lists telling you to bring absolutely everything you own to uni with you. You do not need four mugs, nine plates and six sets of cutlery, we promise. You will regret it when you have to fit it all in the car at the end of the year – when you’ve also inevitably bought more stuff. It happens to the best of us.
Worried about forgetting something? Liverpool is definitely not short on shops, and Amazon Prime offers student discounts, don’t worry. If you’re living in student halls, expect one of your flatmates to steal some kitchen items every once in a while, because there’s always one thing you’ll forget to bring that you never end up buying anyway.
You won’t attend all your 9am lectures
We hate to be the ones to break it to you, but you won’t. You’ll start the academic year on a strong point, but by the time your flatmates hit the trend of going to The Raz every Monday night, you’ll realise that Tuesday 9am isn’t as easy as you thought, and the rest will quickly follow.
Don’t consider yourself a failure though, it’s first year, and anyone who claims they have 100% attendance is probably lying.
Coffee shops will be your best friend
The library will seem good in the first few weeks when you’re romanticising being productive and actually doing the key readings, but once November exam season hits, everything changes. All of a sudden everyone will discover the library and all the spots you thought were quiet before, you can somehow never find a seat in.
Luckily, if there’s one thing Liverpool isn’t short of, it’s coffee shops. From aesthetic independents in the city centre, to the bustling chains with co-working spaces, there is guaranteed to be somewhere in the city for you to get your head down without the stress of making sure you’re at the library at 8am. So get those loyalty cards in and get used to spending all your student loan on 92 degrees, because it’s a canon event we cannot interfere with.
It’s normal to be homesick
Most people won’t talk about it but the majority of people in the first few months will struggle with homesickness – you won’t be the only one. Moving miles away from home to a completely different environment is inevitably going to feel weird.
Taking a weekend off to head home on the train is very normal, and you will eventually realise very quickly that most people still go home regularly throughout uni. There is absolutely no pressure to force yourself away from what makes you feel comfortable, and everyone needs their home comfort now and then.
Liverpool nightlife isn’t all about clubbing
No matter what the club reps in the group chats say, university isn’t just about messing up your sleep schedule and throwing up out the back of Bold Street. There is so much more to the university experience than clubbing.
Don’t get me wrong, Liverpool has an incredible night out, and the first year club nights can be the perfect way to meet new people. Just don’t fall into the trap that it’s the only way to make friends and that you have to see Concert Square five nights a week, because there are so much better and cheaper ways to meet people. With that being said, you’ll become partial to an AU Night or a boogie in The Flute, and after that, there’s no going back.
You will spend a lot of time on the 699 bus
You’re probably thinking now that it’s fine because you’re living on campus in your first year, so you don’t need to worry about the bus timetable. Beware the 699, because you will be proven wrong.
If you don’t know already, the 699 is a bus that connects Smithdown, a student area outside of the city centre, with the rest of town. Whether you’re heading down to Greenbank for pres with your course friends, house hunting for second year, or completing the Smithdown bar crawl all first years discover a few months after Freshers’ Week, you’re bound to hop on it a fair few times. It’s not possible anyone goes the whole academic year without a journey on the 699.
Plus, Smithdown is one of the most popular student areas to live after first year, so don’t laugh at the Greenbank students having to commute to their 9ams every morning – as that will soon enough be you as well.
This city is packed with culture to explore
There is so much more to the city than just the library and lecture halls. Liverpool has one of the most famous cultural scenes in the country, so not only should you spend your three years here studying hard for that qualification – but take your time to explore and experience everything the city has to offer.
From art galleries, museums, football, the famous music scene, theatre, food and drink – there is something for everyone. What’s better than being smart and cultured?
You will spend a lot more money than you think
It may seem harmless at first, but going into Tesco Express on Brownlow Hill for a drink and somehow spending £15 is actually lethal for the student bank account. The day you notice the Greggs peeking through the archway on the quad will be the official end to your budgeting spreadsheets.
It’s the classic university advice to make sure you save money, get a job and try to budget, but before you know it, the sweet treats and drinks you can’t remember will add up, and suddenly you’re getting a text from your bank that you’ve entered your overdraft. Keep your eyes peeled for student discounts, and maybe cut back your dependence on post-club kebabs.
Make the most of student discounts
As soon as you get a UoL email address, you can set up a UNiDays and Student Beans account to get the most out of the offers that everyone always raves about. Whether it’s Black Sheep Coffee’s 20 per cent off to fulfil those matcha cravings, or a Boots Advantage Card student discount to stock up on the inevitable freshers flu remedies, they’re always worth it.
Make sure you take your student ID with you wherever you go out in Liverpool, a lot of independent shops and cafes don’t advertise online but will often have student deals and discounts available. You’ll never know when your horrible ID photo will come in clutch on a shopping spree.
So make the most of the next 3 years of your life – they will be the best. Just make sure you’re prepared for the struggle to get a library seat in exam season and the amount of money that will leave your bank account.
It also might be an obvious bit of advice, but make sure you follow The Liverpool Tab on all of your favourite socials, including TikTok and Instagram. If you need anyone to be your university agony aunt, or that one older sibling that seems to know all the cool spots in town and all the campus micro celebrities, then we’re here to serve you.
