Welcome Week
Welcome Week is more than just being introduced to your new subject area - it is your time to get comfortable with your new surroundings, explore the city of Edinburgh, meet fellow students, make new friends and try out new things.
Welcome Week: Monday 11 September to Sunday 17 September 2023
Welcome Week is the week prior to the first week of the academic semester. Welcome Week 2023 will begin on Monday 11 September 2023, with Arrivals Weekend (the main time for moving into accommodation) on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. We are so excited to meet you and welcome you to the University of Edinburgh community!
Academic Year 2023/2024 semester dates
Welcome Week offers something for everyone - we really recommend our Undergraduate and Postgraduate communities make the most of this week, try new things, explore campus, connect with fellow new students not just from your subject area but beyond.
You will be provided with information about events and activities that will be available for you to attend throughout Welcome Week. Our events and activities all offer different forms of interaction or information to help you settle into University and will give you the opportunity to meet with staff and connect with students.
Programme of induction activities
All areas of the University are working together to create a mix of in-person activities along with digital information to help you get settled into the University. Our induction activities will give you all of the information you need to get started, along with opportunities to network, explore, contribute and give you that first and lasting connection to the University.
More information on activities will be promoted closer to welcome week.
If you cannot be on campus at the start of the semester, you should keep in touch with your school. Our staff will be able to make sure that you are informed of any issues, and can help you to decide when the best time to come on campus might be.
What induction activities are essential/mandatory and what are optional?
Your School induction activities are essential to attend as they are where you will receive information about your course, what to expect and the chance to connect with fellow students. If you are unable to attend any School induction activities, you should contact your School and they will make the resources and information available to you.
You will receive direct email communication from your School or programme from August confirming the details of your induction activities and how to attend. This information will also be on the app too so you can schedule other activities of interest around them.
Optional (but highly recommended) activities will also be held throughout welcome week. These activities include:
- Society led events
- Fairs
- Smaller in-person activities to help you get to know your neighbours and the city
- Explore Edinburgh
What's On for all students - optional events
Planning your induction and Welcome Week activities
During Welcome Week you will be in control of your schedule and whilst you must attend your mandatory school induction events, everything else can be planned to suit you. We do recommend that whilst you may want to do everything, to include some down time to relax. You may also need to carve in time to complete the Top 6 Tasks and some of our other things to consider, which can help you ease and settle into University life.
Other useful things to consider
Watch our short 'How to...' video for top-tips on preparing for Welcome Week
This short video will guide you through the main things you need to do to prepare, our top-tips and where to find more information.
- Video: How to... Prepare for Welcome Week (UG/PGT/PGR)
- We understand that there is a lot to think about when preparing for University. You may also be wondering what Welcome Week is all about and what you are expected to do within this time. This short video will guide you through the main things you need to do, our top tips and where to find more information. This video is part of the 'How to...' 2023 series.
Download the UoE Events App
In order to make your arrival as easy to plan as possible, we have created the 'UoE Events App'. The app aims to give you:
- Useful information about getting started at University
- Premade checklists for starting University
- Ability to look through all events during Welcome Week and plan your own induction programme from 21st August 2023
You can download the app now from any app store.