Welcome to your monthly update from the Students’ Union on all things student voice and representation.
September & October 2025
Welcome to your monthly update from the Students’ Union on all things student voice and representation
September & October 2025
🎪 Welcome in numbers
Welcome Week was full of energy and new faces — and that was all thanks to you. Thousands of you came along to explore, sign up, and celebrate the start of uni life:
-
2,000+ came to the Societies Fair 🎭
-
1,500+ visited the Sports & Activity Fair 🏅
-
2,100+ joined us for Freshers’ Fair 🎉
-
16,500 students opened our Welcome email 💌
Whether you were joining your first society, grabbing a freebie, or just soaking it all in, you made Welcome unforgettable.
❤️ How you’re feeling
The start of term brings a mix of emotions — excitement, nerves, and everything in between.
At the Burnley Big Hello, we asked 44 of you how you were feeling about your first few weeks, and here’s what you told us:
-
59% of you said you felt excited — ready for a fresh start and new opportunities
-
30% of you said you felt neutral — still settling in and finding your feet
-
11% of you said you felt worried — feeling uncertain about things
Some of you told us it’s been great to dive into uni life, while others said it’s taken a little time to adjust.
A few of you who’ve been here before said it felt like being “dropped in at the deep end” — with deadlines and pressure kicking in quickly.
We also heard a lot about the cost of living, balancing studies with work or family, and finding that sense of belonging early on.
We’re taking that feedback forward to make sure the start of term feels more supported, not just busy.
👂 Use your voice — we’re listening
A big shoutout to everyone who’s already jumped onto the Student Voice Platform (formerly Unitu).
In the first few weeks, there were 20 new posts and over 5,000 views. You’ve raised topics like:
-
How timetables can work better for students with jobs or family
-
Balancing study, work, and wellbeing
-
The importance of clear, quick communication
There’s now a Students’ Union board on the platform too, so you can share feedback directly with us.
We’re also seeing more of you step up to represent others — nominations for School Rep in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences rose by 400%! That’s a huge leap and a great sign of growing student voice.
🎙️ Stories you’ve shared with us
Starting university brings a mix of excitement, challenge, and change — and you’ve been open in sharing what that’s really been like.
Our Student Researchers spoke with you about your first few weeks, and your stories are helping us see what matters most: feeling seen, heard and valued.
“Everything feels new, but I’m finding my feet.”
– An international student from Nepal who recently moved to the UK with their sibling. They went to international welcome events, which helped them meet people with similar interests in music and dancing. They’re still hoping to build stronger friendships and find part-time work, and said future events that fit around job hours and classes would help.
“I just need to be understood.”
– A fourth-year neurodivergent student who attended Welcome events and the Freshers’ Fair after hearing about them through Instagram and SU emails. They wanted their reasonable adjustments to match their needs but felt unsure about where to turn for impartial advice. When they did speak up, they felt unheard — leaving them frustrated and unseen.
“We’re excited to be here, but it’s been a big adjustment.”
– A married international couple and parents, both first-year students. The husband joined International Big Hello events and found them great for networking, while his wife missed induction week because of visa delays. They praised the International Team for their support and flexibility, but said childcare has been their biggest challenge, with their young son still abroad until they can find a nursery place.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, we’re sure many of you will find parts of your own story in theirs.
💡 How you’re using our Advice Service
When things get tricky, our Advice Service is here to help. It’s free, confidential, and independent — and it’s open to every student, no matter what you’re studying or where you’re based.
In September, most of you who reached out came from:
-
Nursing & Midwifery (19.5%)
-
Medicine & Dentistry (19.3%)
-
Engineering & Computing (9.7%)
The main reasons you came to us were:
Lots of students also asked about attendance, placements, funding, housing and course changes — the everyday things that can really add up.
The message is simple: you don’t have to deal with it alone. Find out more about our Advice Service
✊ Get involved with your Union
Want to help shape what happens next? There are lots of ways to get involved, share your views and make a difference.
Join the Change Collective and get perks
Be part of a team of students creating positive change on campus, from focus groups to interviews — and enjoy some exclusive perks along the way - Join the Change Collective
Join a Community and become a Community Leader
Find your people, build collective power and create lasting change - Join a Community
Share your placement experience and win up to £100
If you’re on (or recently finished) a placement, share your experience to help improve support — and enter our prize draw to win up to £100 - Share your placement experience
Make a change or raise an idea
It’s easy to get involved and depending on what you want to change, we’ve made it simple to find the right route for you. - See how to make change
Attend our Disabled Students' Breakfast Get Together 20th Nov, 9am-11am)
A safe space for LGBTQIA+ students to meet other people in the community and have a vibey time. Enjoy music, food and interactive games! - Grab your free ticket
Attend our Mature Students’ Wine & Cheese Night (20th Nov, 5pm-7pm)
Relax, meet other mature students, and enjoy some free cheese and wine (non-alcoholic options too). - Grab your free ticket
Attend our LGBTQIA* Get Together (24th Nov, 6pm-9pm)
A safe space for LGBTQIA+ students to meet other people in the community and have a vibey time. Enjoy music, food and interactive games! - Grab your free ticket