UEA welcomes 5,000 students to campus for week of animal encounters, sport tasters and charitable workshops
By: Communications
Welcome Week 2024 will see more than 5,000 new students arriving onto the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus, with many heading off to live away from home for the first time, while many others return for another year of study.
The week, which takes place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 September, involves a varied and impactful programme of events, designed to help new students start university feeling confident, settled and ready for their new adventure.
From animal encounters and creative activities to society fairs and sport tasters – Welcome Week hosts lots of opportunities for students to learn about their new home, discover the support and services available for them, meet new people and develop a sense of belonging to the UEA community.
It follows on from the arrival of international students to campus this week for International Welcome Week (11 to 13 September) and Arrivals Weekend (when students traditionally first move into halls) and is a time to engage with and support students ahead of the new autumn semester.
Becky Price, Director of Student and Graduate Success at UEA, said: “Our Welcome and Welcome Back weeks are a really exciting time of year, that give us a chance to introduce new students to UEA’s vibrant community and campus, while also welcoming back returners and preparing them for the year ahead.
“Our aim is to ensure that every student feels confident and supported and part of our wonderful community, both academically and personally, as they venture forward to this next step at university. We've got a range of social events planned across the week to help them feel connected at UEA, including opportunities to try different sports and discover new societies, so that every student has the best possible chance of finding something they love doing.”
There are a variety of activities taking place for students throughout Welcome Week, both during the day and in the evening, with UEA’s Congregation Hall transformed into the Welcome Hub, a colourful celebratory centre to invite students into their new home.
Just some of the wide variety of events during the week include:
Monday 16 September
- The opportunity to hold an owl at the owl encounter – it'll be a hoot!
- Join a panel of current students as they answer new students’ questions about UEA.
Tuesday 17 September
- Come along to the Societies Fair, where a range of students will be showcasing their eclectic societies – from Taylor Swift to ghost hunting.
- Those hoping to try out their martial arts skills are invited to a Tae Kwon Do taster session.
- Students let their creative side take over, with crafting, zine-making and e-sport games in the Welcome Hub (also taking place on Wednesday).
Wednesday 18 September
- Try something creative and contribute to a good cause? Attendees are invited to come along and create their own handmade soap through a workshop with student-led initiative Soapful Hands. A portion of these handmade soaps will be used in hygiene kits made by the student group, to be donated to homeless housing trusts in Norwich.
- Meet a variety of Bert’s Amazing Creatures, including rats, bearded dragons and more.
- The Sports Fair will be in full swing, with a plethora of different clubs to get involved with, from ballet to ultimate frisbee.
Thursday 19 September
- Drop by The Market, hosted in The Street at UEA, to explore a range of local artisans showcasing their crafts.
- Get your skates on and head to the Roller Disco at the Sportspark, where neon dress is highly encouraged.
Friday 20 September
- Experience the Welcome Week Colour Run, a new addition to this year’s programme that gives participants a chance to add more colour to their day.
- The uea+sport team host an oar-some paddleboarding session at UEA Broad.
For a full list of events, view the Welcome 2024 programme.
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