Thousands of students descended on Liverpool for freshers week, many of them leaving home for the first time.
Joel, 18, moved here from Nottingham to study geology with physical geography at the University of Liverpool, "one of the only good universities" to run his course. The LFC supporter said: "It's very different from home. I live in quite a small town, so it's a big difference. Lots of nights out, it's very vibrant. I've been for a couple of walks through the city, it's so much louder with so many more people. I'm enjoying myself, definitely."
Geology student Zainah, from Saudi Arabia, is one of roughly 8,000 international students at the University of Liverpool, whose students union held a 'Welcome Week' featuring stalls promoting societies or handing out slices of Dominos pizza and Heineken cans. The 21-year-old said: "It's nice, I'm liking the city so far. Compared to Bristol where I lived for two years, it's much bigger, it looks like more fun with more activities."
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Two first year psychology students, Sophie and Ishbell, from Sheffield and London, have both felt "homesick" during their early days in Liverpool. But for them, it's the perfect opportunity to throw themselves into making friends after taking a year out due to the pandemic. Sophie said: "Last year or the year before, what freshers experienced, I didn't want to have that. Everything was online, so I thought if I wait another year things should be better. Plus, I could work and get money."
She's following in the footsteps of her neighbour, who also studied psychology here, saying everyone she knows who's studied here "has always said it's really good". Others picked Liverpool to escape all things familiar, like 19-year-old Esther, the youngest of four siblings from London, who didn't want to go anywhere her family had been. She said: "It's good. It's busy. Everyone's very open to meeting people, which makes it easy. Everyone's really friendly. I love friendly strangers."
The geography student was visiting the stalls at University Square with new friends found at an event held by the university's Afro Caribbean Society. They're keen to meet new people and explore city locations like the Albert Dock before classes start.
For many, this is their first time "living alone and being independent", but some are much closer to home. Julian, from Wallasey, is starting to find his way around Liverpool easier now he's studying here, but the 21-year-old finds it "a bit daunting" being back in education after a few years out.
His coursemate Hannah grew up in an East Midlands village, but she was born in Liverpool and often visited the city she loves. She said: "It's daunting being in a big city on your own, but everyone's been really friendly so far."
It's taken the Liverpool Guild of Students two months to prepare its 'Welcome Week' and Freshers' Fair events to greet students to the city and introduce them to all the university, union and city businesses have to offer. One of its newly elected vice presidents, Lina Dubbins, said: "It's a good way to keep students connected to the community.
"Being one of the big universities, and for John Moores, Hope and Edge Hill, they have a duty to give back to the city. Having students here really boosts the city's nightlife and daytime economy, so it's nice getting those businesses in to keep students in the loop. It's a win-win."
The 22-year-old remembers her nerves and excitement when she was a fresher "put into a house with random people" three years ago. Although the social and society side of university life were disrupted by Covid-19 for much of her time as a student, the English literature graduate would "give anything to be able to relive [freshers] again for the first time".
She advised new students to join one of the Guild's student societies, which range from course-specific ones like psychology or politics, to sports like badminton and activities like baking, and even for political parties and campaign groups. With roughly at least 60,000 students at Liverpool universities, half of them at the University of Liverpool, societies are a great way of meeting new people and exploring the city, home to "literally the friendliest people I've ever met", according to Lina.
Lina said: "You can join as many as you like. You can join two, you can join 20, you could join 100 if you wanted to. Join whatever you're interested in, go to whatever things you think will excite you and be interesting. Find your people, make friends and you'll have people who can support you for the rest of your time at uni. Especially in the first couple of weeks, everyone's still a little bit shy and nervous, everyone's in the same boat as you, so don't be afraid to just go."
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