Starting at Salford

Welcome Week events are designed so you can meet other students, get to know the spaces and faces around the university, and have lots of fun. There's a mix of activities from big to small, quiet to loud and informative to just-for-fun.

You can also keep an eye on everything going on around campus on our weekly What's On blog.

Tip: Don’t fall for external companies selling ‘Freshers’ wristbands to exclusive events. We organise all our events and list them on our website. Any club nights that our students' union run will be organised and booked directly through their website.

Don’t worry if you don’t make friends straight away, Welcome Week isn’t the only place to make meaningful connections. We run different events throughout the year that you can attend (keep an eye on the Student Hub, student socials, your student newsletters and the SU website for those!).

One of the big changes when you come to university is that you may suddenly find yourself living with a group of students, sharing a kitchen and sometimes even a bathroom. Below are a few ideas to help things go smoothly:

Be clean and tidy: Keeping the kitchen and common areas clean is a must, and a big part of it is always washing your dishes. That way, when your flat mates need to use the kitchen they won’t run into a pile of your dirty plates.

Divide tasks: It’s useful to make a cleaning schedule for the communal areas early on to make your flat a nicer place to live in.

Respect your flat mates’ privacy: While it's important to become friends and get along with your flat mates, be mindful of others' personal space. Sometimes people just want to be by themselves, and you need to respect that. That said, if you’re concerned because you haven’t seen someone for a few days and they hadn’t mentioned that they were going away, mention it to someone.

Read our blog post for more tips on settling into your accommodation and living with other people.

Making new connections is fun but can also be a little daunting. Don’t panic if you don’t connect with people straight away; it's normal to feel quite overwhelmed during the first few weeks of term.

It’s a good idea to start making connections before you begin your studies if you can. Start by exploring our social networking sites for incoming students.

Meet people with similar interests

As well as taking part in our events, another great way to meet new people is through our partnership with Umii, an app designed specifically for university students.

The Umii app connects students based on shared interests, course type and hobbies, so it’s easy to get to know people even before you start in September. Simply download the app, set up your profile with your interests, and you're all set. Umii is the perfect solution for those who are nervous about face-to-face interaction straight away or prefer to meet people online.

The University of Salford Students’ Union (also known as Salford SU) exists to represent students’ academic interests and make sure every Salford student’s university experience is the amazing, life-changing experience it should be! The SU is independent from the University and work entirely for you, the student body. Their aim is to help you love your life at Salford.

The SU’s Advice Centre is here to provide you with non-judgmental, independent, impartial, confidential academic advice relating to academic appeals, fitness to practice, housing advice, exceptional circumstances (formerly PMCs) and complaints. You can contact the Advice Centre by email, book an appointment via their web booking form, or attend a drop-in session. Please check the Advice Centre website first for the most up-to-date information.

Your SU Officer team 

SU officers represent students in key areas, lead campaigns, uphold democracy and build relationships between senior staff and students. Your elected Student Officers for 2025/26 are: 

• Akinwale Bello (President)
• Sheba Tayo-Garbson (Officer for the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology)
• Megan Cornes (Officer for the School of Health and Society)
• Ali Aziz Janjua (Officer for Salford Business School)
• Hina Rehman Khalil (Officer for the School of Science, Engineering and Environment)

Join a society or group

The SU run over 50 student-led societies to suit every interest. Societies cover all aspects of student life, from academic to liberation, anime to sports, political to performance, global to faith. The likelihood is if you have an interest, they’ll have a society! Membership to SU societies is open to all students and the first session/meeting you attend is always free.

It's not just for societies, the SU host around 30 different sports clubs – ranging from traditional sports such as football and rugby, to less traditional sports like Scuba and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and other organisations such as campus leagues for football, netball and badminton.

Watch our video on societies at Salford to find out more.

The SU Welcome Fair is a great place to find out about the societies you can join. If you can’t attend, don’t worry! There are plenty of other opportunities for you to join a society and make connections with other students at Salford throughout the year.

SU Connectors programme

Your SU also run a peer support service for anyone struggling to adapt to university life in any way. If you would like some help to make new friends and settle into uni life, join SU Connectors.

Whether you’re looking to socialise with friends, catch up on your studies or find a spot to have your lunch, you can find the right space on campus. We have a variety of study rooms (including quiet rooms and group work areas) along with kitchenettes. Try a few of them out to find your favourite space.

Where to eat, drink and shop

Eat and Drink on Campus is our in-house catering offer. If you want a coffee, snack, meal or treat while on campus, we offer a range of options to suit most tastes and cater for halal, gluten free, vegan and vegetarian diets. There’s something for everyone across all three campuses! Food is prepared freshly on site usually locally-sourced ingredients, with menus developed by our own head chef. There are also maps around campus to show you some of the best spots to eat and drink.

Campus spaces that will come in handy

There are areas on campus to relax, study, socialise and even heat up your food. We’ve got spaces with microwaves, cold and hot water, so don’t feel like you need to buy your lunch or a brew on campus. Why not explore some of the campus buildings and find a space you like. Make sure you bring your Student ID card so you can access the rooms.

At Salford, we have a range of resources available to support you both in and outside of student life, including our dedicated askUS service, the Students’ Union and our Wellbeing Advisers on-campus and remotely. 

Tip: Our big piece of advice? Ask for help! You aren’t on your own and we have support services here to help you both inside and outside of student life.

Key support services for settling in

In our Nice to meet you section of the website you'll find more information on the University teams and services that can help you to settle in. These include our askUS team (the home for all things outside of your studies), how to find learning support if you have a disability, plus IT and technology support.

Starting university is a great chance to meet new people and feel part of the Salford community.

• Join societies or take part in SU activities – there’s something for everyone.
• Get involved in Welcome Week events – a fun way to explore what’s on offer.
• Take a walk around campus to get familiar with the spaces you’ll be spending time in.
• Head to the Thursday lunchtime Maker's Market, grab a £1 coffee from the Coffee Hut, or grab a bite to eat at one of our food outlets – perfect spots for a chat with your peers!

Keeping active can boost your mood and help with stress – and you don’t need to be a gym lover to get moving.

• Walk or run through Peel Park – right next to campus and great for fresh air.
• Join the Running Club or try a class at the Sports Centre.
• Use the gym or ask the Wellbeing Team about the Exercise Referral Scheme (created in partnership with the Sports Centre and our School of Health and Society).
• Take the long way round to lectures and discover campus highlights – like The Old Fire Station Café or Salford Museum and Art Gallery.

University life can be exciting and overwhelming – checking in with yourself is key. Take notice of your surroundings – explore your campus! There’s always something new to spot.

• Pause and notice how you’re feeling – it’s completely normal to feel nervous or unsure.
• Try a self-check-in or talk to someone if things feel tough – support is here if you need it.

Take a mindful stroll and discover hidden gems: grab an ice cream from the van on a sunny day, follow our Peel Park tree trail pop into the on-campus shops, and wander through the different buildings and spaces.

Your time at university isn’t just about lectures – it’s about growing in confidence and learning new life skills.

• Get to know your Student Progression Adviser (SPA) and personal tutor – they’re here to support your academic journey.
• Read our time management tips to help you strike the right balance between studying and taking a break.
• Head to the library – not just for books, but for brilliant advice and study tips.
• Living away from home? Learn the basics together – try a flat ‘Come Dine With Me’ style dinner night!

Giving doesn't have to mean grand gestures – small acts can make a big difference.

• Offer a kind word or your time to someone else who’s finding their feet.
• Help a new flatmate unpack, share your favourite study tips, or just be a friendly face.
• And don’t forget – give yourself a break too. Uni life is a big adjustment and you’re doing your best.

This might be the first time you're responsible for managing your own money, or you might be worried about how to balance paid work while also studying full-time. No matter how you’re funding your studies or how confident you currently feel in managing your money, it's a good idea to learn money management and budgeting skills to avoid feeling worried or stressed about your finances.

Inspire funding

Most UK and international undergraduate students are entitled to at least £150 spending money on the Salford Inspire online store per year of study. This money can be spent on anything from membership of a student society to headphones to books. Additionally, you can put the £150 towards a larger purchase, like a laptop, and use your own money to cover the rest. If you're eligible, you'll receive an email to your university email account once you’ve registered with us containing information about logging into the Salford Inspire online store.

Working while you study

If you’d like to find a job while you’re here, we can help with that. Our Careers team host regular careers fairs and have a job listing platform, while Unitemps, an on-campus recruitment agency, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies.

Financial hardship and difficulty

We understand that unexpected things can happen in life that impact your finances, and you could find yourself in financial hardship or difficulty whilst you’re a student with us. Our dedicated Money Advice and Funds Service are here to help if you are struggling or just need some guidance.

We've put together a range of tips and tricks to help you budget like a pro, plus advice on how to make your money go further. 

Your spiritual wellbeing refers to your beliefs, values and your exploration of the things in life that give you meaning, whether you follow a religion or not. The university Faith Centre, located on Peel Park Campus, is here to offer you guidance and support on all things related to your spiritual wellbeing. Everyone is welcome at the Faith Centre - this is a space for you, regardless of your beliefs.

The Faith Centre is home to the University’s team of Chaplains who lead activities for you to practice your faith and organise events that explore other cultures. They can be a great way to learn about different faiths and approaches to life and meet other students. Both faith-based and secular groups such as craft groups, societies, therapeutic counselling and mindfulness sessions take place in our Faith Centre. We also have quiet rooms for prayer or reflection in buildings located on all our campuses.

Keeping up to date is essential to getting the most from your course and the University. To stay updated you should:

1. Regularly check your university email account (this is the account we will use to officially communicate with you) so that you don’t miss out on exciting opportunities and important updates.
2. Access Blackboard (our Virtual Learning Environment) for course-specific information (like deadlines!)
3. Bookmark the Student Hub, your gateway for all things student, which also hosts event listings and news articles.
4. Follow us on socials - Facebook (@studentsuos) and Instagram (@uos_students).
5. Check digital screens around campus for announcements, events and support.
6. Check out our Made in Salford blog, for an insider’s guide to university life.

 Tip: Once you’ve registered, you can access all of these sites from the homepage of the Student Hub.

Appreciate the richness of diversity in our university and local community, treating other people with respect, consideration and empathy and avoid actions which are likely to cause them distress or harm. 

Here at Salford we have a high proportion of students from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and students declaring disabilities. We also have a significant mature student population and an increasing number of LGBTQ+ students.  This is something we are proud of as it means Salford students have a wealth of life experiences to share and learn from.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be their true self at Salford. This can be easier for some people and a little more difficult for others. That’s why it’s important that you support others to be the best version of themselves that they can be.

Think: Sometimes you will be exposed to new ideas. Sometimes you and other students might not agree – this can be down to differences in upbringing, faith or experiences. In any interaction you have with others, please remember to treat them with kindness, giving them the space to grow and find their Salford story.

Terms and conditions

When you register with us, you accept our student terms and conditions. This is a contract between you and the University, so you need to make sure you understand how they apply to you. Please make sure you read and understand the Terms and Conditions when you undertake the registration process.

Our Code of Conduct and treating others with respect

We want to ensure that all our students can undertake their studies in a supportive and non-threatening environment, receiving the necessary support and guidance to achieve their goals. That’s why we have a University Code of Conduct – a set of values, rules, standards and principles outlining what we expect from our students. It advises how we expect you to behave to help you and your fellow students to be successful and happy at Salford.

Consent and agreement

Ensure you have consent (agreement) before you perform any actions towards another person, especially those of a physical or sexual nature. Consent is a mandatory and basic part of human relationships. No one has rights over anyone else’s body, for any reason.

Watch this video to learn more about consent, harassment and other concerning behaviours.

Academic integrity

Good academic practice in assessment is very important. You must follow the proper practices of academic study in your assessments.  This includes acknowledging other people’s ideas or words in your work (this is called referencing), following exam rules and conducting yourself professionally. All of these actions are called academic integrity. Working with another student on your assessment or sharing your work with others may be considered as bad academic practice, or academic misconduct. You can find more information on academic integrity in our academic handbook.

If any concerning incidents happen to you or you see things happen to others that you don’t think are right, we want you to report it to us so we can act as quickly as possible. We use a system called Report It, which gives you the option to report any incidents anonymously, or by requesting contact from a specialist advisor.