Welcome 2026: Helping every student feel at home at Leicester

Starting university is exciting, but it can also bring a lot to take in. This autumn, the University of Leicester is introducing an extended Welcome programme to help students settle in, build confidence and connect with university life, the campus and the city.

Running from 13 August to the week commencing 21 November, Welcome 2026 reflects our ambition to support students beyond their first few days on campus. The programme brings together practical guidance, academic preparation, social activity and local information so that every student has a coordinated introduction to Leicester.

The extended approach recognises that students settle in at different points and in different ways. Some will want early support with systems, study skills and finance, while others will be looking for opportunities to meet people, explore the city or understand what is expected of them as part of the University community.

Getting ready for Leicester

Students will receive phased information before arrival, including guidance on registration, moving in, timetables and University systems. The Citizen app will provide targeted updates and key notifications, helping students find essential information when they need it.

From 1–18 September, Succeed at Leicester will offer online sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate students at every level, including distance learners. Topics will include finding your way around, managing finances, using digital resources and preparing for university study, supporting students to feel ready before teaching begins.

As part of the University’s wider collaboration with Microsoft on Copilot, students will also be able to access Copilot as part of Leicester’s student support offer. The collaboration is helping the University explore how AI can support students, staff and the wider university experience in practical and responsible ways.

One element of this work is Copilot for Life, which will provide students with training and guidance to help them use Copilot confidently for practical, non-academic aspects of university life, from managing their time and preparing for meetings to organising information, exploring opportunities and navigating day-to-day tasks. By making this additional support available at no extra cost, the University hopes to remove barriers and give every student the chance to build confidence using digital tools that can support their wellbeing, organisation and readiness for life at Leicester.

A Great Big Welcome

Arrivals Weekend will run from 18–20 September, with welcome parties in the city and Oadby on 19 September. It will be followed by The Great Big Welcome, a free programme of events running from 21 September to 2 October.

Students can look forward to live music around campus, a food festival, three days of inflatables on the lawn, mini golf and outdoor cinema nights. Students’ Union activities will include the Activities Fair, Repo Rally and Freshers’ Fete, alongside workshops for international students.

The programme is designed to create many different ways to participate. Whether students want to join a major campus event, discover a society or attend a relaxed film screening, they will be able to shape Welcome around their interests.

Geoff Green, Registrar and Secretary at the University of Leicester, said: “Starting university is a major moment in a student’s life, and we want every new student to feel that Leicester is ready to welcome them, support them and help them find their place here.

“Welcome is about much more than a single week of activity. It is about giving students the right information at the right time, helping them build confidence before teaching begins, and creating opportunities for them to connect with their course, their peers, the Students’ Union, the wider University community, the city of Leicester and the practical digital support available through our wider Copilot collaboration, including Copilot for Life.

“By extending Welcome across the first part of the academic year, we are recognising that students settle in at different points and in different ways. Some will need practical guidance early on, some will be looking for friendship and a sense of belonging, and others will benefit from reassurance as they begin to understand university study. This programme is designed to meet students where they are and give them a positive, confident and distinctly Leicester start.”

Connecting with the city

Welcome will also introduce students to life beyond the campus. The University’s student social media channels will feature affordable places to eat, money-saving ideas at Leicester Market, city events and recommendations from current students.