Student Welcome activities for all students start on the following dates, depending on your course entry start:
- September 2024 intake: Monday 16 September
To find the building your arrival room is in, see our campus map.
Student Welcome is packed with activities to help you get to know your course, your peers and your University. You'll be able to meet other students on your course, as well as some of your tutors, and maybe even some current second- and third-year students.
Before accessing any systems, please ensure you've set up your account using guidance here (click on Guest access).
You will be able to access your Welcome Week timetable through your course page on Solent Online Learning (SOL)Â using the same log in details you receive to pre-register online.
Welcome Week essentials
BSc (Hons) Psychology student, Zipporah shares her tips on how to get the best out of Welcome Week:
Enrol: Follow the joining instructions sent to you by the admissions team on how and when to complete enrolment.
Accommodation: It's important to have your accommodation sorted by the time you start at university. There are lots of options depending on your situation and budget.
Timetable: Check your Welcome Week timetable! This has all the detail you need - you can find your timetable on SOL. There's lots going on during the week and you'll have the opportunity to meet tutors and other students on your course.
Connect: There's lots going on during student welcome and opportunities to make new friends. Visit one of the activities happening or go to the Freshers’ Fayre and find out more about all the clubs and societies run by the Students’ Union.
Finances: If you're a home student receiving a student maintenance loan, this will be confirmed with Student Finance once you're enrolled during Welcome Week - your maintenance loan is paid 3-5 working days after this. So do make sure you have enough money to last until your maintenance loan is paid. The student funding team can carry out a financial health check to see if you've received the correct amount of student finance for your circumstances and advise if you're eligible for any university grants and bursaries.
Welcome events
The University and Solent Students’ Union (SU) have got loads of Student Welcome events lined up for 2024! These social events and activities will help you find your way around Solent and Southampton, as well as meet new friends and try out new things!
Get Ready!
Please take a look at our Get Ready for Solent pages, where you can find out more about Solent University. You'll find lots of interactive activities to help you prepare for university life and your studies with us.
Activities include:
- Learning technologies induction - this is really important for guidance on the systems and technology used at Solent, the software you are entitled to, assessment guidance, etc.
- Find out about the Library and the resources available to support your studies.
- Find out about the Students' Union and the events they have planned.
- Join in with a range of fun study skills workshops (you may be a little rusty after a break from college!).
- Focus on your wellbeing and how to take care of yourself.
- Get to know other students through video chat sessions.
- Ask questions and join in discussions.
- Advice and tips on being a student.
- Money-saving ideas and how to get student discounts.
Get Ready for Solent will be updated regularly, so make sure you check back for the latest events and activities.
Log in to Get Ready for Solent
(you will need your University login details which will be provided when you pre-register closer to the start of term)
Enrolment and campus cards
Before you can start at Solent, the first thing you need to do is enrol for your course. To do this, there are two steps you need to complete:
Towards the start of term, you’ll be emailed your username and password with instructions on how to access the pre-registration area of our University Portal. It’s important you complete pre-registration so we can enrol you.
Your user name and password also means you can log on to Get Ready for Solent and Solent Online Learning where you can access your Welcome Week timetable.
What else happens during Student Welcome
Course-led activity
Course-specific activities help to familiarise you with your course before teaching begins. These may be on- or off-site, practical- or theory-based and provide an opportunity to learn more about the environment in which you’ll be studying.
Doctor's registration
You’ll have the opportunity to register with a local GP if you’re new to Southampton. This can be completed online, however will have an NHS representative on site during Welcome Week if you need assistance. A video detailing how to register online can be found on the Get Ready for Solent site once you have your log in details.
Once you're registered with a local GP, and are in Southampton permanently, we recommend booking an appointment for the MenACWY vaccination. This will protect you against meningitis and septicaemia, which can be spread easily among students. Ask your GP for further information, or visit Meningitis Now.
Learning technologies induction
This is an online resource that will introduce you to the learning resources and technology you'll be using at Solent.
Just follow these steps to get started:
- Ensure you've set up your account using the guidance here.
- Log in to Solent Online Learning using the username and password emailed to you for pre-registration.
- Complete the online course.
If you have any issues using the online resource, visit our help pages.
Got any questions?
If you have any questions about Student Welcome, please contact the admissions and enrolment team on 023 8201 5066.
