Bristol University students to miss out on freshers’ week

Hundreds of students are set to miss out on freshers’ week because their accommodation will not be ready.

The new Bedminster Metal Works block opens on 14 September – but because the University of Bristol brought freshers’ week forward it means 819 students will struggle to join the events designed to welcome them to higher education.

The university has offered £250 and promised extra events to all affected students.

Lucy Pears, the university student union’s student living officer, said the news “leaves a sour taste in one’s mouth”.

Metal Works, on Dalby Avenue close to Bedminster train station, was commissioned four years ago to help address the shortage of student accommodation in Bristol, and legally binding contracts mean the move-in date cannot be changed.

The university brought its start date forward by a week after a review of the structure of its academic year.

Ms Pears said students should receive a “little bit more” compensation.

“We’ve been having feedback from the students, mostly disappointment,” she said.

“[There is] A lot of concern about missing out on that integration into the University, and how they’ve slipped through the cracks.

“It’s a shame that students will be missing out, and I’m outraged on their behalf that it’s not been taken into consideration.”

Some students at Metal Works face the choice of paying for expensive hotel accommodation or missing out on freshers’ week altogether.

Jemima Dowdy, who lives in Bath and will come to Bristol to study English Literature, told the BBC she is paying for an Airbnb with girls she met through social media app TikTok at the start of the week.

Jane Perry said her son Owen was excited to start his biochemistry degree and move from their family home in Norwich – but now he is “disappointed and upset”.

“My son is generally relaxed and chilled out, but this has really been getting to him. [It’s] very stressful,” she said.

“I can see they’re trying but it doesn’t get away from the fact they’re all going to be split up and miss freshers’ week.

“We still haven’t had a promised list of people he’ll be living with, so [he] can’t make contact.”

Steve Hall, University of Bristol’s director of student experience, said the university is “really sorry”.

“We’re working really hard to give these students a fantastic arrivals experience,” he said.

“We’re focused on trying to make sure all of our students have a really fantastic time when they arrive, and we’re really sorry to anybody who is disappointed to not be able to get in before the 14th.”