Are Freshers Wristbands Worth Buying? A New Student's Value Guide

Starting university comes with excitement, nerves, and a flood of decisions to make. One of the first? Whether to buy a freshers wristband. These bands are your fast track ticket into many of the most popular freshers week events in the UK, but they can be pricey on a student budget.

Thankfully, we’ve weighed up the options for you in this short article. Here’s what you really need to know before handing over your cash.

What Are Freshers Wristbands?

Freshers wristbands are pre-paid passes giving you entry to a week (or more) of club nights, events, and exclusive deals during Freshers Week. They’re often sold by:

• Student unions
• University event promoters
• Nightclubs or bar groups

The wristbands can also include themed parties, silent discos, bar crawls, foam nights, quiz nights, and sometimes freebies like pizza or drinks tokens.

The Big Question: Are They Worth It?

Pros:

• Cost efficiency: If you’re planning to go out most nights, wristbands often work out cheaper than paying entry on the door.
• Priority access: Skip queues and guarantee yourself entry to the busiest freshers events.
• One less thing to think about: No fumbling for cash or last minute plans.
• Meet more people: Great for making friends outside your flat or course.

Cons:

• Not always student led: Some wristbands are organised by private promoters, not your university. These can feel less inclusive or be poorly run compared to their SU counterparts.
• Event overlap: You might already have free student union events clashing with paid ones.
• Not for everyone: If you’re not into clubbing or drinking, most wristbands won’t offer much value.
• No refunds: If you get sick or don’t use it, your money is gone.

What Types of Students Actually Use Them?

Here’s a simple table that explains how the value element of freshers wristbands will actually play out for different students.

Student Type	Likely Value from a Freshers Wristband
Club loving social butterfly	✅ High value that saves money and connects you fast
Commuter student	⚠️ Mixed, only worth it if you plan to stay late or join others
International student	✅ Good if you’re up for exploring UK nightlife, but check if it’s culturally comfortable
Mature student	❌ Often low value as most events are 18–21 focussed
Budget conscious student	⚠️ Do the maths and compare the cost of individual tickets first

What’s Typically Included?

What’s included with your purchase varies depending on which university you’re attending. As a general rule though, freshers wristbands tend to include some or all of the following:

• Nightly club access (to specific venues).
• Welcome parties at the Student Union.
• Themed fancy dress nights at varying locations.
• Pub quizzes or alternative entertainment nights.
• Freebies such as pizza, snacks, and soft drinks.
• Deals on other food and drinks across the week.

It’s up to you to determine whether that represents good value for your money, but for many it will help them budget smarter during one of the busiest weeks of term.

Can I Go Without One?

Of course! Part of the fun of freshers week is realising the freedom you have to make your own decisions as a student. So, you don’t have to buy a freshers wristband if you don’t want to.

Universities across the country host plenty of onsite events during the day such as fairs, society meetups and welcome lectures that are all totally free. If you’re feeling nervous, or still feel unsure about what to expect during freshers week, UCAS have created a helpful guide to help ease any anxious feelings.

You can also just choose to buy tickets for any events you want to attend separately, this will be more expensive if you plan to go out every night though.

How to Spot a Scam

Some promoters use flashy Instagram ads or reps outside uni halls to sell unofficial wristbands. Not all are dodgy, but here’s what to check:

• Is it run or endorsed by your Students’ Union?
• Do the venues listed actually exist nearby?
• Can you find last year’s reviews?
• Do they offer contact info or a refund policy?

If a seller feels pushy and the information vague, then it’s best to avoid it. Look for trusted vendor and resources such as Your Freshers Guide to find the right deals.

The Smart Approach: Mix & Match

Not sure whether you’ll use a wristband every night but still want to pick one up? Then share one with a flatmate and each use it for half the events listed (this only works if you remove your wristband without cutting it, though).

Explore More Freshers Tips

Our dedicated student blog page features plenty of tips and tricks for freshers and veteran students alike. From details about days out, to the very best events happening across the UK, we’ve got you covered at Urban Student Life.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy One?

Pick one up if: 

• You’re excited by constant nights out.
• You want to meet loads of people in a short timeframe.
• You’re living in student accommodation and don’t want to miss out.

Skip it if:

• You prefer daytime activities that don’t involve drinking.
• You’re unsure about how many times you’ll use it.
• You want to stick to a tight budget from the start.

Freshers Week is what you make it. Whether you’re partying every night or chilling with new mates at a board game café, the goal is to feel welcome, not pressured.