Students given warm Dundee welcome

university: More than 3,000 students to embark on the new academic year in the city

More than 3,000 students will open a new chapter of their lives when the new academic year starts at Dundee University today.

This year’s intake of undergraduate and postgraduate students will meet in the City Square before the traditional greeting in the Caird Hall.

Principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Pete Downes will welcome them to Dundee at the first event to take place as part of Freshers Week 2017, a programme organised to ensure that starting life in the city is made as easy as possible for the new arrivals.

“I am delighted to welcome our new students to the university, whether they are from Dundee, elsewhere in Scotland, Europe and increasingly further afield,” said Professor Downes.

“Freshers’ week marks the beginning of a new chapter of their lives, one that will bring them into contact with inspirational mentors and peers.

“They will meet some of the finest minds in their respective fields, begin lifelong friendships, and savour an unforgettable student experience made possible by the work of my colleagues and the students’ union, Dusa.”

Dundee was named Scottish University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016 and 2017 and was recently ranked ninth in the UK in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS).

In other successes, the university was ranked first in Scotland, third in the UK and 14th in the world for overall average satisfaction (International Student Barometer 2017).

Dundee University Students’ Association (Dusa) will be playing host to top acts such as Radio One’s Daniel P Carter, Jedward and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Alyssa Edwards.

Dusa will be holding various events across the week to promote the large number of extracurricular activities new and returning students can become involved with.

Dusa president Sean O’Connor said: “We are proud and delighted to welcome students from across the world to Dusa.

“We will be their voice and provide them with academic and welfare support as well as endless opportunities to get involved in societies throughout their entire university career here in sunny Dundee.

“I am sure they are as excited as we are for the biggest and most enjoyable week of the year here at Dusa.”

Freshers’ week marks the beginning ofanew chapter of their lives, one that will bring them into contact with inspirational mentors and peers. PROFESSOR DOWNES

Picture: Kim Cessford. Warm welcome: Some Dundee University freshers and their greeters at a previous event in City Square.