I’m having trouble logging in to the Guild website – what should I do?

1. Not yet completed your University registration?

If you still need to complete your University registration, you’ll need to create a temporary account on our website to buy your tickets.

2. Completed your University registration?

1. i. Go to my.bham and log in using your University details
2. ii. Click on the Guild of Students logo in ‘Top Picks’ and you’ll be automatically logged in to our website!
3. iii. Head to guildofstudents.com/freshers and buy your tickets!

Still having problems? Email website@guild.bham.ac.uk and we’ll get it sorted for you!

Key bit of advice...

Make sure your “billing address” matches the one held by your bank, to avoid problems with your purchase.

I don’t know where I’ll be living – what shall I use as my billing address?

You need to make sure that your billing address matches the address held by your bank to avoid problems with your purchase. It’s likely to be your current home address, but it might be worth checking what’s registered to your account with your bank.

I’m an international student and I don’t have a UK address or postcode – what should I do?

No problem – just enter your home address and then use “0000” in place of a postcode!

What is your refund policy?

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. You can read our full terms & conditions here.

I’ve not received a purchase confirmation email – what should I do?

Sometimes emails get stuck in a spam filter! If you log into your account on the website and head to the “My Guild” page, your tickets should be listed in your transaction history. You can always print-screen this image and print it out as a confirmation!

I’ve seen tickets for other “Freshers” events in Birmingham – should I buy them?

Freshers’ Fest ’17 is the only official University of Birmingham event and is the only Freshers’ package run by the Guild of Students. We’re your students’ union and that means that the proceeds from all of the tickets you buy are used towards providing you with a whole host of amazing services, events and activities – including student groups, jobs and our Advice Centre – Guild Advice.

Beware of other Facebook groups for Birmingham Freshers’ (particularly event pages purporting to be run by students/ex-students, individual profiles or pages/groups claiming to be "official") - these are created by external companies to market products and events completely unaffiliated with the University, and their creators may have never been students at Birmingham! While we encourage students to make the most of their time here by attending a range of events, we advise Freshers’ to be wary of some of the more underhand tactics employed by certain promoters!

How do I get my tickets?

Your Freshers’ tickets will be available to collect from The Guild of Students when you arrive in Birmingham.

Can someone else collect my tickets for me?

No, unfortunately not! Ticket purchasers ONLY can collect tickets.

How do I change my hall of residence?

You can change your hall of residence by logging in to the Guild website (see top point of FAQ’s). Then head to "My Guild", select “Edit Profile” and select your accommodation from the list provided.

I don't know what halls of residence I am in yet – what should I do?

Just select "I do not know yet" from the hall dropdown list on your ‘My Guild’ page. You will need to make sure you update your hall before Welcome Week starts. This can be done by following the steps above.

I am living at home or in private housing - which hall do I select?

When registering during the checkout process, simply select ‘Off Campus’.

I am not staying in a hall of residence. How do I get my Freshers’ Fest tickets?

If you’re not living in halls, you’ll be able to pick up for your Freshers’ Fest tickets from the Guild of Students. We’re building O1 on the campus map!

We’ll be open for collections between 12:00pm-6:00pm on Saturday 19th September, and daily thereafter!

The website says that the online store has sold out. Can I still get tickets?

It may be possible to buy tickets on arrival at Birmingham - however these tickets will be strictly limited. To ensure you get tickets, we strongly recommend that you buy online in good time before Welcome Week starts. Remember, it’s first-come, first-served!

Can you reserve me tickets?

It is not possible to reserve tickets - tickets are for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s only fair!

Freshers’ Fest is subject to the following terms and conditions:

• Photographic proof of age (driving license or passport) and Student ID (when obtained from a University) are required for entry to all evening events. Over 18s only. NO ID, NO ENTRY!
• The right to refuse entry is reserved at all times
• Ticketed entry to evening events is only valid until the time stated on your ticket. Entry cannot be guaranteed after this time, and a surcharge may be payable for late entry.
• Tickets are non-refundable and are not transferable between events
• Tickets are valid for first year students only – students in other years can purchase Refreshers’ Fest Tickets.
• Our normal venue entry policy applies
• Errors and omissions accepted (E&OE)

Welcome Week should be one of the best times of your life and we’re here to help make sure that Freshers’ Fest goes smoothly for you.

Catch the Freshers’ Fest Crew at all of our evening events. They’ll be out and about ensuring that you have the best possible time on your night out. If you need a bit of a helping hand keeping it safe, need to get yourself some water or just need a time out, they can help! They’ll also be able to point you in the direction of the nearest taxi rank when it’s time to call it a night.

As Birmingham will be a new city to most of you, here are our handy tips to staying safe and enjoying Freshers’ Fest:

1. Never leave a club and travel home alone. Birmingham is a big city and it is highly advisable to travel home in groups of at least three or four. Your Freshers’ Fest wristband will allow you to identify people from your halls to share a cab. It should only cost between £1.50 - £2.50 each for four people.
2. When leaving a club, only ever use a black cab - unless you have pre-booked a private cab. Whilst private cars are great when booked in advance, you may not be insured if you flag one down on the street. Either call or book in advance. The Guild recommends the use of a black cab at all times (TOA Taxis are on 0121 427 8888) or that you pre-book using Castle Cars (0121 472 2222).
3. DO NOT walk home on your own from a club, however bad the urge to save a few quid on the taxi. It is easy to get lost and some parts of the city are not safe to walk around at night. Always take a cab.
4. NEVER get into an unmarked car or unregistered taxi. This can be highly dangerous and potentially costly. All registered taxis display a license. Make sure your cab is legitimate!
5. Look out for your friends and make sure they look out for you!

As responsible event organisers, it is also our duty to promote safe drinking. Take a look at our guidelines to make sure you have a safe AND enjoyable time.

• Always drink in moderation - and don’t binge!
• Always alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks to give yourself a break.
• Never leave a drink unattended and never drink from a drink which has been left unattended.
• If your drink looks or tastes suspect, do not drink it.
• Do not accept a drink offered by a stranger.
• When drinking from a bottle, cover the top with your thumb when it is away from your mouth.
• Do not mix alcohol with prescription or other drugs.
• Always eat before you go out.

For more information on safe drinking, please visit drinkaware.co.uk