Starting university is about much more than attending lectures and earning a qualification. For students arriving on campus for the first time, it’s also about finding your feet, meeting new people, looking after your wellbeing, and knowing where to seek help when necessary.

With so much information to take in during those first few weeks, it can be easy for students to overlook the many supports available to them. Both students’ unions and college support services can play an important role in helping students thrive at third level.

For Daniel Walsh, president of the Union of Students in Ireland, now known as Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), the advice to incoming first years is simple: get involved.

“In every college or university, there are a wide range of clubs, societies and social groups that are all looking forward to welcoming new students over the coming weeks,” he says.

“So make the most of those first few weeks, take the time to familiarise yourself with your campus, with your course and with all the supports that are available to you.”

Ask for help

Daniel stresses that students should take the time to find out what is available to them.

“Between student unions and the colleges themselves, there’ll be a wide range of supports available to incoming students. This could be college health services, mental health supports, or even academic supports if you find yourself struggling in the first term,” he says.

“It’s really important that you do the research in the first couple of weeks and find out what it is you’re entitled to within the college.”

For students who are unsure where to begin, the students’ union can be a useful first port of call.

“They will have certain dedicated welfare supports and signposting to help anyone who is struggling. But the best thing to do is to reach out to your students’ union on really any issue, and they will either be able to help you directly or direct you to someone who can.”

For many students, one of the biggest challenges can be finding a sense of belonging.

“Every institution will organise some form of induction or orientation event, and these can be really helpful,” says Daniel.

“They are a great way to get your head around all of that information, meet your classmates and start making friends.”

“It’s important to make that effort – to take part and make the most out of Freshers’ Week. Clubs and societies might be hosting taster sessions, so we’d recommend to give anything that piques your interest a shot.”

Support for students

For students with disabilities, contacting the university’s Disability Support Service early can be particularly important.

Catherine Dufficy, from the University of Galway Access Centre, who works in the Disability Support Service, says: “My number one piece of advice to a student is to engage with the Disability Support Service as soon as possible, rather than waiting until you encounter difficulties.”

Students who have indicated a disability on their CAO application or who have come through the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme may already be known to the Disability Support Service. However, Catherine says, “Even if you haven’t indicated that you had a disability on the CAO form, or if you didn’t apply through DARE, you can still apply for supports from the Disability Support Services.”

Catherine advises students to check their university’s website for information on how to apply and stresses the importance of completing the relevant application form as soon as possible.

My number one piece of advice to a student is to engage with the Disability Support Service as soon as possible, rather than waiting until you encounter difficulties

Disability support can extend far beyond additional examination time. Depending on a student’s individual needs, reasonable accommodations can include sitting examinations in a smaller venue, assistive technology, lecture notes in advance and flexibility around assignment deadlines.

Catherine explains that assistive technology can be particularly useful.

“It could be technology that assists you with your spelling and grammar, or with mind mapping.

“Depending on what the challenges are, it may be technology to help with taking notes in class, organising your files, generating assignments and writing reports, or it may be that you need to use technology for your exams.”

Importantly, supports are not necessarily fixed for the duration of a student’s university career.

“We understand that conditions can fluctuate and change, and perhaps the expectations or requirements of the course may not be what the student had thought,” she says.

“If a student needs to review their accommodation, they can engage with our service and request an appointment with one of our disability advisers.”

Perhaps one of the most important messages for students is that they do not need to wait until they are having serious difficulties before getting in touch.

Catherine says that Disability Support Services sometimes hear from students much later in their university journey who had assumed they were not eligible for support.

“One of the really hard things for us to see is someone coming to us after a year or two, saying, ‘I didn’t think I was eligible to register,’” she says.

Her advice is straightforward: “If you have something that’s ongoing and impacting you, then ask a question. Come into the office or go online and send us a question, such as: ‘Is it appropriate for me to look for supports from you?’”

“We just won’t know you’re struggling unless you let us know, unless you reach out,” she says. “It is really worth asking.”

Her final piece of advice is perhaps the simplest: “It’s never too soon to engage with us.”

The same principle applies to university life more generally. Students do not have to navigate the transition alone, and asking for help should not be viewed as a sign that they are struggling to cope.

For Daniel, looking after yourself is just as important as keeping up with your academic work.

“I’d say the first and most important thing is to look after your health, and that’s both your mental health and your physical health,” he says. Enjoy the experience Starting university can be daunting and overwhelming for many students. For any student arriving on campus in September, the advice is simple: find out what support is available, ask questions, get involved and don’t be afraid to reach out.

A huge part of university is about finding your people, developing confidence and learning how to make the most of the opportunities available while enjoying the university experience.

Whether it’s joining a club or society, volunteering, taking part in campus events or seeking support when needed, getting involved can help students settle in, build lasting friendships and make the transition to university life that little bit easier.

Helplines

The Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) helpline, which can be reached on 1800 265 165. Students can also text ‘Guidance’ to 086 1800 0685 to receive advice. The helpline operates until 29 August 2026.