Head Start 1: Three-day event

Join our three-day Head Start programme to build your confidence, make friends and find your way around Kingston University before the start of term.

The programme will help you feel confident and academically ready for your degree. There will also be information on what you can get involved in alongside your studies.

Head Start is a great opportunity to connect with other new students and familiarise yourself with Kingston University before your course begins.  

Here's a taste of what you can do at Head Start, but there will be more to explore during the event:

• Get valuable study tips and advice about studying at degree level
• Make friends with other new students who are also starting in September
• Talk to current students about what it's like to study at Kingston University
• Learn about our support services and other opportunities on offer at Kingston University
• Get advice about budgeting and finding part-time work

More about the Head Start programme

You must be a Home student with a Firm offer for an undergraduate course at Kingston University, to take part in our free three-day Head Start programme.

This Head Start event takes place over three days. You are required to attend all three days if you sign up for this programme.

Day 1

• Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026
• Time: 9:30am–5:30pm (Evening social from 5:30pm–8pm)

The focus of day 1 is to get to know each other and have some fun. You can expect sessions on how to boost your confidence, learning about your social styles, ice breakers and speed meeting games, and an opportunity to hear from our current students about their experiences of student life at Kingston. 

Day 2

• Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
• Time: 10am–5pm (Evening social for those staying in halls from 5:30pm–7pm)

On day 2 we start to look at the core academic and practical skills you will need as a Kingston student. You can expect sessions on study skills and tackling your first assignments, budgeting your time, money and energy, and how to look after your wellbeing. 

Day 3

• Date: Friday 10 July 2026
• Time: 10am–1.30pm 

The final day of Head Start is about looking at the different support and opportunities available to you at Kingston, student finance and money advice and what you can expect between the end of the programme and the start of your degree. 

Day 3 is a celebration of everything you have learned and everything else you can get involved with, before we officially say goodbye to you (for now!) 

Evening social events

The social events will take place on Wednesday and Thursday evening, offering dinner and games hosted by our current students. 

We encourage everyone who can to stick around for them as they are a great way to have fun and unwind after a busy day of sessions.

Our Head Start three-day events include the option for two or three nights' free accommodation in our Clayhill halls of residence. 

We recommend you stay in halls when you attend a Head Start three-day event. This will give you the best experience of the programme, regardless of whether or not you will be staying in accommodation when you start your course. However, if rooms are oversubscribed, priority will be given to those who live more than 15 miles away. 

If you are travelling a long way to us, we have a small number of rooms available for the night before each event.

You must be 18 or older at the time of the event to stay in the halls of residence.

Please note, if you choose the Head Start option with three nights' accommodation, you will need to arrive on the Tuesday afternoon.