UK Freshers Guide – Community Rules

Why these rules exist

UK Freshers Guide lists student groups so that new students can meet coursemates, flatmates and people from home before and during university. These rules keep every group friendly, useful and safe. They apply to all groups listed on our site, whatever platform they are on, alongside that platform's own terms.

1. Be respectful

• Treat everyone with kindness. Lots of members are new to the UK, nervous or writing in a second language.
• No bullying, harassment, threats or personal attacks.
• No hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality, disability or age.
• Disagree with ideas, not people. Keep debates calm and on topic.

2. Keep it relevant

• Post about university life: courses, accommodation, freshers week, societies, travel, jobs and settling in.
• Use the right group for your university, city or course where one exists.
• Avoid flooding the chat with repeated messages, chain messages or long voice notes.

3. No spam, scams or unapproved selling

• No advertising, affiliate links, crypto or "earn money fast" offers unless the group admins have approved it.
• Never ask members for money, bank details, passwords or verification codes.
• Be careful with accommodation offers: never pay a deposit before viewing a property (in person or by live video) and checking the landlord or agent. Report suspicious offers to the admins.
• Buying or selling essays, assignments or exam answers is not allowed. It breaks university rules and, in England, providing essay-writing services is against the law.

4. Protect privacy

• Do not share other people's phone numbers, addresses, photos or screenshots without their permission.
• Do not add people to other groups or message them privately if they have not agreed.
• Think before sharing your own personal details in a large group.

5. Keep content appropriate

• No sexual, violent, graphic or shocking content.
• No content that promotes illegal activity, drugs, weapons or self-harm.
• No fake news or deliberately misleading information about visas, fees or universities. Share official links where you can.

6. Look after each other

If someone seems to be in danger or in crisis, encourage them to get help. In an emergency in the UK call 999. For confidential support you can contact Samaritans for free on 116 123, at any time of day. Your university's student support or wellbeing team can also help.

7. How the rules are enforced

Group admins and moderators may, depending on how serious the issue is:

• remind you of the rules or delete a message;
• mute or temporarily remove you from the group;
• permanently remove you and, where needed, report you to the platform or the authorities.

We may remove a group from our directory if it is not moderated, has become inactive or repeatedly breaks these rules.

8. Reporting a problem

See something that breaks these rules, a broken link or a group that is not what it claims to be? Use the "Report" option next to the group on its city page, or contact us. Reports are confidential.

9. Official university channels

Unless a group says otherwise, it is run by students and is not an official university channel. For official information always check your university's website, email and student portal.