From flooding the halls to calling your tutor “dad,” embarrassing freshers stories are a universal part of starting university. Freshers week is full of firsts – new flatmates, chaotic nights out, and confusing campus maps – so it’s no surprise that hilarious (and cringeworthy) moments happen. Whether it’s locking yourself out in a dressing gown or texting the wrong person after a night out, these mishaps are both relatable and unforgettable. To see how your uni compares, check out our ranking of the worst freshers weeks or explore our Freshers survival guide for smoother sailing.
A one night stand gone wrong
Laura Barton, now a famous journalist and author, studied English at the University of Oxford. It was here that she began dating a visiting American student who she brought back to her bedroom one night, only for him to show her his silver ring which symbolised his commitment to abstinence before marriage. To make things worse, he then began discussing the importance of Jesus in his life to her. Eek!
Missing person
One student’s parents filed a missing person’s report for them after just a week away at their new college. The student in question had just been having so much fun since arriving that they forgot to call their parents, three days later the police located the student in question and all was well.
Locked inside a car
One student managed to accidentally lock themselves inside a car outside of a club after a night out. That in itself might not have been that embarrassing, providing they were able to get friends to help them get out of the car. But this student, unfortunately, could not and in the end, firefighters were called to break them out of the car, right in front of a nightclub with other students watching the entire thing unfold before them. That was a night out they won’t forget anytime soon!
Calling your ex-boyfriend
Calling your ex-boyfriend while drunk can be embarrassing at the best of times. It can be so embarrassing, and the next day you’re horrified to realise that you cannot remember what word vomit you unleashed upon the poor guy. However, one student thought they were calling their ex-boyfriend whilst drunk and ended up phoning their dad instead. How they got those two contacts confused, we will never know.
Asking to go to the toilet
A moment of silence for all of the students who did this.
In fairness, no-one actually tells you that you do not have to ask to leave for the bathroom like you did in school, but most people seem to realise this automatically. One student who did just this wrote online that it was the most cringey thing they did whilst they were at university but that they were lucky enough not to get branded with a horrible nickname for it.
Flooded your halls
One group of students has shared online that they stole the university sign from the front of the university and hid it in one of their rooms. However, it soon came time for a room inspection so the students thought that they would try to hide it in their loft, but in doing so broke the main water pipe and flooded the entire halls. I think after that the wardens wouldn’t have been so concerned with the fact that a sign had been stolen!
Broke the microwave
The student in question did not just break their flat’s microwave within 20 minutes of moving in, but actually blew the thing up. They had decided it was a good idea to heat up some beans, but being new to the student lifestyle tried to do so when the beans were still in the tin. On the bright side, they got a new microwave!
Plagiarising your tutor’s work
One student tried to plagiarise on their final exam. Whilst this is bad enough as it is, they even went as far as to copy their tutor’s own sources. I mean, if you are going to cheat you should probably know that your tutor will recognise their own work and know that it is not your own!
Playing the parent card
Whilst you’re at university, you are bound to be studying with some other students who come from the upper elite in society, whether they be children of politicians or celebrities. This was the case for one student, and when she was graded a C in her philosophy essay, she actually asked her tutor, “Do you know who my father is?”
The most cringey question ever asked in a classroom to this day.
Twerking
One student who has just met their flatmates got drunk and decided to show off their twerking skills. All was going well until the student got right up in one of their flatmates’ faces and accidentally farted on them. Bet that made the rest of the year awkward!
FAQs on Embarrassing Freshers Stories
Some of the most common include getting locked out in pyjamas, calling a lecturer “mum” or “dad,” drunkenly messaging an ex, flooding halls from a shower mishap, or tripping over during a club night introduction.
Freshers week is full of unfamiliar environments, new people, social pressure, and alcohol-fuelled activities—all of which increase the chance of awkward or silly moments. It’s part of the adjustment process for many students.
Yes! Students across all UK universities share similar stories. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a Russell Group uni or a smaller campus—everyone has at least one moment they’ll never live down from freshers week.
The best approach is to laugh it off. Everyone makes mistakes during freshers, and chances are no one remembers your blunder as clearly as you do. These moments often become your best stories later.
Absolutely. Reading or hearing other people’s awkward experiences helps you realise you’re not alone. It’s a bonding moment, and often the start of great friendships and shared laughs on campus.
