Freshers’ Flu Warning: Top 5 UK Hotspots Revealed

At a glance

Click2Pharmacy is advising new UK university students to prepare for "Freshers' Flu" by organising their health needs before starting the term. Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool are identified as hotspots for the flu due to high student populations and active nightlife. The pharmacy offers a checklist to help students manage health essentials, aiming to prevent illness during the busy Freshers' Week.

As Freshers’ Week kicks off across the UK on 21st September, Click2Pharmacy is urging new students nationwide to sort their health admin before their timetable, with a free checklist and expert guidance on dodging the inevitable “Freshers’ Flu.”

New national analysis highlights Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool as the top 5 hotspots where undergraduates are most likely to encounter Freshers’ Flu, due to high student numbers, bustling nightlife and large campus populations.

Bringing thousands of new people together for the first time, in halls, lecture theatres and student nights out, creates ideal conditions for coughs and colds to spread. It’s one of the main reasons Freshers’ Flu has become such a fixture of university life.

Ahead of the 2026 intake, online pharmacy Click2Pharmacy is sharing its Freshers’ Health Readiness Checklist, designed to help new students (and worried parents) get the essentials sorted before term starts, rather than scrambling for a GP appointment mid-hangover in week two.

Why Health Admin Gets Left Behind

Moving away from home for the first time comes with a long list of practical jobs, with health admin usually sitting behind sorting a bank account, buying kitchen essentials and working out the timetable. New students often register with a GP or find their nearest pharmacy only when they actually need one, by which point they may already feel unwell.

The Freshers’ Health Readiness Checklist

Click2Pharmacy’s checklist gives students a simple set of boxes to tick, starting before they’ve even packed a bag:

Before you leave home:

• Register with a GP near your new address as soon as accommodation is confirmed, rather than waiting until you’re unwell

• Transfer any repeat prescriptions to a pharmacy near your term-time address before moving

• Pack a basic health kit containing paracetamol or ibuprofen, a thermometer, plasters and any regular medication

• Write down your campus welfare or student support number somewhere other than your phone, such as on a card in your wallet, in case it’s ever dead or missing

Once you’ve arrived:

• Find your nearest pharmacy and check its opening hours during Freshers’ Week

• Check emergency contraception and sexual health safety provision available through local pharmacies, the students’ union or local sexual health clinics

This checklist is designed to be easy for students’ unions, parent groups and university welfare teams to share as the new academic year approaches.

How To Avoid Freshers’ Flu

Sakib Mohammed, Lead Pharmacist and Clinical Practitioner at Click2Pharmacy, shared some practical, low-cost ways for new students to reduce their chances of spending Freshers’ Week in bed:

“So much of the focus before university goes on the exciting stuff, like decorating a room or meeting flatmates, that registering with a GP or finding a pharmacy gets forgotten completely. It only takes 10 minutes, but it makes a real difference if you’re ever feeling unwell and don’t know where to turn.

“Regular handwashing with soap and water, or using hand sanitiser when you’re out, also helps cut the spread of germs. It’s also worth having the basics in the cupboard before you need them, things like paracetamol, tissues and rehydration sachets, so you’re not feeling rough and trying to find a pharmacy at 11pm.”

For more information about Click2Pharmacy, visit click2pharmacy.co.uk.

ENDS

Editorial insight

As universities prepare to welcome a new wave of undergraduates, the annual spike in coughs and colds known as Freshers’ Flu remains a familiar challenge for students and campus health services alike. With thousands of young people converging in cities with large student populations, the risk of illness spreading quickly is well established, particularly during the first weeks of term.

For students heading to Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool, where student numbers and social activity are especially high, practical steps to manage health admin can help reduce disruption. While the advice is straightforward, it addresses a recurring issue for new arrivals who often overlook basic health preparations amid the rush of moving and settling in. University support teams, parents and students themselves may find value in early planning, particularly given the pressure on local GP practices during the autumn intake.

Story ideas and journalist angles

Regional impact

Mapping Freshers’ Flu: Are University Cities Prepared?

Investigates whether top university cities identified as Freshers' Flu hotspots have adequate healthcare resources to support new students, especially during Freshers' Week.

Target audience regional news outlets in identified cities Story potential 6/10 Consumer impact

Health Preparedness for University Students: The Overlooked Task

Explores how new university students often neglect health preparations amidst the excitement of starting university, potentially leading to increased vulnerability to illnesses like Freshers' Flu.

Target audience education sections, health columns Story potential 7/10