Refreshers 2025: Three ways Brands can Connect with Students

As the excitement of Freshers Week fades, many brands might think their opportunity to engage with students has passed. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Refreshers Week presents a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with students, build brand loyalty, and make a lasting impression as they settle into the academic year. 

Read on to learn about Refreshers Week, our top tips, and how else you can make the most of the 2024/2025 academic year. 

Why Refreshers Week Matters 

Just because Freshers Week is behind us doesn’t mean your chance to engage students is over! As they transition into university life, it’s common for them to feel overwhelmed by the new faces they see, what products or services would offer them the best value for money and time, and much more. This is where Refreshers Week, typically held in early February, allows you to capture their attention again. Many students will be looking for new opportunities, events, and brands to engage with, making this the perfect time to reintroduce your product or services. 
 
This is a golden opportunity to reconnect, capture new students, and lay the foundation for a successful academic year.  

3 Top tips to engage students at Refreshers week 

1. Offer valuable experiences 

By offering valuable experiences such as exclusive promotions, giveaways, or interactive events you can establish brand loyalty. Students appreciate brands that understand their needs and lifestyles, so this is your chance to showcase how your products or services can enhance their university experience. 

You can learn more insights on this from our previous webinar with PION below (formerly StudentBeans)

2. Build brand loyalty 

Engaging with students during Refreshers Week is not just about immediate sales, it’s about building long-term relationships. Start by creating activities that would catch their attention, for ideas on marketing strategies that would help you get the students’ attention, read our blog here.  

Many universities also welcome new students during the second semester, whether due to transfers or those starting courses later in the year. This influx means there are fresh faces eager to explore campus life and all it has to offer giving you an ideal opportunity to target these newcomers and introduce them to your brand with your marketing activations.   

3. Use a mix of online and on-campus 

For students, the two most important places are on-campus (where they’re now spending approx. 2.7 more hours a week) and online. Think of how you can use both to your advantage and get the most out of your campaign this Refreshers. 

It’s also important to consider different types of activations to stand out from the crowd e.g. hosting workshops, pop-up shops, or collaborations with student organisations. Tailoring your approach to suit the student’s interests can result in higher engagement and a more substantial impact. 

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From campus events and fairs to promotions and partnerships, the potential to create meaningful connections this Refreshers is vast. Using insights from our past campaigns and in-depth knowledge about student marketing, we have created a student calendar we are sure would be useful for your student marketing strategy.  

Wondering how you can get started with creating different ideas to interact with students? Get started by getting our free student calendar here. 

This resource is essential for planning strategies around student events, including both large-scale occasions and smaller, often overlooked ones, while gaining key insights along the way. 

Make sure to plan, think creatively, and leverage the momentum from Refreshers to ensure your brand remains top-of-mind for students throughout the year.  If you need assistance or have any questions, reach out to the team!