Starting higher education is a big moment – and your first week can set the tone for the whole experience. At NMITE, we do things differently from day one. No lecture theatres. No stuffy icebreakers. Just hands-on, team-based learning from the very start, plus plenty of opportunities to settle in, find your feet, and connect with the people around you.
Here’s what your first week at NMITE will really look like – and how we’ll support you to feel confident, capable, and ready to start building your future.
A Message from Our Academics
We asked some of our academics what you can expect in your first few weeks at NMITE. Here’s what they said -
“Your first few weeks here are all about jumping in and getting hands on. You’ll start by experimenting with cardboard and craft joining techniques to create mock-ups of playground equipment. It’s messy, creative and a fantastic way to explore design thinking principles.
“Next, you’ll shift gears and start bringing your ideas to life using Meccano and K’Nex by engineering real structures so they can handle serious force. Using teamwork, practical thinking, and critical problem-solving skills, you’ll begin to make your mark at NMITE. This is where your journey begins.”
What to Expect in Week One
We know those early days can feel a bit daunting, but at NMITE, you’re never just a number. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be supported by staff, welcomed by current students, and guided through your first projects in a way that’s active, inclusive, and surprisingly fun.
In your first week, you’ll:
- Join a small team of new students to develop your technical thinking
- Meet your academic coaches and support staff
- Get to know the NMITE campus and studios
- Explore the city of Hereford
- Learn more about the projects you’ll be working on (and how they link to the real world)
- Think about your own unique strengths and how you can develop those
- Pick up your free laptop, obvs
Welcome Week Activities
It’s not all engineering, either. Our Welcome Week includes:
- Social events and community-building activities
- Campus tours and Hereford highlights
- Getting you setup on your laptop and mastering all the IT essentials
- Info sessions on student support, wellbeing, and academic coaching
- And yes – plenty of tea, coffee, and biscuits...
Whether you’re coming from college, work, or a career break, our goal is to help you feel like you belong – quickly.
A Small Team, Big Support
We’re intentionally small – and that’s a good thing. It means you’ll:
- Learn in small groups where your voice is heard
- Be known by name – not lost in a crowd
- Build genuine relationships with your tutors, classmates, and support staff
- Get quick answers, real feedback, and meaningful encouragement
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all university. It’s a place where you can find your strengths, ask questions, and grow as both an engineer and a person.
Meet STEPS – Your Student Support Programme
STEPS is our dedicated student journey programme – and it starts before you even arrive. You’ll have access to:
- 1:1 academic coaching
- Career development from day one
- High-contact personal tutoring
- Wellbeing support that’s actually useful
- Continued guidance from pre-arrival to graduation (and beyond)
STEPS is designed to give you the tools, confidence, and mindset to succeed – not just in your first week, but all the way through your degree.
Your First Steps Towards a Career
Even in your first week, you’ll start to understand how NMITE connects you with employers and real-world challenges. Every degree here is built in collaboration with industry, and every module is a step towards building the skills you’ll use in your future career.
You won’t just be a student. You’ll be a future engineer – learning like one, thinking like one, and doing the work that gets you ready for day one in industry.
Ready to Start?
We can’t wait to meet you. Your first week at NMITE will be practical, collaborative, and confidence-building – the first step in a journey that’s unlike any other.
Have questions before you arrive? Our team is here to help:
📩 Email: admissions@nmite.ac.uk
📞 Call: 01432 804500
