This year's SUBU Freshers Fair is on Saturday 26th September 2026, 10:00am* - 3:00pm, and will bring the arrivals week to a climax for 5,000 new students and 12,000 returning students.
* Gates open at 10:00am - 11:00am for those with accessibility requirements, where music will be played at low level and the fair will not be as busy.
Book your place now
For more information or to be sent a booking form contact SUBU's Commercial Partnerships Manager: susales@bournemouth.ac.uk
What is Freshers' Fair?
The SUBU Freshers Fair is a huge exhibition that is free to attend for 18,000 BU students. Included in the fair are lots of local and national businesses together with a collection of live entertainment, sports demonstrations, music, food and drink!
There are 5,000 new first year students to the area each year.
We have welcomed numerous national and local brands to this event, over many years, who recognise this as a key time to connect with our students starting their key life moment of going to University. Many of whom are often moving to a new area and out into their own home for the first time.
We've tried to capture the fantastic atmosphere and experience in the highlights video below.
BAM "UK's Best Freshers' Fair"
What can SUBU offer you?
As organisers of the Freshers' Fair, SUBU is able to offer prime exhibitor pitches, which can accommodate well over 100 commercial partners. A standard Gold exhibitor pitch means a 6ft x 2ft trestle table, 2 chairs, marketing and data capture rights for the entire day as well as the option for free Wi-Fi access, free onsite parking, electric power and a back wall for added marketing presence.
Full prices and options for stalls can be seen below.
Maximise Your Impact...
To expand your marketing campaign during the arrivals period and to continue your relationship with BU students throughout the academic year, then book some additional activities:
- Student Welcome Map - 5,000 map sheets printed & distributed. 80x50mm landscape advert on edge of map - £250
- Email campaign to new and existing students - Reaching 15,000 students registered to receive promotional emails - £375
- Social Media Post (SUBU Bournemouth) - £65 per post, or four post - £200
- SUBU Offers and Events Magazine - 2, 700, A5 sized, 16 Page booklets distributed across 11 halls of residence to 6, 000 student post boxes in Lansdown area, and via 12 distribution points across campus. Full Page A5 Portrait (148mm x 210mm) £250 Artwork Required 300dpi PDF or Jpeg
- Digital Screens - 9 landscape screens in key locations (facing the queue for Ground Up cafe, behind SU Shop counters, Poole House central atrium, and across the Student Centre) - £11 per week per screen, £400 per month minimum
- Digital Screens - 2 landscape screens in key locations; a 55" screen behind the SU Shop Counter and a 55" screen facing the queue for Ground Up Café - £200
- Indoor promotional stand (term time) - includes 2 social media posts - £200
- Outdoor promotional vehicle (term time) - includes 2 social media posts - £300
- A2 Posters (W420mm x H594mm) - various high footfall campus locations - £25 per week
- A0 Posters (W841mm x H1189mm) - various high footfall campus locations - £40 per week
- Six-Sheet Size Posters (W1,200mm x H1,800mm) - £50 per week
Green Impact and Sustainability
SUBU is committed to making our Freshers Fair as environmentally sustainable as possible.
Our greatest partners in this environmental effort are our commercial stall holders, so we are looking for your support this year to host a green and sustainable promotional stand!
You can achieve this in the following ways:
- No use of plastic bags, balloons and/or stickers on your stand.
- Electronic devices used to collect data instead of paper.
- Hand out flyers only to those students who express genuine interest e.g. Not just handing something to everyone passing by.
- All items/flyers being handed out are easily recycled and composted - No single use plastic items.
- Volume of waste is kept to a minimum, and any waste to be 100% recyclable or biodegradable.
Thank you in anticipation for your support. If you would like to discuss this with us then please contact SUBU's Commercial Partnerships Manager: susales@bournemouth.ac.uk
I'm game! How do I book?
If you have attended our fair in the past, you will know that in order to guarantee a prime location it is advisable to make a booking as early as possible. This will help us ensure that you will be perfectly positioned to begin a long-lasting and profitable relationship with up to 18,000 plus students at Bournemouth University.
Book now
For more information or to be sent a booking form contact SUBU's Commercial Partnerships Manager: susales@bournemouth.ac.uk
Post: Students' Union at Bournemouth University, Student Centre, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB