Moving away from home, meeting new people, settling into a new city - these are just some of the things that Manchester students have to worry about.
Students this year, whether new to the area or returning for their second, third or fourth year of university, have the added stresses of a missed pandemic year too. Studies were interrupted, social lives were changed and many an experience was missed.
But now, as Manchester has opened up again and life is pumped back into the city, there's another battle to contend with - drink-spiking.
According to a Freedom of Information Act survey, up to 25 people have their drink spiked every week across England and Wales. Though it's actually difficult to understand the true extent of the crime, as victims often don't report it.
Last month, the M.E.N spoke to three women who said their drinks were spiked in Manchester city centre, amid fears that new students arriving in the city were particularly vulnerable to predators.
And now, police have ramped up patrols in Fallowfield - the city's most popular student area - after five incidents of drink-spiking were reported last month.
All five victims were women, who police believe are being 'targeted' in the area.
All five women had the same symptoms including vomiting, police said, and are now being supported by officers.
The M.E.N has spoken to two women who were spiked the same Fallowfield bar about what happened to them, and to the bar management and the police about what's being done to tackle the crime.
"My friend thought I had just got drunk really fast. It was not a normal reaction."
Fiona, a third-year English Literature student at the University of Manchester, told the M.E.N she was spiked in 256 bar in Fallowfield earlier this month.
The bar, on Wilmslow Road, is extremely popular with students.
The 21-year-old, who lives in the suburb, said she went there with some of her friends on the way home from a night out in town on September 28.
She 'felt fine' beforehand, but started to feel ill and 'realised something wasn't right'.
"We were just going out for casual drinks really", Fiona said.
"We had been out for a few drinks then just said let's go to 256 on the way home because it's free entry.
"I felt normal then all of a sudden I started to feel ill. My friends thought I had just got really drunk really fast."
Fiona said she was texting one of her friends, who realised that something wasn't right and picked her up.
"When I got to my friends house I couldn't see anything clearly", she said, "We had to get an ambulance.
"I used to work at 256 so I know the bar staff. I only had one or two drinks in there but I just can't remember anything.
"My friend saw me talking to two men while I was in there at one point but I can't really remember.
"I think my housemate knows that I don't react to alcohol like that and she realised it wasn't normal, I couldn't speak.
"I was being sick for about an hour and a half constantly."
Fiona was treated by paramedics at home for around an hour, then she started to feel better.
The medical workers didn't take drug tests, Fiona said, but she 'knew herself' that her drink had been spiked with an unknown substance.
"It was not a normal reaction", she told the M.E.N .
"I worked at 256 for a year and I haven't heard of this happening commonly there so it seems to be a new problem. I feel completely fine and back to myself now."
"I bought two more drinks from the bar then I remember absolutely nothing after that."
Bethan Davage, a psychology student at the University of Manchester, said she was spiked in the same bar.
The 20-year-old went to 256 just the day after Fiona.
Bethan had a couple of drinks with friends at a house before heading to 256.
She said: "I was feeling fine at that point, I'd had only had two beers.
"When I got there, we all stood at the bar for ages and I got two double vodka lemonades and a tequila shot which I just drank with everyone.
"We were just dancing on the dancefloor, I then saw one of my friends and was feeling fine and remember everything from then.
"Then we were at the bar and I bought another two drinks then I remember absolutely nothing after that."
Bethan said her friend called her and offered to come and pick her up.
But her friend has since told her that she found her on the floor outside Sainsbury's on Wilmslow Road on her own.
"Me and my friends always say that my superpower is I'm never sick when I've had a drink, but when I got back I was throwing up", Bethan said.
"That's when I knew there was something was going on here.
"I am just never ever sick and I wasn't hungover either."
Bethan has since learnt that some of her friends had a similar experience on the same night.
"None of them can remember anything about what happened but luckily we all got home safe", she told the M.E.N .
"I'm feeling fine now and so are the other girls, a few of them are just a bit shaken by it."
What bosses at 256 are saying
The management team at 256 said in a statement that checks and searches have been 'ramped up' to help protect customers.
Anti-spiking caps and lids will also be available for free at the venue.
In full, the statement said: "256 operates a zero tolerance on drugs and especially on customers being spiked.
"We are currently in contact with the customers that have been effected and at the moment and we carrying out our investigations with the police to try and catch these people involved doing such horrendous acts so this does not happen again.
"We have ramped up our checks and search's and have provided extra training to all our staff on awareness of customers welfare.
"We want all our customers to feel safe when entering 256 and any concerns in relation to these type of issues should be reported to a member of staff immediately and this will be also reported to the police.
"Anti-spiking caps and lids will be freely available at 256 for all customers to have for free and they can also take them home with them and use them at other venues across the city to help keep them safe when out with friends.
"We will be continuing on working with the police and licencing to help improve the welfare of all our customers when visiting 256."
What Greater Manchester Police are saying
Police are stepping up in patrols in Fallowfield after the drink-spiking incidents.
They said students can expect to see extra patrols in the area when visiting pubs and bars, and urged anyone who sees anything to suspicious to get in touch with them immediately.
In a statement issued on Friday, the force confirmed they were investigation five incidents of drinks being spiked in Fallowfield on three dates - September 5, 28/29 and 29/30.
They said all victims were female and displayed the same symptoms, including bouts of vomiting.
Detective Inspector John Robb, of GMP's City of Manchester south division, said: "Drink spiking is a horrible experience for anyone, but we are starting to see that women are being targeted in this area and therefore we will be increasing our presence to help protect people and prevent these crimes.
"Drink spiking is a horrible experience for anyone, but we are starting to see that women are being targeted in this area."
"We are working with the bar and the University of Manchester, and will have officers on patrol this weekend to catch these offenders and ensure everyone has advice and guidance on how best to keep themselves safe when enjoying their night out.
“We encourage everyone on a night out to have fun, but remain alert and if anyone sees anything suspicious to report it to us right away.
"Whilst we will do all we can to tackle this, we recommend taking preventative measures too, such as not leaving your drink unattended and never accepting a drink that you haven’t seen being prepared.
“If you suspect you have been spiked, seek medical advice and report it to the police as soon as you can.
"Any reports we have of drink spiking will be taken seriously and the more information we have about these kind of incidents the more we can build a bigger picture and target those responsible.
"We hope everyone in Manchester enjoys their time here, and it's our job to help make sure that happens.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 6063 quoting incident 1795 of 29/09/2021.
Information can also be reported online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For information, advice and help on drink spiking, visit the Drinkaware website here or read GMP's advice here.
