Welcome Week at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is Welcome Week at the University of Illinois is a series of small and large group events designed to help new students successfully transition to life at the University of Illinois. It takes place the week before classes start and includes a variety of programs aimed at introducing student to the campus, resources, and each other. 

Welcome Week takes place the week before classes. For Fall 2025, Welcome Week starts on August 18 and ends on August 24. Each day offers orientation events and activities designed to help new students get settled and start their college journey on the right foot.

It’s highly recommended to participate in as many events as you can. These events are designed to help you get acclimated to the campus, meet new people, and learn about the resources available to you. Some events are designed to be academic focused, while others are more social. Welcome Week events at Illinois are a great opportunity to start building your college community and get comfortable in your new environment.

Welcome Week is designed for all new students, including both freshmen and transfer students. There are specific events tailored for transfer students to help them integrate into the campus community and connect with other students who are also new to Illinois. 

We partner with the office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to offer many events for international students and their families. Please check out the schedule of events from International Student Orientation 2024 for more information. 

Yes, there will be academic orientation sessions during Welcome Week. These sessions are designed to help you get acquainted with the academic environment and resources available on campus. For example, there are College Meetings where you can connect with faculty, staff, and other new students in your college. Additionally, there are workshops like Getting Started in Research, which guide students on how to find and engage in research opportunities. More information about academic orientation sessions will be available in our Welcome Week schedule over the summer.