Before you head off to university and start the new chapter in your life, there are a lot of ways you can prepare yourself. And if you want to get excited, watching films set at university is a fun way to do so; a glimpse into what your life might be like! And having a movie night at home is a great way to spend time with the family and friends you’re going to be moving away from. Here are some of our recommendations for films set at university!
Legally Blonde (2001)
It’s a classic, so we couldn’t miss it off the list – and while it is set in America, as a lot of these films are, it’s still such a fantastic film to get you excited about moving away and starting your studies. Reese Witherspoon is just glorious in this funny Harvard Law School story about girl power, getting what you want, and overcoming stereotypes.
Accepted (2006)
A raucous comedy, Accepted follows a bunch of low-achieving teens who have all, for various reasons, been rejected from the US colleges they’ve applied to. To save face they decide to invent a fictional college, called the South Harmon Institute of Technology, and see how long they can keep up the act. When other students from across the company decide to apply, things really take a turn… hilarious and far-fetched, this is a real feel-good film set at university!
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Another can’t-miss movie on the list is Pitch Perfect, now a trio of films set at university and following the life of a cappella singing groups. They are comedy musicals with a lot of heart, and really good fun to sit and watch – set at the (fictional) Barden University, they’ll definitely help you get excited for the social side of things at university.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
Moving across the Atlantic to the beautiful Cambridge University, this film is a biographical account of Stephen Hawking’s time at this iconic institution. A heart wrenching tale of research, love, illness and more, it’s a fantastic film where Eddie Redmayne really shines.
The Riot Club (2014)
Still in the UK but this time at the equally prestigious Oxford University, The Riot Club is all about a fictional all-male dining club at the university; reputations can be made or destroyed over the course of just one evening, and the film examines what happens at a party the group attends… An excellent British drama, it’s definitely worth a watch.
University as an experience can be a daunting time, and the weeks or months leading up to it need to be spent preparing yourself in the best possible ways. And if that includes getting excited by watching films set at university, then hopefully this list has given you a few cracking ideas! You might even want to watch them when you’ve moved in and settled, as a fun way to break the ice with your flatmates.
