New ranking reveals the nation's freshers' flu hotspots

A new study has identified which university cities are the least prepared to combat freshers' flu this September, with Derby named the nation’s worst place to deal with the illness, and Coventry ranking in ninth.

‘Fresher’s flu’ refers to the phenomenon of undergraduate students contracting a cold or full-blown flu during the first few weeks at university and is thought to be caused by large numbers of people from different areas suddenly mingling in close proximity. And according to new findings from supplement experts at Vegetology, some cities are better at dealing with the illness than others, reducing disruption at the start of the semester. 

Each city analysed was assigned a score out of 10 based on various metrics, including the amount local universities spend on health facilities per student, medical centre ratings, the availability of university-partnered or owned GPs, and average influenza vaccination uptake. The ranking also considered the likelihood of exposure - based on what proportion of the local population are undergraduates - and freshers' flu prevalence, determined by the volume of Google searches for flu remedies and symptoms throughout September.  

And it turns out that Derby is the worst place to contract the illness this year, as it scored the poorest overall at 2.1 out of 10 - two-thirds (67%) behind the top-performing city’s score. Despite faring well for the likelihood of exposure with the undergraduate student population equating to just 6% of the local population, the city came out as the worst for flu prevalence, reporting the highest volume of illness-related searches per capita (155).  

This implies that the illness spreads quickly among the undergraduate population, which makes sense given the city’s influenza vaccination rate averaged just 27% last year. When students do fall unwell, they may struggle to shift the illness due to a lack of medical intervention, as Derby University invests the least into student health per head (£362).

According to GP reviews and ratings, the uni’s health centre is also among the worst. Following behind Derby as the second-worst spot to deal with freshers' flu is Peterborough, which scored 3 out of 10. The city was let down by its low vaccination rate (25%),

Anglia Ruskin University’s poorly rated medical centre, and a higher likelihood of exposure. Rounding out the bottom three cities was Preston, which came out as the worst place overall for exposure risk, with undergraduates equating to over 12% of the local population.  

Coventry scored particularly poorly for university quality, with the average student-facing medical centre rated at just 2.4 stars out of five - making the city one of the worst places to receive medical care as an undergraduate.

The top ten worst cities to get Freshers' Flu in ranked

On the other end of the scale, the city best equipped to combat freshers' flu this year is Cambridge, which saw the most investment into student health at £1,113 per person. 

The city also boasted some of the highest-quality GPs, with Bridge Street Medical Centre rated 3.3 stars - compared to Peterborough’s 1.4. Students don’t seem to suffer too much with flu either, as the city has one of the lowest search volumes for remedies and symptoms.  

Surprisingly, London ranked second overall despite having one of the lowest vaccination rates at 23%, as it was the top performer for both exposure risk and flu prevalence.  

The top ten best cities to get Freshers' Flu in ranked

Generally speaking, the nation scored the worst for GP quality, as the typical university-owned or partnered medical centre was rated just 2.6 stars out of five. Leeds is home to the best GPs for students overall, while Lancaster has the worst.  

This comes after recent NHS data showed 1.3 million patients wait four weeks to see a doctor after calling for an appointment - meaning students will have to suffer with their flu symptoms for up to a month before getting treatment. This is bad news for those who don’t prioritise registering with a new GP as soon as they arrive at university, as they may see a further delay in getting an appointment as a result.  

Speaking on the findings, wellness expert Chris Smith - founder of Vegetology - said: “As students are starting at university this week, it’s easy for them to put their physical health on the backburner in favour of socialising and getting to grips with their new life. 

“However, we know that universities in September and early October are a hotbed for illness, as students mingle in enclosed spaces when attending lecturers and on nights out - with alcohol consumption and a poor diet also elevating the risk of contracting a cold. It’s essential that students look to boost their immunity to avoid falling ill this year, which can be as simple as upping their vitamin C intake, ensuring they get enough sleep after a busy week, or ensuring they’re eating as well as possible.  

“That’s particularly important for those in the worst cities for freshers' flu, like Derby and Peterborough, as their student medical centres are clearly unable to provide help quickly, which can result in significant disruption in what’s already a significant upheaval in routine.”  Data is gathered from gov.uk, Google Keyword Planner, Google reviews, university websites, and The Complete University Guide’s league tables.