Freshers' Flu or Real Flu? How to Tell, and When to Get Help

By the second week of term, half of any student flat seems to have the same thing: a sore throat, a streaming nose, a cough that keeps people awake, and a general feeling of being run down. Everyone calls it freshers' flu. It is very common, it is usually harmless, and it is almost never actually flu.

This page explains what freshers' flu is, how to tell it apart from true flu and COVID-19, what helps, when a pharmacist can help, and the warning signs that mean you need medical help quickly. For the wider picture, see our guide to the flu jab in Edinburgh.

What people mean by freshers' flu

Freshers' flu is not a medical diagnosis. It is a nickname for the run of colds and other respiratory infections that pass through students at the start of the academic year. Thousands of people arrive in the city at once from different places, each carrying the viruses circulating where they came from, and then share kitchens, lecture theatres, buses and late nights. Add less sleep, more alcohol, irregular meals and the stress of a new place, and it is no surprise that most students catch something in their first few weeks.

The usual culprits are the viruses that cause the common cold, such as rhinoviruses, along with other seasonal viruses and sometimes COVID-19. True influenza does not usually start to spread widely in the UK until later in the autumn, often from mid-November, so a cold in September is very unlikely to be flu.

Freshers' flu, real flu or COVID-19: how to tell the difference

There is a lot of overlap, and you cannot always be sure from symptoms alone. The pattern is usually the best clue.

A cold, which is what most freshers' flu is

• comes on gradually over a day or two
• starts with a sore or scratchy throat, then a runny or blocked nose and sneezing
• may bring a mild cough and a slightly raised temperature
• is annoying but rarely stops you getting up and going about your day
• usually improves within a week, although a cough can linger for two or three

True flu

• comes on suddenly, often within a few hours
• brings a high temperature, shivering, aching muscles and a headache
• causes real exhaustion: most people with flu cannot face getting out of bed
• often comes with a dry cough and a sore throat, but a blocked nose is less prominent
• usually starts to improve within a week, although tiredness can last longer

COVID-19

• can look like either a cold or flu
• often includes a cough, a high temperature, tiredness and aching
• sometimes causes a loss of, or change in, your sense of smell or taste, which is less typical of the others

Most people no longer need a COVID-19 test, and the advice for a cough and a temperature is broadly the same whatever the cause. Our page on COVID-19 symptoms and what to do in Scotland covers who should still test and when to stay at home.

A rule of thumb: if you can still get to a lecture, even feeling grim, it is probably a cold. If you were fine at breakfast and flattened by the evening, it may well be flu.

What actually helps

Colds, flu and COVID-19 are all caused by viruses, so antibiotics do not help and will not make you better faster. For most healthy students the right treatment is time and sensible self-care:

• Rest: sleep is the single most useful thing you can give your immune system.
• Fluids: drink enough that your urine stays pale, especially if you have a temperature.
• Pain and temperature relief: paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease aches, a sore throat and a high temperature. Follow the directions on the pack, and ask a pharmacist first if you have asthma, a stomach problem or take other medicines.
• Sore throat and cough: warm drinks, honey and lemon, lozenges and throat sprays can help with comfort.
• A blocked nose: decongestant sprays can help for a few days, but should not be used for longer than the pack says.

Stay at home while you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to carry on as normal. That is also the most effective way to stop it going round the rest of your flat.

When a pharmacist can help

Pharmacists can advise on most winter illnesses without an appointment. Under NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, community pharmacies can give advice and, where appropriate, treatment for a range of common conditions, including sore throats and some other infections. The service is for people who live in Scotland or are registered with a GP practice here. If you are not sure whether you can use it, ask us.

Come and see us at 45 Forrest Road if you are not sure whether you need to see a GP, if you want advice on which remedies are suitable with your other medicines, or if your symptoms are dragging on. Our page on Pharmacy First at Forrest Pharmacy explains what is covered.

Warning signs: when to get medical help

Most students recover without any problems, but some infections need prompt treatment. Students living away from home are sometimes slow to ask for help, especially if flatmates are ill too and it all seems normal. Do not wait if something feels wrong.

Call NHS 24 on 111, or contact your GP, if you

• are getting worse after a week, or not improving after three weeks
• have a high temperature that is not coming down, or keeps returning
• are coughing up blood, or have pain in your chest when you breathe
• have a long-term condition such as asthma or diabetes and it is becoming harder to manage

Call 999 if you, or a flatmate

• have difficulty breathing, or are breathing very fast
• are confused, very drowsy or hard to wake
• have a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed against it
• have a severe headache with a stiff neck or a dislike of bright light
• have cold hands and feet with a high temperature, or feel suddenly and seriously unwell

Some of these are signs of meningitis or sepsis, which can look like flu in the early stages and get worse within hours. Students are at higher risk of meningitis. Our page on the MenB vaccine for students explains the signs and how vaccination helps.

Will a flu jab stop freshers' flu?

Not most of it. The flu vaccine protects against influenza only, not the cold viruses that make up most freshers' flu, and it does not protect against COVID-19 either. What it does is lower your chance of catching true flu when it arrives later in the autumn and winter, which is the illness most likely to cost you a full week in bed, or land during December exams.

A few students get a free flu jab, for example those with asthma that needs a preventer inhaler or diabetes. Our page on flu jabs for students in Edinburgh explains who qualifies. Everyone else can book a private flu jab at Forrest Pharmacy in a few minutes. Side effects are usually mild: a sore arm, tiredness or a slight temperature for a day or two.

Book a flu jab before flu season starts

The best time is October or the first half of November, so you are protected before flu starts spreading and before December exams. Choose a time below. Forrest Pharmacy is at 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP, a short walk from the university's central campus. You do not need a GP referral.

Stopping it spreading round your flat

• Wash your hands before cooking or eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• Catch it, bin it: use tissues and throw them away straight away.
• Do not share cups, bottles, cutlery or towels while someone is ill.
• Clean shared surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, such as taps, door handles and the kettle.
• Open a window for a few minutes each day in shared rooms.
• Look out for each other: check on a flatmate who has gone quiet in their room, and get help if they seem very unwell.

Freshers' flu questions

Is freshers' flu contagious?

Yes. Colds and flu spread through droplets in the air and on hands and surfaces. You are most infectious in the first few days, when symptoms are at their worst.

How long does freshers' flu last?

Most colds improve within a week, although a cough can hang on for two or three weeks. If you are getting worse rather than better after a week, speak to a pharmacist or call 111.

Do I need antibiotics?

Almost certainly not. Colds and flu are viral, and antibiotics only work on bacteria. Taking them when they are not needed can cause side effects and makes them less effective when you do need them.

Should I go to lectures?

If you have a high temperature or feel properly unwell, stay at home until you feel better. Most universities have a process for reporting absence through illness.

Can I get a flu jab while I have a cold?

Yes, as long as you do not have a temperature. If you have a fever or feel properly unwell, wait until you have recovered.

I keep getting ill. Is something wrong?

Several colds in your first term is common and usually reflects exposure to new viruses rather than a problem with your immune system. If you are unusually tired all the time, losing weight, or never seem to recover between illnesses, see your GP.

Related reading

• Flu Jab in Edinburgh for Students and Working Adults: The 2026/27 Guide
• Flu Jab for Students in Edinburgh: Do You Need One?
• Flu Jab for International Students in Scotland
• MenB Vaccine for Students in Edinburgh

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP. Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.

This page is general information and does not replace an individual assessment by a pharmacist, GP or other health professional. If you are worried about your symptoms, call 111. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: NHS inform pages on the common cold, flu, COVID-19, meningitis and sepsis; Pharmacy First Scotland; UKHSA Green Book, chapter 19 (Influenza).