The Ultimate Guide to Joining a Uni Society: Making the Most of Your Student Experience  

Settling into university life in a new town or city, making new friends, and getting used to the idea of this next chapter in your life can seem daunting. One way in which you can make new friends and find exciting, fun things to do is to join a club or a society at your university. There are several benefits of joining a society at university, with plenty of options for people with a wide variety of interests. 

How to find the right society for you? 

Whether you are looking to join a society linked to your course or just a new hobby, societies play a big part in university life and are open to everyone. A society is a group that is run by students for students. There are so many different types of societies, from course-related societies where you can socialise with your course mates to societies dedicated to all kinds of hobbies and interests like Disney, chess, knitting, and crochet. 

Many of the sports teams at your university will have a society associated with it too. So, if you play university football, rugby, cricket, or any other sports, there will likely be a society for socials that you can join. Most societies will have a fee for you to become a member, but this is usually a small, one-off fee at the beginning of the year. Sports teams and societies are sometimes more expensive to join. You can find societies by: 

• Going to your Freshers Fair to see what’s available 
• Searching online for societies at your university, or visiting your SU website 
• Looking on social media for active societies (check related hashtags or your SU social accounts) 
• Speaking to other people about societies they are joining 
• Going to taster sessions 

 

Can I create my own society? 

If you can’t find a society that interests you, why not start your own? This is how all societies begin, someone has the idea. Reach out to people within your Students’ Union and ask about setting up a society. There might even have been previous versions of the society you want to start, that you can restart.

 

What happens in a society? 

Society members meet regularly, often once a week or more. Depending on what society you are in, you might meet up for workshops or discussions about certain topics. But most of the time societies are meant to be social so you can expect club nights, pizza nights, quizzes, and other ticketed events. There will be plenty of society events like nights out, charity, and wider university events where multiple societies come together. 

Different roles in a university society 

Each society will have a small team of students running it, and eventually, you will have the chance to express an interest in taking on a role and get voted onto the committee. Most societies include: 

• President & Vice President – overall responsibility for all major decisions, including arranging meetings and events. 
• Secretary – in charge of all admin duties, signing up new members, and dealing with paperwork. 
• Treasurer – handles all society finances. 

What are the benefits of joining a society at university? 

Deciding which society aligns with your interests is one aspect, but it’s natural to wonder what you will get out of it. There are several different benefits to joining a university society, including: 

Making new friends 

Moving to a brand-new city and leaving your friends behind at home can be difficult. Joining a society at university is a great way to meet new people who have similar interests. While you might get on well with the people who live in your student accommodation or your course, there is a good chance that you might not have loads in common with them. This is where society comes into play, helping you discover the perfect group. 

 

Create a network of friends 

Joining a society opens your world to a whole new set of people and opportunities. You’ll meet people you might not have otherwise met from all types of backgrounds and places. Building a network of friends and contacts is a crucial part of the university experience. This will not only help you make new friends but also help you find out information about potential jobs and career paths. 

  

Find that work/life balance 

Things can get intense during university which is why you deserve a break from your studies. Becoming a part of a society provides the balance you need, offering a break from rigorous studying and work, and immersing you in a social environment where you can unwind and enjoy yourself. It gives you new experiences and different things to talk about. 

 

It looks good on your CV 

Your university years are the best time for you to add extra-curricular activities and part-time employment to your CV. It is a competitive job market, so if you can find inventive and exciting ways to add experience to your CV, better will be your prospects when you are a graduate looking for work. Showing that you were an active participant in a university society demonstrates that you have a wide scope of interests and that you can balance your work and social life well. This can be enhanced further if you have taken up a position within a society such as treasurer or president. 

  

Tips when joining a society 

There are a few things we would advise when you first join a society at university, especially if you are nervous: 

• Never be scared to go alone to taster sessions, as there will be loads of people in the same situation as you and you’ll quickly start chatting to people. 
• Always go to the first session, as this will help you settle and make it more likely for you to stick with it and make new friends. 
• Never be scared to reach out to other members if you have questions or want to meet someone beforehand to go in together. 

 

This guide provides you with the basics and benefits of joining a society at university. We hope that this can help you feel more prepared before deciding which society would be the right fit. Don’t forget that beyond everything else, you are just there to have fun and make great memories!