You’ll have heard before that student societies are one of the best ways to meet like-minded people with the same interests as you at university. It’s true! Exeter has so many, covering a wide range of areas, including volunteering, sports, creativity and so much more! So here’s a comprehensive list of the best student societies in Exeter, to help you decide which ones to join. 

1. Exepresso Society

As a university student, you’re likely to develop a crippling caffeine addiction and this Exeter society will help turn it into a social activity. If exploring the vast range of cafés available in Exeter and making new friends in the process sounds like a good time, this is the student society for you. Their past socials include trips to The Sunset Society and Chococo (two cafés you must try!) and a joint Halloween social with the Archaeology and Forensics Society. Discover the hidden gems of the coffee scene in Exeter by joining this student society and have all the best recommendations for your friends. Also, they win points for the name alone.

2. ESV Dog Walking Project

dog student societies
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Missing your dog? Fill that canine-shaped hole with this society. Volunteer to walk some of the cutest pups in the county and help out the community in the process. Each walk lasts between 30-60 minutes and you apply to walk a dog each week via FIXR. Do yourself a favour and look at ESV Dog Walking’s Instagram page to see all the adorable dogs who need you to walk them! This society will provide you with the perfect respite from your studies and will be a great addition to your CV. Get volunteering and join this student society. 

3. Gig Society

If the previous societies sound like they involve far too much walking, there are plenty of other options. The Gig Society at Exeter might be everything you’re looking for! There’s a thriving underground music scene here and this student society will help you to infiltrate. Whether you like indie music or you’re more of a metalhead, you’ll invariably find a social you’ll want to attend. Discover all the local music spots like Cavern, the Bootlegger and the Old Firehouse and make friends in the process. Check their socials for the latest events and uncover a whole new world by joining this student society in Exeter!

4. Aperitivo Society

The Best Student Societies in Exeter
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Okay, this might be the most Exeter society ever created, but hear me out. Who doesn’t like a fun drink and a tasty bite? This society not only provides snacks, but also a relaxed environment to make friends in. To give you a taste of what they have to offer, their past socials include a trip to The Stoke Arms where free Aperol Spritz was provided and an aperol and basketball event (a crossover we didn’t know we needed). Now if that doesn’t sound like a good time, I’m not sure what does…

5. Sober Social Society

Don’t worry if you’re not a drinker, there is something for you too! Exeter has a Sober Socials Society. You don’t need alcohol to have fun and this student society proves that. Join in with the board game nights and scavenger hunts and meet like-minded students! Alternatively, you can check out this Unifresher guide on fun sober things to do at university.

6. Course Societies

The Best Student Societies in Exeter
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One of the best ways to make friends on your course is to join your course’s society. It can be difficult to chat to your coursemates in a silent lecture theatre, but these societies provide socials that help you to mix with your coursemates, from across all the year groups. You can get all the inside tips from the students on your course in the year above and have friendly faces to sit next to in your seminars. Generally, most course-specific societies provide some academic support. For example, as a French student, the French Society here in Exeter have speaking sessions which help you get in a bit more practice outside of your contact hours. Fear not, it’s not just academics. Club-night socials, pub trips and café meet-ups are a staple for these societies, giving you the chance to have some fun with your new friends. 

7. Feminist Society

The feminist society (or FemSoc, as it is more commonly known) is a welcoming community and one of the best student societies in Exeter. The President, Annabel, highlights the society’s commitment to intersectionality and feminist cause with discussion groups, cosy socials and local area campaigns. If a pub quiz that raises money for charity Free From sounds like a good time, join this student society! Likewise, a wide range of socials will allow you to meet like-minded individuals, deepen your knowledge of feminism and also have lots of fun! 

8. Expedition Society

student societies in Exeter
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If the Dog Walking Project wasn’t enough for your step count, try the Expedition Society! It’s easy to forget to explore beyond Exeter whilst you’re at university, but this society will rectify that. See all the beauty that Devon has to offer with the walks this society offers. Recent events include their trip along the Two Castle Trail and their annual Dartmoor Jailbreak (a race to evade the committee members over 20km to make it the finish pub!). If adventure, exploring and meeting new friends appeals to you, this might be the student society to join for you!

9. Benchball Society

If you’ve tried your hand at other team sports but haven’t found the one for you; consider benchball! Whether you’ve played it in PE or not, this welcoming student society will give you the chance to learn a new sport and make new friends in the process. You can opt to play in competitions, or simply just play in the weekly sessions. Georgia, my friend who is a part of this society, says that it keeps you active without the pressure to train hard and compete like other sports teams. They’re short games and the teams are switched up often, therefore you always get to talk to someone new. Additionally, there are also socials, with trips to Revs and TP (Timepiece), allowing you to hang out more with your teammates! 

10. LitSoc

University can sometimes take the fun out of reading, particularly with all the academic texts you’re expected to get through, but this society will help you to retain your love for the activity. It takes a solo hobby and renders it social, encouraging discussion about your favourite books. My favourite event this society hosted was a “book crawl”, where we visited all the different bookshops in Exeter. Book club meetings allow you to meet and chat with students who have the same passions as you. And don’t worry, this society is not just for Literature students; anyone can join!

At Exeter University, you’re spoiled for choice with the range of student societies to join, I recommend considering all your options. Go for the taster sessions, look at their social media pages and ask your friends what societies they are a part of. It’s perfectly normal and acceptable to turn up to a society event by yourself and not know anyone there. That’s how you make friends! Try something new at these student societies in Exeter.

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  • Hi, I'm Rachel! I'm a French and International Relations student at the University of Exeter. When I'm not studying, I'm usually reading a good fiction book or listening to pop culture podcasts! Or, you'll find me reading the guests' essays from the New York Times.

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