You may want to know how to join a student society for so many reasons. I had a really interesting conversation with one of my neighbours in first year about how to find your “thing.” Everyone has their ‘thing’ – like being into art, being dedicated to a sport, or DIY. It became apparent to me that I hadn’t found a “thing”. I wanted to be more confident in conversations when people asked what I was into or what my hobbies were (apart from watching trash TV and bedrotting). If you’re someone that has also been struggling to find their ‘thing’, then joining a student society is where to start. It takes a lot of trial and error to find what you enjoy doing outside of your studies, but it’s well worth it. You just need to know how…
1. Think about why you want to join a student society
A key benefit of joining a student society is to pick up on a hobby that you fell out of love with. School and university scheduling is so different and for me, dance was always left on the back burner from Year 9 onwards. Societies can be a really beneficial way of reconnecting with something that maybe used to be your “thing” and you want to reconnect with that outlet again. Dance became a chore for me because it was outside of my school hours, a different social setting, and took a lot out of my commute. It was taking away from things I should have been doing like studying rather than enhancing my weekly schedule. But at uni, things were different.
Wanting to know how to join a society is a sign that you still have that desire for an outlet though, and university is your chance to address that. The compact nature of accessing education, friends, social activities and related clubs all in one space highlights the benefits of societies on campus being right on your doorstep. If I was signed up to an entirely separate dance academy or institution I know I would make more excuses for myself not to go and lose interest again. Societies reduce the effort and evens out the social playing field for gathering around a common interest much better in line with the immersive new lifestyle university offers you.
2. Research different societies on campus
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Figuring out how to join a student society starts with researching. It will be a bit laborious at first going through student union websites, clicking through popups and links to get to what you want. I do think it is time well spent however, because universities can have up to 100’s of societies. Try searching online or even social media. I used Reddit a lot for looking at how student life was in societies depicted from student perspectives rather than the copy-paste descriptions on uni websites.
I also think talking to other students about what societies or clubs they’re interested in joining is a fun way to assess whether it would be right for you. If you have a lot in common with this person, then the society could be a great fit for you too. Nurturing a new friendship in the process is just a bonus. Plus, it’s definitely more reassuring to join a society knowing someone already there. There’s no shame in following a friend to a club just to check it out. I would have never joined and met so many amazing people at the Jewish Society if it wasn’t for one of my friends who just insisted I come with her to an event. It was like doing research in real life – fieldwork. It’s a process of narrowing down your options so don’t be afraid to be nosy and fall into wormholes whether online or irl with new friends.
3. Attend open houses and introductory events
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When you want to join a society, attending opening events is the perfect way to get a feel of what they offer. It’s not always as insightful to read online descriptions of what a society does together or what their aims are for creating a community. A great place to start is at the student fairs in those first few weeks. I know Manchester has a dedicated societies fair so you can put away all the noise of everything else academic on campus and focus solely on your social engagement. The society fairs offers a chance to speak to members of the society, ask them any questions you have and really puts into perspective just how many options there are.
I did two full rounds of all the tables and stalls in the societies fair last year just because I was swept up in so much and it did get a little overwhelming. You don’t have to talk to everyone, and you definitely don’t have to take every leaflet they try to hand to you. I’d recommend just going and if you’ve done some prior research online, make a beeline for the tables you know you want to get some more information on. Now it’s more about you making the most of what information there is about each society so you can decide which one you join.
I knew I wanted to find some sort of activity or sport without being too dedicated to a competitive team so I was happy to find the Dance Society and headed straight to their table at the fair. I met the amazing girls that run it and now take ballet classes every Wednesday with the new president! I’ll always remember the impression she had on me and how encouraging they were to me to join up even though I’d been so out of practice since A-Levels. Attending the first few classes of a term, opening events, introductory meetings and the fairs is how to get to know your society members. It breaks down that wall of intimidation because at the end of the day, they are all run by students just like you and the members all had their first day in the mix just like you will too.
4. Balance society membership with academics
I understand so deeply the struggle of making time for your hobbies. I used to do a lot of art but now I can’t remember the last time I picked up a pencil or paintbrush. Self-care and indulging in your interests is one of those things I started seeing as luxury rather than a necessity. But your hobbies and interests are a necessity that make you…you, and so they totally deserve to be nurtured.
However, societies can be commitment-heavy. I hate being a floater in a social situation. I have nightmares about forgetting peoples names so I’m a bit of a try-hard for it. This can also lead to a lot of pressure to keep up with others and make that impression on people. I think the best discovery I made when it came to how to join a society, was to not join too many at a time. Pace yourself and sleep easy…Jennifer from chess club probably doesn’t remember your name either – you’ve only been one time so far.
This doesn’t have to entirely contradict my encouragement to try new things or go out of your comfort zone, but remember you are only one person. It’s okay to not be doing 10 different things every week or aspire to be the next president of every club you join. You can still find balance and try new things but respect your time and your capacity for others. It is a lot of effort going to a meeting or social at 6pm after having lectures all day since 10am. I am so guilty of blowing off a dance class because there were just other things on my mind. Assess your limits. How many contact hours do you have a week? How many meetings does this society have? Is it more activity-based or nightlife social-based? Once you’ve answered your question of how am I joining this society?, time and management is worth thinking about too.
5. Maximise your time in a society
Maximising your time in a society can be done in so many ways and balancing with academics is also a bit of a learning curve. You might weigh up the pros and cons in true Rory Gilmore style. I would not have been able to take every style of dance class. I’d be exhausted and probably end up resenting and retreating once again from a hobby I had longed to pick back up. There was an awkward stage of acceptance that maybe… this just isn’t my year to learn how to tap dance. That didn’t stop me from trying it out once or twice but I had to remove that pressure off myself to be everywhere all at once.
You are one person – so don’t be afraid to make something work into your schedule, not the other way around. I’d say choose something that allows you to show up time and time again without feeling burnt out. Being selective will allow you to preserve your motivation despite compromising on areas that aren’t ready for your undivided attention.
Societies do a lot of midweek nights out or Friday nights out so there’s academic balance but there’s also social balance. Over time you will make friends in these clubs so don’t be afraid to work them into your social life outside of the societies. Over time you’ll find that you’re not going out with the same freshers groups. That balance comes naturally when you start saying yes to society socials as a way of getting your party fix. It will maximise your engagement with other members and grow your social bubble. It’s a win-win. Attending the social nights and more casual events from societies is a core aspect of maximising your involvement.
Here are some more general tips on joining a student society.
1. Be open-minded
If you have a specific society in mind when you go to uni, that’s great. But be sure to try as many as possible to begin with – the start of term is the perfect time to go to loads of society events before deadlines start to pop up. If something interests you, try it out. Committee members, particularly those from niche societies, know that lots of people will come along to try them out and they’ll be happy to answer questions and give you more information.
Lots of university societies run taster sessions, particularly during Freshers’ Week. I’ll go into this a bit more later, but you absolutely don’t have to be a fresher to start a new society, so go along to the tasters and see what works for you!
2. Don’t be afraid to leave
If you do join a load of societies at the start of term, it can feel tempting to keep them all going. That might be okay if you have few contact hours or if you go on a casual basis to each one, but I don’t recommend trying to religiously attend more than three societies as you get further into the year and further into uni. This is particularly true if you have chosen a sport – they often require more commitment than showing up to the SU once a week for a couple of hours.
As a committee member myself, I will say that we won’t be offended if you leave because of the time pressure, a clash or even if it just isn’t for you. Our events run late in the evening because we need a specific room and staying on campus until 10pm isn’t for everyone, particularly if you are a commuter student. Stick with what you enjoy and don’t feel like you have to stay in every society that you join. There are plenty of university societies to try to find the right one.
3. Don’t feel pressured
In school, we are constantly told: ‘don’t take a subject just because your friend is taking it.’ The same is true of societies – don’t feel pressured into joining a society that all of your friends enjoy if you don’t want to go. Don’t be put off by something that isn’t traditionally ‘cool’ or isn’t what your friends enjoy, or even if it is something a bit different for you. Try out what sounds interesting to you, and you might find a fun new interest.
I should also say that, although I have loved joining university societies and meeting like-minded people, they’re not for everyone. If you don’t want to join one or can’t for whatever reason, don’t feel that you haven’t had a proper uni experience. Having an experience that you are comfortable with is the most important thing.
4. Level of commitment
Some societies have more activities and socials than others, and some require a significant time commitment from their members. Because of the training and conditioning sessions, lots of sports have sessions every day, or most days. Some societies meet once a week, every fortnight or even once a month. When joining a society, think about how much time you can dedicate to it and the timings of the meetings themselves. Some will be late in the evening, others on weekends or in the middle of the day when you might have other things on.
However, most university societies don’t require members to attend every meeting, but it’s still worth looking at and making sure that you can get the most out of the societies that you join.
5. Joining the committee
From the second year onwards (or part-way through your first year if someone resigns) you will be able to run for a society committee position. The amount of commitment needed for this varies, and generally the larger the society, the more responsibility you have. If you want to join a committee but are worried about the time it will take up, I would recommend joining a smaller committee of a society that you know well. It’s a great experience and a great way to make friends and gain some valuable skills for the CV!
If you are going to join a committee, you’ll have to be formally voted in during an AGM. You’ll usually need to be a member of the society and give a short speech, although this varies between universities and societies. Also, I really recommend not joining more than two small or one large society committee per year.
6. Setting up your own society
If you’re really passionate about something, but there isn’t a society for it, start one! Although it varies between unis, you’ll usually have to prove people are interested, either by a Facebook group, an online poll, or something to show that you will have some members when the society starts up. Again, another great addition to the CV, as well as a great way to meet new people who share your interests.
Your uni will support you in doing this, and your SU officer in charge of student activities should be able to help you with any questions that you have. We’ve also got all the do’s and don’t’s of starting a university society here for you.
Types of university societies
Most universities have hundreds of societies with different aims and membership. What you join entirely depends on what interests you, but these are some of the most common types of society that you might be interested in joining:
- Sports – anything from hockey to ultimate frisbee, there is something for everyone at uni. Most sports are incredibly social societies, with frequent nights out as a group. Some require lots of commitment and thrice-weekly training, others run pay-as-you-go classes and members can go as often or as little as they like.
- Interest and appreciation – wine society, battle reenactment, hummus society, if it exists, there are people who appreciate it enough to join a society dedicated to it. These societies are often the most chilled out, with members able to choose between different socials and events.
- Culture and religious societies – most universities have societies dedicated to particular religions, nationalities and cultures as a way of uniting students from these communities.
- Liberation associations – these are usually some of the largest societies going at uni, including things like the LGBTQ Association and representation for BAME students.
- Subject-specific – most subjects will also have their own society to put on fun events for anyone who does that subject. You usually don’t have to study the subject to attend these events either, so they’re perfect for seeing what your friends are up to on their course.
I wasn’t kidding when I said there’s a society for everything…this article on the weirdest uni societies can provide some insight on just how niche university societies can be.
Last Updated on September 25, 2024
Published on September 19, 2024
I’m Mia, a student at Manchester University studying History and Sociology. I love writing all things advice, tips and tricks to maximise your experience here in the big city. When my friends can’t reach me, I’m probably taking pictures at some random rave and dabbling in the world of photojournalism or curled up in bed with my kindle and phone on DND.
