How to Make Friends at University

Are you nervous about making friends at university? That’s totally normal! Don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities to find you people at uni, and I’m going to tell you about a few of them.

Firstly, don’t stress if you don’t find best friends immediately, or even in first year, as it can take time to find the right group. Your first way to make friends if you’re living in halls will be your flatmates. You can use UniBuddy and other platforms to find who your flatmates are before you start university if you want to be extra prepared. Some people will get on with flatmates and some won’t – it can be difficult as you don’t choose who you live with in first year. Things like having a bin rota, and making sure you’re diplomatic and kind, can help resolve any issues with flatmates. Try to get to know them by organising group activities – you may find (as many people do) some friends in your flat that you’ll get along great with! If you want to branch out even more, go to the events that your accommodation puts on and meet some more students living in your building.

Don’t worry if you’re commuting and can’t make meet flatmates, a huge opportunity to make friends and to get to know the university better is Welcome Week. The university hosts loads of events where you can meet people interested in the same things as you. There are also lots of evening events that are great to go to with flatmates and people you’ve met – don’t be afraid to talk to someone, because you’re all in the same boat and people will be grateful to make friends. Don’t feel like you need to tire yourself out by going to every event, but don’t isolate yourself and try to say yes to invites you get if they sound fun!

Another place you can make friends is in your course at university. This is a great opportunity as you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people who all appreciate the subject that you’re learning. At your welcome event or first lecture, try to talk to the people you sit next to, and you might find yourself quickly making friends. At my first lecture, I just looked around the room and sat with a group that looked nice, and we’re all still friends going into third year! Also, you might consider getting a part-time job if you have the time. I’ve met loads of people through being a student ambassador and content creator through the university, and it can be a great way to make friends and also earn some money.

The last amazing way to make friends at university is to join societies and groups. The university has over 300 societies, and you can attend the societies fair in Welcome Week to discover them. There are societies for every interest, ranging from hobbies, cultures, faiths, charities, and lots more. In addition, University Music has lots of ensembles that you can join. There are also a lot of sports groups that cater to every level and joining them can be a great way to get exercise while you make friends. If you like the sound of a society but don’t know whether to join, lots of them do taster sessions at the start of the year for free or for a low price. These groups also have committees with positions that you can run for, which can be a way to know people even better in the society and also have your say. I’m a part of the BurnFM society, the student radio society, where I will be starting as the head of podcasting soon. I’m also the manager of the brass band ensemble with University Music. I’ve made lots of friends in both groups and met lots of people with similar interests to me. Even if you’re not in your first year, it’s a great way to meet people – I’m still planning on trying out some more in my third year!

I hope this advice has helped you feel less nervous about making friends at university – if you remember to just have fun and be yourself, then you’ll find your people!