Student societies at University of Birmingham: Top tips
Discover which student societies you could join at Birmingham.
Student groups (or societies) are a great way to meet new people, gain confidence and try something new. They have been a very important part of my time at Birmingham, and I wanted to share my experience and advice from not only joining new groups myself, but also from my perspective as a committee member of a group, where I frequently welcomed new people into my society.
How to find out about student groups
Many student groups are part of the Guild of Students (student union). On the Guild website there is a list of every group - I recommend scrolling through them and seeing if any catch your eye. Each group has its own page with a description and contact details. However, not all groups are part of the Guild, most notably music and sports groups, but my advice below applies to every group.
Usually, the best way to find out about what a society has going on is by following them on Instagram. Some groups are better at advertising their events than others, so my top tip is that if you want to find out more about a society, send them an email and an Instagram DM. If you don’t hear back straight away, don’t worry – from my own experience, society committee members are very busy people. The Guild also run fairs in September and January which allow you to meet committee members in person and try out activities.
Joining a new group
Societies tend to organise specific taster events targeted at new joiners in September and October, which are really useful to just give something a go. If you discover a new society during the year, don’t feel you have to wait until September to join. Almost all of them would be delighted to gain new members at any point of the year.
The cost of membership of a group varies a lot depending on the society. Some groups, primarily volunteering groups in the Guild, are free to join! The majority of groups have a flat membership fee. This is usually £5-10 per year, and this fee helps your group run their activities. Some groups’ memberships, particularly sports ones, can cost much more than this, but every group is different. You shouldn’t need to pay the membership fee until you’ve attended a few activities.
If you aren’t sure of anything, make sure to have a look online or ask the relevant group through email/DM.
MathSoc
One group I wanted to highlight is MathSoc. They run social events including quizzes, bar crawls and the annual Spring Ball, which encourage maths students to get to know each other. A highlight of my first year was the MathSoc family scheme: you are assigned two older year “parents” and usually about 10 first-year “siblings” and through this I met many people from maths who are still some of my closest friends now. It is sometimes difficult to get to know people in lectures, so the family scheme and the other MathSoc events give you the chance to meet people from the course in a more relaxed setting.
Getting settled in your society
A challenge I have experienced when joining a student group for the first time is that I do not know anyone, while others already know each other. It is normal to feel nervous in this situation - it takes time to get to know people so don’t put pressure on yourself to make friends straight away. If you are enjoying the group’s activities, then it is worth it to keep attending. I have made some of my closest friends from societies despite barely speaking to anyone for a few weeks! You could also invite someone you know to join you – it could help you get to know them and others better.
Getting involved in student groups has allowed me to get to know some fantastic people, and I gained so many skills that have made me a more rounded and confident person. It has been a highlight of my time at Birmingham, and I really recommend you give some groups a go. I have put some useful links below to help you find out more: