Everything You Need To Know About Joining University Societies

Are you wanting to make the most of your university experience and meet like-minded students? Joining a university society could be a great idea, and there tends to be hundreds to choose from. 

If you’re wanting to learn more about the reasons why you should join a university society, the types of university societies there are, how you can join as well as setting up your own, you’ve come to the right post. 

Here at Prestige, we’ll be doing a full rundown on everything you need to know about joining societies, so carry on reading! 

Why Should I Join A University Society? 

Attending university isn’t just about working hard and throwing your graduation cap, it’s also about trying new things, meeting new people and making the most of your experience. 

Joining a society and taking part in extracurricular activities outside of the lecture hall will really enrich your student experience, and there are many positives. 

By joining a university society, you’ll meet like-minded people who have similar interests, boost your personal and professional development, as well as gain skills and knowledge to carry through into the working world. 

Getting stuck into a society at university can also be beneficial for your health and wellbeing too, because ultimately, it’s all about enjoying yourself and making memories. 

The facts speak for themselves really, there’s so many positives to joining a society during your student years, we’d be here all day listing them. 

On the other hand though, you should bear in mind that joining a society does require a certain level of commitment, as you’ll be expected to attend sessions and training. 

There’s not much point joining a society and paying a membership fee if you’re not going to show up, eh? So, think about how much time you can dedicate to it! 

What Types Of University Societies Are There? 

There tends to be hundreds of academic, social, charitable, political and cultural university societies that you can join, which vary from each institution. 

From politics to fashion to music to photography to graphic design to sports, your university is guaranteed to have plenty of societies which cover a wide range of interests. 

There’s all sorts of weird and wonderful societies out there for every niche, so regardless of where your interests lie, you’ll find one that suits you. 

If not, you could even think about setting up your own society, which we’ll talk about more later! 

How To Join A University Society 

The process of joining a society at your university will vary, as each institution is different, but you’re usually able to search on your Student Union website to find out what societies are offered. 

Most university societies tend to have stalls at freshers’ fairs too, where you can speak to current members and discover the society or societies which interest you. 

You could also get in touch with the society organisers or leaders through email or on social media.

They tend to be previous members themselves and will likely be happy to welcome new people! 

Not sure which society to join? Have a think about your current interests and what you’d enjoy doing in your free time outside of study hours, or what new interests you’d like to pursue. 

Are There Joining Requirements For University Societies? 

It’s important to note that there may be some entry requirements to join a society or group at university, and you may have to pay a joining fee. 

Although, you’re usually able to sign up for trial sessions where you can get a taste of the society and see what it’s like before officially joining – try before you buy! 

It’s up to you how many university societies you want to join, however, it’s important to remember that you need to balance extracurricular activities with your studies. 

It also depends on the course you do and the work required of you, as some students will have more contact hours than others, thus meaning there’s less time for extracurriculars. 

Starting Your Own University Society 

If you’re struggling to find a society at your university that you’re interested in joining, why not start your own? 

Starting a society can be a really exciting way to bring people together who share a common interest or passion. 

First things first, you’ll need to figure out what you’re crazy about whether it’s gaming, art, environmental stuff, fashion, music or even a cool new hobby. 

Just make sure your society is something that doesn’t already exist at your university and is a fresh and unique idea! 

Once you’ve got that nailed down, you need to find other people who are interested in joining, as you’ll likely need a minimum number of students who want to join to get your society set up. 

You could put the word out on social media platforms like Facebook to find out if there’s other students at your university who are interested in joining, or you could speak to people on campus. 

Running a society involves dedication and responsibility, and most universities will require you to have a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer too, so you need to build your dream team. 

Then you’ll need to brainstorm some fun events, workshops, or events you could organise for your society, and engage potential members by highlighting the unique experiences they can be a part of. 

After doing all of these steps, you’ll likely then need to submit your society application for your university’s Student Union to review.

The process of setting up your own society can vary depending on your university, so we’d suggest heading to your Student Union website to find out. 

Whether you join a university society to meet new people, gain new skills and experience, to boost your CV or to pursue a hobby, there’s plenty of great benefits to signing up and getting involved. 

If you decide to set up your own, you might end up making lifelong friends, creating memories that’ll last way past graduation, and your society could be around for years to come! 

Wanting to know how to overcome imposter syndrome? If so, take a read of our guide for Building Confidence Whilst At University.