Hello, my name is Benjamin and I study an LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice. In this blog, I will discuss my top tips about how to settle in at university and make friends when you arrive, through joining societies, making friends in class, and undertaking common activities with your housemates.
Settling in at university
Moving to university can be quite a nerve-wracking experience, but you should not worry too much, as all new students are in the same boat!
Help from current students
When you move to university, you will be supported by STYCs (second and third year contacts). Their role is to support new students during Freshers’ Week by showing you around the university and answering any questions you may have. This ensures that you have a strong sense of community on campus, which helps new students to settle in and be comfortable at university. STYCs also help you to make a wide variety of friends in your accommodation and at different events – they host games to participate in and support you at different events. For example, games include a wide variety of card games, board games, sports games, and trivia-based games!
Support from your department
Degree subjects normally host welcome events, showing new students around their department and allowing them to learn more about the practicalities of their course. This alleviates any potential concerns regarding the uncertainties new students may have regarding the academic side of university. For example, in the first year of my undergraduate Law degree, people in the same student law firms (seminar groups), gathered together to discuss the course and any questions we had! This was a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and form friendships. Therefore, there are a lot of different ways to settle in at university, both from a practical standpoint and from an academic standpoint.
Making Friends When You Arrive at University
It can be slightly daunting to meet new people at university and form long-lasting friendships in your accommodation, degree subject, and extracurricular activities. However, joining societies and sports clubs is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills, and undertake an activity or interest you enjoy! Freshers’ Fair is typically held at the end of Freshers’ Week (a week consisting of different activities and events where new students can meet different people and attend a plethora of wonderful events regarding university.) Freshers’ Fair involves different societies and sports clubs – they have stands where new students can ask questions about them.
At societies and sports clubs, new students can share common interests with other new students and form new friendships! It is important to form new friendships outside of your degree subject, so you have a break from talking about your subject frequently! However, forming friendships within your degree subject is a good way to bond over academic interests.
Conclusion
Overall, there are lots of amazing ways to settle in at university and meet new people. This includes joining different societies and sports clubs, sharing common interests in your degree subject, and being willing to undertake new opportunities.
Read more student advice about settling into uni
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