8 Ways to Make Friends at University

Is it hard to make friends at university?

Think of university as your chance to start again and forget the weird social norms of sixth form and college. Uni is diverse, and you’ll be meeting people with different life experiences and mindsets, which makes for very good friend-making.

It’s been said that university is where you make friends for life, and that can totally be the case. But where do you begin?

Lucy's top 8 tips for making friends

1. Join a university Facebook group

Facebook isn’t just for old people. University groups on Facebook are a handy way to meet people before you step foot on campus, and there’s a surprising amount of them.

Many universities set up Freshers’ groups well in advance of Freshers’ Week. If you’re unsure whether your university has one, Your Freshers Guide has a mega list of all the university Facebook groups out there.

The fun doesn’t stop there either. There are plenty of individual groups for halls, societies and even your course. Join them all and post!

2. Chat with your flatmates

If you’re living in student accommodation, this will probably be the first time you’ll meet anyone on campus.

Even with all the faf of move-in day, it’s the best time to introduce yourself to your flatmates. Many universities suggest leaving your door open and saying hello to people who walk past.

Of course, you don’t have to do that – meeting in the kitchen is even better. Bonding over food? Yes, please.

Even if you don’t become besties with your flatmates, you’ll hopefully be comfortable enough to share a meal or even have a cheeky 3am drink in your hall’s kitchen with them. Getting along with your flatmates goes a long way.

3. Attend everything during Freshers’ Week

Freshers’ Week is essential to university life, and you only get it once. So make it count.

The parties are great, but there are loads of other events to get stuck into if that isn’t your scene.

Some of these include:

• The Freshers’ Fair

• Campus tours

• City/town tours

• Quiz nights

• Talent shows

• Course introductions

• Catching the freshers’ flu 🤒- seriously, people bond over getting it.

The sheer amount of choice is frightening, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet some great people.

4. Talk to your coursemates

If there’s one thing you simply must do during Freshers Week, it’s your course induction.

This is where you’ll find out what your first year will be like, including…

• The modules you’ll be studying

• Who are your lecturers and course leaders are

• Any important dates (like major essays and exams)

• Receiving your course handbook.

But it’s also a chance to scope out your coursemates and introduce yourselves.

You probably won’t be asked to break the ice with two truths and a lie (hopefully), but a warm hello will go a long way.

5. Join a society

It’s worth joining a society that you’re genuinely interested in. You’d be surprised at the amount of choice out there, from Beekeeping at Durham to Beer Pong at Birmingham.

You’ll already have one thing in common with the people you meet there. So it’s a great start in forming lasting connections.

Bear in mind that you’ll usually have to pay a small membership fee (between £3 and £15), which will help pay for activities and keep the club running. But it’s a great idea to join at least one if you can.

6. Get a job on campus

Whether it’s the campus café, the library or the gym, getting a job on campus does wonders for meeting people. You could even become a brand ambassador and promote a brand to students!

As a brand ambassador, you’ll get to know a company well, network loads – and maybe even bag yourself a permanent job with them once you graduate. Loads of students have done this.

7. Be yourself

It’s a little cliché, but just being yourself is super important.

You’ll be meeting new people every day from different walks of life, and while it’s tempting to change to make others like you, in reality, it’s much easier to be yourself.

Above all, you’re your own best asset. Be warm, kind, and open-minded. People will see that and want to hang out with you.

8. Don’t rush to form close friendships

Getting to know people is fun, but forming genuine friendships can take a while. Honestly, it might not be until your second year when you’ll start to see those close friendships fully form, so take your time.

Also, don’t limit yourself to one group of people. You’re absolutely allowed to hang out with as many different groups as you want. We all get different things from different people, and it’s good to mix it up.

It’s perfectly fine to have acquaintances or even make friends with people that you’ll end up drifting apart from. It’s life.

Manage your expectations. You’re not going to get along with everyone, and that’s okay.

Can I still make friends if I commute to uni?

Even if you’re commuting from home, it doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on making those all-important connections.

You can still get a job on campus, join a society and get friendly with your coursemates.

If you live in the area where your university is located, think about playing tour guide a little – letting your new friends know all the best spots to hang out, eat and go clubbing.

You’ll actually be in a unique position. The catch-ups and hangouts will be all the sweeter as you won’t see your friends all the time.