How to make friends at uni
During your time at uni, it's important to find friends you can have fun with, study with and even learn a thing (or two!) from.
It can be both exciting and scary to start or return to uni, and putting yourself out there can sometimes feel a little daunting. Most people around you probably feel the same way, and are likely just as nervous (and as keen to meet new people!) as you are.
So, whether you’re looking for tips on how you can make that class acquaintance a study buddy, or you want to know where you can meet people at UTS, we’ve got you!
1. Introduce yourself
Try to step outside your comfort zone and strike up a conversation with a classmate by introducing yourself and just saying ‘Hey!’. Chances are they were probably hoping for someone to start the convo first and will be grateful you did.
Attending Orientation events is also a great chance to connect with people in the same boat as you, so why not book yourself in for a campus tour and chat to someone in line? Who knows, you might make a life-long friend.
2. Connect on common interests
One of the best ways to meet like-minded people is by joining one of ActivateUTS’s 180+ clubs and societies. Not only will you be able to explore your interests (or discover a new one), but you’ll also make friends with people from outside of your degree who you wouldn't have met otherwise!
Plenty of students talk about how joining a club or society sparked their uni social life or led them to life-long friendships. In fact, as part of the ActivateUTS and Student Success Report 2020, 84 per cent of students said ‘joining a club has given them a sense of belonging’. With so many clubs out there to choose from, you're bound to find one that does the same.
3. Learn something new
There’s no better time than right now to pick up a new skill or expand your network, all while making friends along the way. The Student Learning Hub run regular tech and professional skills workshops, and ActivateUTS has plenty of professional development clubs that are geared to helping you gain skills outside the classroom. And, by joining new networks of people, you’ll have the chance to meet people with shared interests and goals, who will eventually become part of your future professional network when you leave uni.
4. Study and socialise
Some friendships are only one conversation away! If you've been enjoying a conversation you're having in class, keep it going as you leave and chat with them. Instead of heading straight home, walk with them to their next class, to the library, or to get a bite to eat on campus. And if it’s not lunch time, you could ask them if they’d want to study together sometime. Taking the initiative to keep in touch with people will naturally grow your social circle.
You could even make a connection by joining a UTS study group. Every week, you'll have the chance to meet people from your faculty, receive support from a dedicated guide, and be involved with social events and study support.
5. Don't be afraid to get involved
Getting out of your comfort zone also means breaking out of the routine of your regular activities and actually going to uni events, like trivia nights, seeing a gig at the Underground or joining a club at a Meet and Eat event. Getting to know people is a game of probability and the more chances you give yourself to meet people, the more likely you are to develop friendships with people you genuinely connect with.
6. Know you're not alone
Making friends at the beginning can feel a bit scary and it does take time. Our advice? Be patient, embrace who you are and what you like, and the rest will follow! And, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by it all, you can always have a chat with one our friendly counsellors at the student counselling service. You can also connect with other uni students via the TalkCampus app, an online wellbeing and mental health peer support network (UTS students get free access).
