Happy National Best Friends Day! Here Are Ways I Made Friends as a Student

Hi everyone! My name’s Dan, I’m 22 years old and currently on my placement year as part of my Computer Science (BSc) degree at Coventry University. The best part of university for me has been the people I’ve met along the way, from people I simply shared a quick chat in the library with, to the people I can now call my best friends. As National Best Friends Day is tomorrow, I’m going to tell you five tips that helped me take the leap and kickstart these friendships.


1. Get to Know People in Your Accommodation

This first tip might not be applicable to everyone, however a lot of students starting university will be leaving home to live in student accommodation. Whether you’re entering shared accommodation or a studio, it’s probably going to be a completely new experience for you. As overwhelming as the thought of being in a new city with new people sounds, the important thing to remember is that everyone’s in the same boat. Try suggesting places you found online to grab food or a Fresher’s event you’re interested in, chances are your neighbours will be just as nervous initiating a conversation as you. I personally met someone in my flat who shared the same music taste as me so we instantly started looking for events we could go to together, which resulted in us living together for our Second Year as well.


2. Get to Know Your Group Project Members

At some point throughout university, you will probably have to do the dreaded group project. Lots of students are nervous they’re going to end up being the only one that does any work and not get on with their peers. While it is sometimes hard to not step on each other toes during group work, it’s a great chance to get to know people on your course on a new level. Chances are you will all have something in common, even if it’s simply something course specific. Starting these conversations will ease people’s nerves, and you could even suggest to meet up outside of class to work on the project. I personally found it was easier to invite everyone to our on-campus Starbucks to work in a more casual and relaxed environment.


3. Societies, Groups etc… (Freshers Week)

During Freshers Week, which takes place the first week of term, there’s always a ton of fairs and events going on, where you can get to know the different Societies the University has to offer. These are a great chance to find people outside of your course that have the same interests as you. There are many options of Societies you can choose including various sports, languages, gaming and E-Sports and LGBTQIA+ related societies (or you could even start your own!). Similarly, there are lots of student led job opportunities such as Student Union Rep or becoming a Student Ambassador like myself, where you can meet new friends and earn a bit of extra money. Perhaps it may be worth getting in touch with an ambassador through our Unibuddy platform, so you can discover the ways they make friends as a Coventry University student, as well as any questions you may have about studying here.


4. Studying on Campus

Around campus there are tons of buildings that are free for students to study in, including the Lanchester Library which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These are great places to invite your coursemates after lectures, or to go alone to do some work and have a coffee. I discovered that building up the confidence to go alone is the most rewarding, and I almost always see a friendly face such as someone from my course or simply people I’ve had a casual chat with.


5. Be Open to New People

This tip isn’t specific to any situation, but I believe is an important thing to keep in mind. Like myself, most people are coming from Sixth Form or College, where we have had the same friendship group our entire lives and shared a similar upbringing. As soon as you come to University you will meet people from so many different walks of life, which at times can make it hard to find those common experiences to talk about. The best thing you can do is to keep an open mind, and ask people questions about their hometown/country as well as telling them about yours.


Overall, starting University can be an exciting time filled with endless opportunities, but also scary because you’re leaving your friends and family, potentially for the first time in your life. My advice is to try to make the most of the experience, be friendly and to remember that you are not alone in your feelings. Also do remember that your best friends from home miss you too, and are only a Facetime away.


Best wishes
- Dan 😊