Advice for starting uni as a muslim girl

Are you moving out for uni or staying home? Are you moving from another country to the UK for uni?

Not everyone drinks, although a lot of people do. If you’re living in campus, away from home and family, then you will be more tempted to drink etc because you have the freedom to do soo more that you probably did or would’ve at home.

Best advice, don’t feel forced or pressured into doing anything you don’t want to. Peer pressure can be hard to resist, especially in the microcosm of uni, but you can do it. Stay true to yourself.

Try and surround yourself with likeminded people or those that understand and respect you and your values/morals and way of life and will not encourage you to do things you don’t want to, probably ideally because they don’t do it themselves.

There’s usually an Islamic society (ISOC) at most unis. Which is always useful to join to make friends etc, especially Muslims. There are plenty of societies, some are unofficially basically drinking clubs or over social where drink is a core component and you can get a sense of these by talking to people in these societies and other students, where you can then make your own informed decision on whether to join or not.

Not all of them are like this. Sports societies especially can go either way, very social and friendly, and some are highly competitive and serious / disciplined so may not drink etc during the season or regularly but then there are others will use any excuse (after training, games, end of season)

Every uni has a Muslim society so be sure to join them. The Muslim community is the best networked in most universities - lots of social events and peer support - past paper questions (and answers) shared only amongst Muslims, seniors coaching and mentoring juniors.

Very inclusive ... not.

Not sure in the point you’re trying to make here.

I agree that it’s subjective to say ‘best networked’, but that maybe be based on mike23mike experience.

The whole point of a society is to connect with similar people with similar interests, and so you make connections and friends. They’re open for anyone to join, but exclusive in the fact that if you’re not in it then you don’t get the perks and benefits of it.

But all societies do this, and so does anyone else in any kind of network (friends, professionals etc) where you try and support each other because you are / feel connected and know each other, trust each other etc.

If you feel left out, you can always join your isoc or any other society. As long as you pay your dues and otherwise don’t do anything to break the rules no one can stop you really.

That’s goes for any society, eg. Football society. You don’t have to like football, or play on the team but it’s probs helps to do one or the other to feel most included and benefit from the support on hand

Hi guys I'm a bit nervous starting uni for anyone else who has already started uni and doesn't drink. Is it hard making friends? I was thinking to join societies and make friends with similar interests.

It's not only muslims who don't drink - please try to make friends with lots of other people. You'll need to be able to work with people of different races and religions ..

Hi Muttley, thanks for your Advice!! My personality is quite outgoing and friendly so I'm reassured that I will be able to find new friends when I start. One of the main reasons I chose uni was to meet new people from all backgrounds. I'm excited as I've been on a gap year working full time so I haven't had the chance to socialise with new people much.