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How to meet people as a 3rd year

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

@realistic-doom - thanks for reaching out. As it happens I did a placement at uni too and the exact same thing happened with me, so I completely understand where you're coming from 👍️

Its completely normal to have these feelings and it can definitely feel different coming back with friends having moved on. However I would say that...

Firstly, its never too late to put yourself out there and try something new. Join a new society or club, become a peer mentor or take on some part-time work if you wish to. These are all good was to give you a much needed break from your work in your final year (good for your wellbeing) and open up a network of new people. I joined a society for the first time in my third year and found it a really fun way to meet people I hadn't known before.

Secondly, make use of your coursemates. Perhaps find a few coursemates from lectures you get on with and suggest forming a study group or dissertation group where you could share ideas and methods, help each other out. And don't forget to keep chatting, asking people out for coffee after classes etc - it works for freshers, it works for third years :smile:

Lastly, although it may sound daft - go to freshers week! If you are able to go to your uni a little early, attending freshers events is not only for first years, its for all years and no one will really know what year you're in as you'll all just be students together, in the same boat, wanting to meet new people.

Just try not to be worried, because I found that I didn't really meet my true friends until second/third year anyway, and if anything coming back after a placement gave me the extra motivation to capitalise on the connections I already had on my course and to try something brand new.

Very, very best of luck and I hope that helps you. Any more questions don't hesitate to post!

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 2

WrexhamUniReps

Official Rep

Original post

by realistic-doom

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Hi

Thanks for your question.

I agree with what Holly from University of Bath has said, it is never too late to put yourself out there, join that society or club that you were going to do before.

People always want to make new friends so it's always worth a try as everyone within the societies will have common interests making it easier to make new friends.

Go to the freshers' Fair - it showcases what your university has to offer!

I hope this helps!

Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps

Reply 3

igyuugf

Original post

by University of Bath

@realistic-doom - thanks for reaching out. As it happens I did a placement at uni too and the exact same thing happened with me, so I completely understand where you're coming from 👍️
Its completely normal to have these feelings and it can definitely feel different coming back with friends having moved on. However I would say that...
Firstly, its never too late to put yourself out there and try something new. Join a new society or club, become a peer mentor or take on some part-time work if you wish to. These are all good was to give you a much needed break from your work in your final year (good for your wellbeing) and open up a network of new people. I joined a society for the first time in my third year and found it a really fun way to meet people I hadn't known before.
Secondly, make use of your coursemates. Perhaps find a few coursemates from lectures you get on with and suggest forming a study group or dissertation group where you could share ideas and methods, help each other out. And don't forget to keep chatting, asking people out for coffee after classes etc - it works for freshers, it works for third years :smile:

Lastly, although it may sound daft - go to freshers week! If you are able to go to your uni a little early, attending freshers events is not only for first years, its for all years and no one will really know what year you're in as you'll all just be students together, in the same boat, wanting to meet new people.
Just try not to be worried, because I found that I didn't really meet my true friends until second/third year anyway, and if anything coming back after a placement gave me the extra motivation to capitalise on the connections I already had on my course and to try something brand new.
Very, very best of luck and I hope that helps you. Any more questions don't hesitate to post!
Holly
University of Bath

hey, I'm going on placement this year, and i've made absolutely no friends in first or second year, just need some hope and reassurance that I can at least find some good friends if not my friends for life during placement and final year

Reply 4

UniLancashire

Official Rep

Original post

by igyuugf

Hi @igyuugf,

Congrats! What placement are you doing? I did a placement year too so once I came back to 3rd year, I didn't know many students. I didn't know any of them properly anyways, just from seeing them around the school. Depending on the placement you do, in terms of the size of the business, it's a great place to meet new people and make new friendships. It's never too late to make friends, so during final year there is plenty of opportunity to still meet new people. You could join a society or a sports club and meet like minded people. There are also many community groups online, with most universities having them for each year group.

Universities have so many events on during the year, so attending them are a great way of meeting new people. Whether that's a mental wellbeing workshop or freshers. Make the most of the events at uni and get to meet new people. You've got this!

Rest assured, you still have time and ways of making new friends during placement and final year. Suggesting to go out for a walk or grab lunch with your course mates will get you out there. It may seems scary as there will already be friend groups but it's not as scary as it seems. You just need to put yourself out there and you'll do just fine. I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck during your placement year 🙂

Let me know if you have any further questions.
Best wishes, ^Zac

Reply 5

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post

by realistic-doom

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Hi @realistic-doom,

I made a friend this year with someone in the same position as you, and we basically hit it off during one of our seminars when he joined me and my friends at our table and introduced himself. Sometimes just being honest helps! If you’re in a group or class, you can casually say something like, “I’m just back from placement, feels a bit odd not knowing many people anymore”, you’d be surprised how many people relate or are happy to include you.

You’ll probably have seminars, group work, or modules with other final-year students. Try to be open in those settings — even just chatting to someone before or after class can open the door to new friendships. Don’t be afraid to start conversations, people are usually quite receptive. Join societies (yes, even in final year!) It’s a bit of a myth that societies are only for freshers. Loads of final-years stay involved, and many committees want more experienced people. Whether it’s something you’re already into or something new, it’s an easy way to meet people outside your course too.

Good luck and hope final year goes really well for you!
Danish
BCU Student Rep

Reply 6

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by realistic-doom

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Hi @realistic-doom

I've just finished my third year after returning some placement - so I can hopefully give some relevant advice.

Firstly, maybe drop an email to your department careers team or have a look on LinkedIn to see if anyone from your course also went on placement! You might find someone else in your same lectures who is also returning back and be able to reach out and ask if they want to meet up. The funny thing about returning from placement is walking into a lecture theatre and not recognising a single face - you don't realise how familiar certain faces become after 2 years of a course, even if you never really got to know them. This meant that when I walked into my first lecture back I immediately recognised ~3 people from my original cohort who had also been on placement, so I put in effort to get to know them more this year.

I also just put in extra effort to chat and get to know people I met e.g. when waiting outside of lecture theatres or in more interactive sessions like workshops and practicals. I honestly found it easier to make friends in my course as you already have something in common!

Finally I'd recommend joining a new society to meet new people outside of your course. Treat returning from placement year as a fresh start and try something new that you didn't have the confidence to try in first year!

Best of luck with your return to university!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 7

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by igyuugf

Hey @igyuugf

I was part of a decent sized cohort during my placement, and while I'm not going to be "best friends forever" with them all - we were a good group and had lots of fun hanging out inside and outside of work. I did meet some really close friends there that I've stayed in touch with to this day. Don't stress yourself out about it - you'll meet your people. The only thing to take into account is that it requires more effort to stay in touch and maintain that friendship when you finish your placement and move back to living in entirely different parts of the country, so try to put in the time to reach out and arrange meet-ups!

Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 8

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post

by realistic-doom

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Hi there,

I am in the exact same position as you at the moment. I will share with you some of the things that I personally plan to do as soon as I am back at university this September.

Firstly, I will be rejoining the student societies I had been a part of before placement. This is a key for me, because most of the friends I made in my first 2 years were from student societies.

Secondly, I am planning to attend as many events on campus as possible. Workshops, guest lectures, career fairs, etc. I suppose it will expose me to more people and it's possible that I will make some friendships.

Thirdly, I am planning to share the experience I got on my placement, so I am thinking of offering mentorship to other students on the course, including some first and second years.

And the last but not the least - speaking to people on the course. Yes, as simple as saying good morning and engaging in some small talk. You never know how this will turn out :smile:

Best regards,
Ilya,
Cyber Security student at DMU :smile:

Reply 9

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

Original post

by igyuugf

Hiya @igyuugf,
most companies would hire more than a single intern and you will definitely meet new people who are in a similar position as you 🙂! I just finished my placement year and have met so many new people from different unis through interning at different companies. I have also gotten closer and met new people from my own uni over my placement year! Sometimes you have to take the initiative to reach out and check in on your classmates ☺️ Wishing you the best of luck on your placement year!

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 10

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post

by realistic-doom

So I'm going back to uni after doing placement year and everyone I know has graduated. How do I meet new people preferably 3rd years.

Hi there,

I hope you are doing well! This is completely normal to feel but do not worry in the slightest. It is never too late to start / try something new or make new friends, this is a consistent theme throughout life at every new chapter you start so please do not worry! Everyone will be very friendly and welcoming I am confident in that 🙂

hope this helps!
Rachel (UoS Student Rep)