how to make friends at university?

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Reply 1

maemals

6

join some societies for things you are interested in you will find link minded people. Also attend welcome events. the student union usually host them. Try to mingle as much as possible. You might find that you naturally fall into a friendship group within the accommodation you are living and on your course! don't be afraid to put yourself out there a lot of people are in the same boat when starting uni and will feel the same. With people on your course, if you ask people to join prep groups or study sessions ahead of seminars usually you will find you connect with people on your course this way.

Reply 2

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Anonymous

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Hi Anon,
I similarly worried about making friends before university, but its important to know everyone else attending university is in the same situation, where they wont know anyone and want to make friends. This means in the first few weeks of university everyone is just trying to make friends and is happy to start up conversation, and overtime you naturally find that friendships groups start to form.
At university you can make friends in a few different ways, firstly in your accommodation, which is quite easy to make friends as you can have easy chats while your cooking ect. Then you can make course mates, with the best advise being speaking to who ever your sat next to in your lectures and asking if they want to go to a cafe after to study together can be a good start. Finally, societies are a great way to meet new people as everyone there has a shared hobby or interest, which makes starting initial conversations easy as you can talk about or just do your hobby.
Hope this helps!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 3

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post

by Anonymous

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Hello!
It’s great that you’re excited about moving away to university! It’s such a valuable experience, and even though making friends can feel daunting, you’re definitely not alone in feeling this way. A lot of people worry about the social side of uni, even those who seem confident!

The good news is that everybody is in the same boat and there are so many ways to meet people! Sports clubs and societies are one of the best ways to make friends since you’ll be surrounded by people who share similar interests!

Your accommodation is also another big opportunity—everyone will want to get to know each other, so being open to chatting with your flatmates early on can really help. Even simple things like keeping your door open while unpacking can make it easier to start that first conversation.

Your course is also a great place to meet friends, especially since you’ll see the same faces regularly. Try to talk to people in lectures, join study groups, or even just sit next to someone new each time—small interactions can lead to solid friendships.

As for conversation skills, don’t put too much pressure on yourself! Asking people about themselves, showing interest in their experiences, and just being open to chatting can go a long way. Most people love talking about their own interests, so asking simple questions like ‘What course are you doing?’ or ‘Have you joined any societies yet?’ can be great icebreakers.

And honestly, it all takes time. The first few weeks might feel overwhelming, but you’ll naturally find the people who you click with. Just be open to new experiences and it will come. You’ve got this! :smile:

Hope this helps ease some nerves!

Emily :biggrin:

Official University of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 4

Chester Student

12

Original post

by Anonymous

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Hi there,

I totally understand your worries, as I felt the same way. Going into a new and unfamiliar environment can be daunting in itself, but the pressure of trying to find friends can make it so much more nerve-wracking. Luckily, pretty much everyone is in the same boat, and it really isn't as difficult as it seems!

My main tip is to put yourself out there. This is essential, especially in those first few weeks. I found that everyone was trying to meet new people and make friends themselves, so pushing myself out of my comfort zone helped me to meet everyone and find my people! It can be overwhelming, but I believe this is truly the best time to do it.

I met my friends in my first-year accommodation. Go to the common room, say hi to your neighbours, and try to socialize! Your accommodation will likely be full of people you wouldn't meet otherwise, so it is a great chance to branch out from those on your course.

Sports, societies, volunteering, part-time work, and clubs in your town/city are all great places to make friends. Try to get involved as early as possible, which is not only great for meeting people but for also creating a routine early on!

If you're nervous about how to talk to people, now is a great time to start. Can you work part-time over the summer, volunteer, or join a local club? I used to be so awful at making conversation with people, and I sometimes still am, but I found that the more I put myself in those situations, the easier it got!

I hope this has helped to calm your nerves and get you more excited for your university journey. Best of luck,

Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 5

hallamstudents

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Anonymous

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Hi there,

I feel like a lot of people worry about this before going to university (I did too!) but there are lots of ways to make friends when you are at Uni, so try not to worry too much about this. I thought I could give you some of my tips for making friends at uni/how I made some of my friends here:

•

Joining societies! I am sure that you will have heard this before, but joining societies really is a great way of making friends while at university. There will be lots at your uni and you can always have a look online before you go at what they are, and then there will likely be a societies fair that you can go to and see what you might enjoy. I would say it's worth it and the socials are great fun too!

•

I would also say that another way of making friends is by seeing if there are any local clubs or groups nearby that you can join. These are quite good as it will be completely different people from your university so its more people that you can make friends with! I know people who have joined local football teams etc so it may be worth having a look.

•

Have a look on social media as there are often groups on there that you can join for your uni, your halls and your course. These are good ways of making friends and meeting people and sometimes it can feel less daunting talking to people online rather than face to face!

•

Have a look and see if your student union puts any events on. They quite often put events on which are good for students to mingle and try something fun. This can be things such as cinema trips, or trips to other cities but they are really fun!

•

Have a look into getting a job for your uni or doing some volunteering work. These are often good ways of meeting people ad making friends while doing something to help others or to make some extra money!

•

When you move into your halls, try and spend lots of time in your kitchen or other social areas and just be friendly! People will want to make friends and you don't always have to be the loudest in the room, just be you and be kind and friendly.

I hope some of this helps and good luck at university,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador :smile:

Reply 6

kellyBU

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

so i’m definitely moving away to university this year, and don’t plan on living at home as i want the full experience and think it would be great for me, but im more worried about the making friends aspect? my sister moved away and she found it quite easy but she’s more sociable than me. i would say im a partly sociable person im just horrible at making conversation (even with my friends i have now at home) but i would like to get better at this and branch out and just meet lots of people and potentially have a relationship too, any tips?

Hey!
This is a totally normal worry to have, I know this was my main worry when coming to uni. But now that I have done the transition and now in my third year at BU, I look back and wonder why I ever worried about it. I think my biggest advice would be to remember everyone is in the same boat, the majority of people coming to uni will not know anyone there. You would be surprised how much easier it is to make friends, when everyone around you is trying to do the same!
If you are thinking of moving into halls or a shared house, this will be a great way to meet new people. The people I moved in with in first year, have ended up being some of my closest friends through uni. Also, most unis have societies, these are clubs that can be about anything. For example, at BU we have over 80 societies, ranging from sports, cocktails, films, Taylor Swift and many more.
And final most unis, like BU, offer events at the start of first year, targeted at helping students make friends. For example, BU host a big Freshers Fair, many different Student Union events and different club nights.
But overall I would just say don't worry! You are not alone in how you are feeling and uni is a great way to make friends! ☺️
Wishing you all the best!
Kelly

how to make friends at university?

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