Info about Societies @ Uni of Sheffield

Hey everyone!

I'm Alicia, a Final Year Medical Student at the University of Sheffield. As a prospective student, I found it so overwhelming hearing lots of new terms mentioned and so much about the Student Life at University. One of the most common things mentioned by current students is Societies, so I thought I'd explain properly what they are and clear up some myths! :smile:

What are societies?

Societies are essentially ‘clubs’- they are groups of people that share a common interest. Some people use the term to also encompass sports clubs too. Many people join societies throughout University, and there really is something for everyone!

My experience
When I started Uni, I didn't have any specific hobbies or do any sports in sixth form. I was really intimidated by the prospect of joining a society and starting something new so I ‘put off’ joining any societies until part way through second year and my only regret now is not trying them out sooner! The societies I am in are now a big part of my University life and many of my friends feel the same about their societies :smile:

. It’s a great way to meet new people while doing something you love - and if you decide to join a committee (more of a leadership role) for your society, it's also something to put on your CV!

Myth busting/ Q and A

“But I have no interest in sport”

And you don’t have to! Though there are lots of sports societies to pick from, we also have MANY non-sports societies. These range from different gaming societies, to baking societies, to religious societies, to musical societies, to course-specific societies, to charity societies. We also have societies based on specific interests, even more ‘niche’ things such as Duck Society, Cheese Society and Medieval Reenactment Society…!

Many people find that joining their course society allows them to make new friends on the course, and get lots of tips and tricks for getting through the different years of uni - so I would recommend this as a good starting point if you’re a bit intimidated by joining a society.

“My friends aren’t interested in the same society as me and I don't feel confident enough to go on my own”

Please don’t let this put you off! I have been in this position before and, as scary as it feels, it actually shocked me how many people join a society or go to the Give It A Go sessions ‘by themselves’ without any known friends prior - you will not be alone! Members are super friendly and really keen to get to know and talk to their new members, and if at any point you are really hesitant, your best point of call is to speak to committee members, as they will go out of their way to make the experience of attending ‘solo’ less scary!

“I’d love to do a sports society but I’m not good enough to be a part of one” / “I’d really like to try something new to keep me active but have never played before”

I related very much to the above before Uni, but rest assured, there is room for everyone. Uni of Sheffield has a big range of sports societies, from more conventional sports like rugby and netball, to sports you may never have tried, such as Futsal and Ice Hockey. To name a few more - we have an Archery club, an Equestrian Club, a Skiing club, a Mountaineering society and even a Parkour Club. There are lots and lots of sports and activities to choose from - and you definitely don’t have to be the best of the best to join one!

My word of advice is to not let the word ‘trials’ stop you from trying something new/if you don’t feel confident in your abilities! Most societies also have a ‘social team’ of the club, meaning that you get to play their sport and participate in their social events without necessarily being on one of their more competitive teams (and usually requires less time commitment, which is something to consider too!). Sometimes, teams ‘trial’ everyone in order to pick members for their official 1st, 2nd, etc teams, and those that do not get onto a team for that academic year can be a member of their social team - so it is really not as scary as it sounds!

“I’m a on a course with more intense contact or placement hours, and I cannot attend most training sessions for most sports societies”

There are Medic sub-societies that train later in the evening to allow Medics the opportunity to attend sports outside of 'working hours'- ranging from Medics Women's Football to Medics Squash. Many of these teams still have competitive teams as well as social teams. Moreover, many of these teams are open to Dentistry students too due to similar placement hours, and some such as Medics Running are actually open to all students of all courses, despite the name, so may be something to look into if you are struggling to attend certain society training times.

“I don’t want to pay to join a society straight away in case I do not like it”

Don’t worry, many people are in the same boat! This is why many societies host a ‘Give it a go’ (GIAG) session in the first couple of weeks of uni, so that you can get a feel for the society and what they do, and ‘try before you buy’.

How do I look into Societies at Sheffield further?

You can view all clubs and societies on the official University of Sheffield Students’ Union website, to get a bit of a taste of the huge variety of what is on offer! Here is a link to this, for you to have a look for yourself!: https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/activities/find-student-groups

In Freshers Week/ Welcome Week, you can also expect there to be an Activities Fair showcasing our non-sports societies, and a Sports Societies Fair, both of which will allow you the opportunity to walk around the many different society stalls, find societies you’re interested in, and chat with the committee members to find out more! Some societies also have social media accounts/pages that you can follow/join respectively. These can be useful to find out more about what they do and what sort of activities they might hold before the Activities and Sports Fair, but can also be useful if you struggle to attend the fairs in Freshers week due to other commitments!

I hope this is helpful! Please let me know if you have any more questions about Societies/ Student Life here!

- Alicia, Final Year Medical Student+ Intercalated BSc Medical Sciences Research