How I made friends without going clubbing

Ways to meet people at university

On social media, it is often portrayed that the best way or the only way to meet or make friends in university is to turn up and go to clubs to have fun – but this could not be more wrong! Going out clubbing has never been my scene, and when I started university, I wasn’t sure how I would make friends, but I knew it would happen one way or another.

Meeting people your way, without doing things that make you uncomfortable, is the best way to make genuine friends.

These friends will be what makes your time at university the most fun and memorable experience.

Student Accommodation

If you move into student accommodation at the start of university, there will have other students to share the living room and kitchen space with. I started by getting to know my flatmates, chatting in the kitchen, cooking together, making plans and helping each other settle in. Over time, these casual interactions grew into real friendships.

Connecting with Classmates

When I first started university, majority of my classes were online so I was only limited to my classmates at the time. I was quick to bond with some of them through long calls of trying to figure university and the assessments given. After that I met new students who joined our classes and I made an effort to talk to other people during lectures, sitting next to new people and working together with them on group assignments. We would then meet outside of university, turning classmates into friends.

Joining Sports and Societies

Joining a Students Union society that matches your interests is another good way to make friends. In a society or sports club, there are like-minded people who share your interests and it’s a great way to start conversation to get to know someone better because these space gives people a common ground from day one.

Student events

Campus events like movie nights, games night, and workshops were great for meeting people in a relaxed setting. Even going alone was worth it because I always ended up chatting with new people.

Faith and community

Church is another place I found connections. Being part of a faith community gave me a sense of belonging and introduced me to people who shared my values. On campus there is a multi-faith centre where you can practice religion and meet new people.

Once I had a few close friends, my circle naturally grew; being introduced to their friends, creating connections I wouldn’t have made otherwise. Not going clubbing didn’t hold me back, it allowed me to make meaningful friendships in ways that felt authentic to me. University is full of opportunities to connect – you just have to find the ones that suit you.

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Omotola Olagunju

Omotola is a third year student studying International Business Management. She says she enjoys the course because it is filled with fun, diverse set of people, and she loves the opportunities offered such as travelling to a new country and gaining new cultural experiences. She also enjoys reading and drawing.