Guide to Student Societies
06 October 2025 • 4 min read
This post is part of our "Next Stop: Uni" series which guides you through each week of the summer between finishing school and Freshers so you can start uni prepared and excited.
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Societies are at the very heart of university life, bringing students together from all corners of campus to revel in everything from the weird and wonderful to the rough and tumble. If you’re a Fresher who’s curious about what societies have to offer you, here’s everything you need to know about how you can get involved.
What is a society?
University societies are dedicated groups where students get together to discuss or take part in a specific shared interest. Aside from providing an outlet for you to get away from your studies, societies also give you an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
Most clubs meet anywhere from once a week to once a term (whether that’s for a night out or for a fundraising event), and with society themes ranging from benchball to beekeeping, there really is a society to suit everyone out there – if you happen to go to uni in Birmingham, our Content Ambassador Ash has discovered that the universities here are home to some pretty odd societies.
Are uni societies free?
This one depends on the society. Some require just a small membership fee, some like you to pay for your own supplies and equipment, and some are completely free and cover everything for you.
How do you join a society?
The easiest way to go about joining a society is by going on to your Students’ Union website and purchasing a membership. From here, all you need to do is follow the society on Instagram (if they have socials, that is) and look out for their member emails so that you can stay informed of any meetings and socials taking place.
Not sure on which society (or societies) you want to join? Check out all the clubs on offer at your university’s Freshers’ Fair, and consider joining in at any taster sessions – you’ll soon find a society that piques your interest.
How many societies should you join at uni?
This one’s up to you. If you think you have the social battery (and free time) to join 12 societies, go for it. Just make sure you consider the logistics of it all; you don’t want to end up with any timetable clashes, just like how you don’t want to find you’ve not given yourself any time to study. Consider all of your commitments carefully (classes, jobs, your social life…) and then go from there.
Is it too late to join a society?
No matter what time of the year it is, it's never too late for you to join a society! Most societies are happy to welcome new members at any point; they're just happy to see that someone else is showing an interest in their passion!
How do you start a society?
If you’re sitting there thinking that, actually, your special interest hasn’t been covered by the thousands of pre-existing societies that your uni has to offer, don’t worry – you can always start your own! As long as you can find a handful of other people who would be interested in joining your society, you can submit an application with your university to create a new soc.
Make sure your expectations are realistic, though, as you’ll need to obtain funding and set up a committee (at the very least consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary).
Got even more questions about how societies work? Read our Content Ambassador Sophie’s post on what she wishes she’d known about societies before she joined any.
🎥 Watch: Watch our TikTok on the hobbies you should try as a uni student
What next?
We hope this series taking you through the start of your uni journey has been useful! Before you know it, it'll be time to start looking for your second-year accommodation – and that's where we can help. Here are some handy guides to help you in your search:
