How to Make Friends Before Starting University

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.

Next Stop: Uni by UniHomes

Leaving home for the first time to go to a university in a brand new city can be a scary prospect. It’s probably the first time you’ve found yourself away from your mates, and we know that having to socially start afresh is daunting – but who says you can’t think ahead and start to make friends before you even set foot on campus?

Here are our tips on how to connect with your flatmates and coursemates before you arrive at university, so that you can start building yourself a support network and spend less time worrying about making friends and more time on what to pack.

Follow the Freshers 🕵️

Where there are Freshers, there are friends. Your uni will probably have a dedicated Facebook group just for students starting this academic year, and joining your uni’s Freshers Facebook group is an easy way for you to chat with your fellow Freshers and potentially make friends. Some courses will invite you to groups too to connect with others on your course.

Just make sure that any groups you’re in are the real deal – you don’t want to accidentally join any scam pages.

Seek out soc socials 📱

Already know what societies you want to join? Check out their socials and see if they’ve posted anything congratulating incoming Freshers on their A Level results. The comment sections on these posts tend to be filled with other soon-to-be-students who’re in the same boat as you, and reaching out to these like-minded people can be a great way to make new friends. After all, you clearly share similar interests if you’re all intrigued by the same societies.

The same goes for any department and course socials! Befriend the people in the comments of these pages and you’ll have yourself a 9am lecture buddy in no time.

(As always, be careful with what information you share with strangers online.)

Housemate harmony 🏠

If you’re lucky, your accommodation admin team will tell you the names of everyone you’re going to be living with. Be bold and use this info to find your flatmates on Facebook or Instagram, and create a group chat with everyone in it to get the ball rolling.

Everyone will be super grateful for you doing this, and it’s a great way to get the icebreakers over and done with before you’ve even moved in.

Stay in school 📚

…Kind of. But if you know anyone from your school, college, or sixth form who’s also going to the same university as you, there’s no harm in reaching out and braving the world of Freshers together. It might put you at ease to have someone you already know by your side, and you may even find that it makes making new friends easier.

Mindfulness matters 🧘

Remember that everyone at uni is in the same boat as you. They’re just as worried and nervous about making friends as you, so relax! And make sure you…

Practice patience 🙏

The right friends for you will come at the right time. Whether you meet them a few weeks down the line because of a group project or a few years in on a night out, you’ll find your people eventually. In the meantime, enjoy meeting new people, trying out societies, and making the most of your uni experience.