Student societies. You’ve probably heard a lot about them, but what exactly are they? Why should you join? And with over 60 to choose from, how do you find the right one for you?
Nick Rodgers, from Teesside University’s Students’ Union, answers your questions ahead of freshers’ week.
Guest blog: Nick Rodgers
Societies are extracurricular social groups which bring together students with shared interests, making joining one of the easiest ways to meet new people and make lifelong friends.
As well as spicing up your social calendar, societies can help you try something fun and different, develop skills and build networks to support your employability.
The best part? Our student societies are free to join this year, making this the perfect time for new and returning students to get acquainted with the 60 groups, such as tabletop gaming, knitting and table tennis.
Here are some tips to help you find the right society (or societies!) for you…
- Check the Students’ Union website
The Students’ Union website has full details of all of the student societies you can join, which means it’s a great starting point for your search.
Look through the societies by category – Academic Studies, Culture, Faith and Inclusivity and Pastimes – and make a note of any that catch your eye. You’ll be left with a shortlist of the societies you’d like to find out more about.
- Visit the societies fair
During freshers’ week, we’re hosting a societies fair. It’s the perfect place to explore the societies on offer and get more information about individual groups directly from members.
Pop along to the Students’ Union on Tuesday 17 September between 10.00am and 3.00pm.
Missed the fair? Not to worry. There’ll be plenty more opportunities to speak to societies and those involved throughout the year.
- Find us on social media
Follow our dedicated account on Instagram @tusuactivities and we’ll keep you posted about our societies and the events they are hosting.
You can also find some individual societies on social media to get an idea of what they’re about. Why not take a look at the Comics Society @teescomicssociety?
- Try some tasters
Researching behind a screen will only get you so far. One of the best ways to find the right society for you is to try them out. So, why not pop along to some meetings for the societies you’re interested in?
It’ll help you get a sense of what being part of the society involves and meet the members. Plus, at the very least you’ll get to try something new.
- Contact group leaders
If you need more information about a society, such as how often they meet and what events or activities are involved, reach out to the group leaders. They’re really friendly and happy to answer any questions you might have.
Alternatively, you can stop by the Students’ Union welcome desk and speak to a member of the activities team. You can drop us an email too.
- Make your own
In the unlikely event that you try all of our societies and still can’t find the right one for you, we’ve got you covered. You can set up your own! All you need to do is find ten students who are interested in joining and drop your short proposal in our form.
Now you’ve found the right society for you, all that’s left is joining. And there’s just 4 simple steps to follow:
- You need to be a current student here to join a society, so log into the Student’s Union website and head to the Activities page.
- Search for the society you’re interested in.
- Read the information and click the ‘Join this group’ button.
- Receive a confirmation email detailing your next steps.
Which societies have caught your eye? Let us know in the comments…