15 Ways To Make Friends At Uni

If you’ve recently started at uni, you’ve probably noticed that making friends can be a little harder than it was in high school. You aren’t on campus as often and you have a new group of people in pretty much all your classes. So to make things a little easier, here are some tips on how to meet new people at uni and make lifelong friends.
 

Head to Open Day

Get in early and meet some of the people who are likely to go to the same uni as you. Knowing people before your first day will help you feel so at home from the get go, so Open Day is 100% worth going to for this reason alone.   

Go to O-Week

Orientation week is one of the best ways to make friends on campus. It’s literally designed for it. There are events like speed-dating (but for making friends) and other fun events all week to help you mingle with all the people starting uni at the same time as you. 
 

Join a society

ANU is home to an endless list of student-run societies that help people with similar interests connect. From Taylor Swift appreciating to celebrations of culture, there’s a club you’ll fit right into. 
 

Start your own society

If you have a particular interest in mind that doesn’t have a club or society yet, like a society where you talk about the political and economic state of the world right now, why not approach the uni board and see if you can start one up. 
 

Join an ally network

Want to support the LGBTQIA+ community and meet some amazing people while you’re at it? The ANU Ally Network is a safe and inclusive group of students that run a bunch of fun events which are the perfect opportunity to make new friends.
 

Play a sport

If you’re a bit of a sporty spice, joining a sports team is an easy way to meet new people. There are more than 30 sports to choose from at ANU so you can pick one that suits your vibe. 
 

Chat to people in class

You all have at least one thing in common, you’re interested in the subject you’re taking. Spark up a convo about the readings, assignments, or even their future aspirations. Go for your life! 
 

Attend social events on campus

ANU has a huge range of events happening every single week including art exhibitions, gigs as well as other classes and seminars. These are the perfect places to meet new people. Especially considering a lot of them will be there to make friends too!
 

Volunteer at campus events

This is a super easy way to meet people if you’re happy to lend your time to help out at a fun event. There will be plenty of downtime in between the busy parts of the day which are perfect for getting to know the other students who are volunteering. 
 

Go to mixers

Mixers are kind of like a more formal party. They’re designed to give you the opportunity to chat with as many people as possible, so there really is no better way to make friends.
 

Go to uni bar events

There are usually weekly events going on at the uni bar including trivia nights, society parties or open mic nights. If you like making friends in a more casual setting, this is the way to go.
 

Hang around the uni bar and cafes

If you spend enough time in the common areas on campus, you’ll be sure to spark up a convo with the people around you. Maybe you’ll notice the same person hanging around the same spot at a similar time and offer to buy them a coffee. 
 

Join a student governing body

If you’re keen on getting involved at a deeper level, ANU has a Students’ Association who aim to ensure the university is a fair and inclusive place to study. On top of helping the association achieve that, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet a bunch of like-minded people!
 

Reach out to mutual friends you know

If you’re going to a local university, chances are there’s someone in your classes who shares a mutual friend with you. If there’s someone you know that meets that bill, reach out to your friend and see if they can introduce you, or just go for gold and chat to your classmate using your mutual friend as an icebreaker.
 

Make the most of group assignments 

Depending on which degree you’re studying, you’ll probably have a couple of group assignments each semester. These are a perfect opportunity to chat with the people in your course and catch up with them outside of the classroom.