How to Find Your People at University Before Freshers’ Week Even Starts

Starting university is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also feel a bit strange.

One minute you are packing bedding, kitchen bits and far too many “just in case” outfits. The next, you are thinking about living with people you have never met, walking into lecture halls full of strangers and somehow building a whole new social life from scratch.

The good news is that you do not have to wait until Freshers’ Week to start finding your people. In fact, some of the best connections begin before you have even moved into halls, picked up your student card or worked out where the nearest supermarket is.

Whether you are heading to the University of Leeds, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University, the University of Bristol or a smaller campus-based university, the same rule applies: friendships are often built through shared spaces, shared interests and small moments of bravery.

Start With Your Course Group Chats

One of the easiest ways to meet people before university starts is through course group chats. These usually pop up on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or student forums once offers are confirmed and accommodation decisions start coming through.

At first, they can feel a bit awkward. There might be lots of “Hi, I’m studying psychology” messages, a few people asking about reading lists and someone who already seems to know everything.

Do not let that put you off. These chats are useful because everyone is in the same boat, even if they are pretending not to be.

Introduce yourself simply. Say what course you are doing, where you are moving from and maybe one thing you are looking forward to. You do not need to perform or try to be the funniest person in the chat. Just being friendly and visible makes it easier for people to recognise you later.

Course group chats can also help you find people to walk to your first lecture with, compare timetables, ask about textbooks and arrange a coffee before teaching begins. That one early message could turn into the person you sit next to for the whole first term.

Join Accommodation Groups Before Moving In

If you are moving into halls or private student accommodation, check whether there is a group chat for your building, block or flat. Many university accommodation teams and student housing providers encourage students to join official or unofficial groups before move-in weekend.

These groups can be surprisingly helpful. You can find out who is bringing a toaster, whether anyone has already bought cleaning products and what time people are arriving. More importantly, they give you a chance to get familiar with the people you may be living near.

If you are studying in a city like Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham or Newcastle, where students are often spread across different accommodation sites and neighbourhoods, these groups can make the city feel smaller before you arrive.

You might discover that someone in your accommodation is on your course, supports the same football team or is also nervous about Freshers’ Week.

Try suggesting something low-pressure, such as meeting in the common room, going for a walk around campus or doing a supermarket trip together. It does not have to be a big social plan. Sometimes friendship starts with finding someone else who also needs to buy pasta, washing-up liquid and a laundry basket.

Look at Societies Before the Freshers’ Fair

Freshers’ fairs are great, but they can also be overwhelming. There are stalls everywhere, people handing out flyers, sports teams trying to recruit and more free pens than anyone could possibly need.

Looking at societies before you arrive gives you time to think about what genuinely interests you.

Most students’ unions list societies online. You will usually find academic societies, cultural societies, faith groups, creative clubs, political groups, gaming communities, music societies and plenty of niche options too.

Universities such as the University of Warwick, University of York and University of Glasgow often have a huge range of student-led groups, from debating to baking, climbing to comedy.

Do not only choose societies based on what sounds impressive. Choose at least one that feels fun. University is not just about building a CV. It is also about finding places where you can relax and be yourself.

If you are nervous, message a society on Instagram before Freshers’ Week. Ask whether they are doing welcome events or beginner-friendly sessions. Most societies are used to new students joining alone, and many will make an effort to help you feel included.

Use Sports Clubs Even If You Are Not “Sporty”

Sports clubs are not only for people who played at county level or spent school doing athletics every weekend. Many university sports clubs have beginner sessions, social memberships and recreational teams.

Joining a sports club can be a brilliant way to meet people because it gives you routine. You see the same people every week, you do something active together and you do not have to rely entirely on small talk.

Whether it is five-a-side football, netball, rowing, tennis, climbing, badminton or ultimate frisbee, shared activity makes conversation easier.

At universities with strong sports cultures, such as Loughborough University, Durham University or the University of Bath, clubs can be a big part of student life. But every university will have options for different levels. You do not need to be the best. You just need to turn up.

If full commitment feels too much, try a taster session. Freshers’ Week may be when many clubs officially recruit, but following them online beforehand means you will know what is available and which sessions are suitable for beginners.

Try Volunteering to Meet Like-Minded People

Volunteering is one of the most underrated ways to make friends at university. It attracts people who care about something beyond their own timetable, and that can lead to more meaningful conversations.

Many universities have volunteering schemes connected to local charities, schools, food banks, environmental projects, community gardens, youth organisations and fundraising campaigns.

If you are moving to a new city, volunteering can also help you understand the area beyond campus.

For example, students in Manchester might get involved with community projects across the city, while students in Bristol may find opportunities linked to sustainability, homelessness support or local arts initiatives.

In university towns like Exeter, Lancaster or St Andrews, volunteering can help students feel more connected to the wider community rather than staying in a student bubble.

You do not need to sign up for everything. One regular volunteering activity can be enough. It gives structure to your week, helps you meet people with similar values and can be a gentle confidence boost when everything else feels new.

Explore Local Events Before You Arrive

Your university social life does not have to revolve entirely around campus.

Before you move, look up local events in your new city or town. Check out live music nights, food markets, comedy events, art exhibitions, bookshops, community festivals, open mic nights and independent cinemas.

This is especially useful if you are not sure Freshers’ Week club nights are your thing. Not everyone wants to go out every night, and that is completely fine. Finding local events gives you other ways to socialise.

If you are going to university in London, Leeds, Brighton, Edinburgh or Glasgow, there will usually be loads happening outside the university bubble. Even smaller cities and towns often have student-friendly events, especially in September and October.

You could post in a group chat and ask whether anyone fancies going to a local market, a pub quiz or a live music night. It is a simple way to meet people without the pressure of a huge night out.

Consider Part-Time Work as a Social Route

A part-time job can be useful for money, but it can also help you meet people outside your course and accommodation. Cafés, bars, shops, campus ambassador roles, student union jobs and tutoring work often bring students together naturally.

Working a few shifts a week can give you a sense of routine and independence. It also helps if you are someone who finds socialising easier when there is a task to focus on.

You do not have to walk into a room and “make friends”. You just work alongside people, chat during quieter moments and gradually get to know them.

Campus jobs can be particularly good because your colleagues are often other students who understand your timetable and university life. Local jobs can also help you feel more at home in the city.

Just be realistic. Do not take on so many hours that you leave no time for studying, rest or socialising. The aim is to support your university experience, not exhaust yourself before term has properly started.

Be Brave, But Keep It Simple

Finding your people at university often comes down to small acts of bravery.

Sending the first message. Asking if someone wants to grab coffee. Sitting next to someone in a welcome talk. Joining a society even though you do not know anyone there. Saying yes to a walk, a film night or a study session.

The trick is not to put too much pressure on every interaction. Not everyone you meet in the first week will become a close friend, and that is normal. Some people will be Freshers’ Week friends. Some will be course friends. Some will be people you smile at in the kitchen but never really get close to. A few may become your actual people.

It is also worth remembering that confidence is not always loud. You can be quiet and still be brave. You can feel nervous and still introduce yourself. You can be homesick and still make plans.

Do Not Panic If It Takes Time

There is a common myth that everyone finds their perfect friendship group in the first few days of university. In reality, friendships often take weeks or months to properly settle.

People change groups, discover new interests and become more themselves once the pressure of arrival fades.

If Freshers’ Week starts and you do not instantly feel like you have found your crowd, nothing has gone wrong. Keep showing up. Go to the second society meeting, not just the first. Message someone from your course. Invite a flatmate for lunch. Try a volunteering session. Join a sports taster. Explore the city.

University is full of people quietly hoping someone else will make the first move. Sometimes, finding your people starts when you decide to be that person.

Before Freshers’ Week even begins, you can give yourself a head start by joining the right chats, following societies, exploring local events and staying open to different types of friendships.

You do not need to arrive with a ready-made social life. You just need to arrive willing to try.

Your people may be in your flat, on your course, at a society social, behind the counter at your part-time job, on the same bus route or standing awkwardly next to you at a welcome event. Give yourself the chance to find them.