We know that university is about so much more than just your degree (although that's really important!). It's also about making friends, pursuing new passions, getting political, getting active, going to events, and trying something new.
We want everything you do here to give you experiences and skills that will stay with you long after you've graduated. Learning is a social activity after all...
On this page, you'll find our favourite things to get involved with at UCL. Like coming along to hundreds of different events, or hanging out at UCL East, taking part in Project Active, making a difference with our community volunteering opportunities, having fun in the social leagues, making a change by becoming a student representative, or joining a student-led group or network, there are so many ways for you make the most of your time at UCL.
Take up volunteering
There's no better way to:
- make friends
- give back to the communities you're living in
- discover London in a completely unique way
- learn invaluable skills
We've been finding ways for UCL students to make a difference since 2002 with over 2,000 students volunteering on our projects each year. We've got hundreds of different volunteering roles, including flexible and one-off opportunities. Have an explore, find something you like and get involved!
Join Project active
You shouldn't have to be a pro-athlete or be into competitive sports to enjoy moving your body. That's why we started Project Active.
Project Active offers low cost, beginner friendly physical activity for all UCL staff and students including weekly classes, social sport and one off events. Our low-cost weekly classes run throughout term time and include Pilates, Yoga, This Girl Can Dance, Regents Park Run and Barre. Three of our classes are women only and are led by female instructors. All of our classes are beginner friendly and offer a relaxed and social environment to meet fellow UCL students.
No Commitment. No Judgement. No Experience needed. Just beginner friendly, inclusive activity adapted to you.
We also have our 'Learn to...' sessions which offer you the opportunity to learn a new skill and meet like-minded people.
Discover UCL East
We're so excited to welcome you all to UCL East and show you all Stratford has to offer. We're in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where you can still swim in the Olympic size swimming pool.
We're also 1 minute away from the famous Westfield shopping centre. Or if shopping isn't your thing, why not rent a Santander bike and cycle up the canal and get back to nature at Hackney Marshes.
If you like kicking back with a drink or snack, there are no better places than Here East and Hackney Wick to grab a craft beer or stone back pizza.
To help you settle into UCL East life we have a whole load of exciting events and things to get involved with.
Get active
The Welcome period is a festival of all things great at UCL, and of course, that means there's plenty of sport and physical activity taking place! It's the perfect chance to get to know our sports clubs through taster sessions, trials and social events.
It's an opportunity to throw yourself into a Project Active event like 5-aside football or UV Dodgeball, or try out some of our Bloomsbury Fitness gym classes and tours.
Make a change
Our Union is run by students, for students. If you are interested in making a difference to students at UCL, have a look at our Make a Change Webpage to find out more about leadership positions within the Students' Union.
Whether you are interested in representing students on your course, in your halls or you have a specific passion we guarantee there will be a leadership position for you!
Your departments will give you more information about being a Course Rep in your first couple of weeks of teaching and nominations close for the Students' Union Rep Elections on Monday 16 October. Get in touch with our team on [email protected] if you have any questions.
Come along to (lots) of events
Our events are designed to help you meet people, try new things and have fun and did you know over 85% of our events are alcohol-free? We love putting on a good club night, but we do so much more than just that.
We make sure we have something for everyone - if you're a night life lover, new to London, bringing the family, here for the culture, looking for postgrad only events we have an event for you.
Join a group
Whether you're keen juggler, K-Pop fan, rugby lover, board game player, theatre kid, political thinker, looking for a cultural group or so much more - we have it all with over 400 clubs and societies.
Whether you've been doing it for years, or fancy trying something new there's no limit to what you can do - so why not find your tribe now?
Have fun at our 5-aside social leagues
Our 5-aside Football Social Leagues run as part of our Project Active Social Sports programme to create opportunities for groups of friends and societies to compete against other teams.
These are friendly and fun competitions with the chance to participate in a sport you may not have tried for a while or just to enjoy playing in a social capacity.