Student life wouldn’t be the same without our incredible student groups, and we've got tons. Even if you only join one, they're the best way to make the most of your time here at UCL.
Before you get lost in the world of clubs and societies, here's all you need to know...
We have over 400 student groups...
That's right - you'll have more trouble narrowing down which to join than finding ones you like! Take a look for yourself and see what floats your boat, whether that's Boating Club, Taylor Swift Society, or something entirely different.
Societies are open to everybody - you don't have to be an expert!
At the beginning of the academic year, you’ll get to meet and try out as many societies as you can before deciding which ones to join for the year. But don’t worry if you don’t get to speak to all the societies you want to during the first few weeks - the ability to join societies is there all year-round so you can join anytime.
Our societies are there to help you learn and make the most of your time at University. No judgement here! Many sports societies have classes open to beginners, for example, and by attending taster sessions you'll be able to get a feel for what you might enjoy. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, everyone is in the same boat, and whatever you try will be a fun experience.
We have lots of societies named after different countries. But you don’t have to be from Afghanistan to join the Afghan Society - you just have to be interested in Afghan culture. These societies are a great way to learn more about the world around you and all students are welcome.
A ready-made group of friends
We’ve lost count of the number of students that say the friends they made and experiences they had through their club or society were an absolutely invaluable part of their time at UCL. Whether you want to hitchhike to Morocco with RAG or perform on a West End stage with the Drama Society; go on tour with your sports club or just meet people who share your passion, clubs and societies are the best way to do something amazing!
You can be as involved as you like - no pressure here!
Some students find that their activity of choice is central to their time at UCL and get heavily involved. And while it’s great if you feel that way, that’s not compulsory at all. If you just fancy occasionally going along to a social or having something you can dip in and out of, that’s absolutely fine too!
The good news is that most competitive sports games take place on Wednesday afternoons, which are kept entirely free of lectures to give everyone a chance to play.
Lots of our sports clubs have Postgrad teams with training timetables that fit around your schedule and all of the groups welcome members from all walks of life.
There are lots of career-building societies
Getting involved with societies like Artificial Intelligence Society and Women in Finance is a great way to help you get a step ahead when you start your career (even if it seems a bit odd to be thinking about that before you even get here!). Such career-building societies often feature talks, career fairs, networking events and more.
That said, getting involved in any society shows commitment, teamwork, and self development. If you want to go one step further, you can join your club or society’s committee and get some management experience too.
Membership costs vary
It all depends on how much equipment your activity requires and other elements of running the activity. But one thing never changes - the amount of your membership that goes to funding your activities. 100% of membership fees are used to run clubs and societies (along with extra funding from elsewhere in the Union, such as profit made in our cafes and bars).
If you need some help to afford an activity, we're here for you. You can apply for our Participation Fund, a pot of money current UCL students can apply for to help enable them to take part in Students’ Union UCL clubs and societies as well as any other co-curricular or extra-curricular activities.
Lastly, it's never too late to join...
No rush to sign up in your first week; all joining is done online and can be done at any time. If a group doesn’t fit with your timetable in term one, check back in term two, because maybe it will then.
