Welcome - or welcome back - to UCL! We’re here to help you make the most of your time here, to help you feel part of the UCL community and help you achieve the things you want to during your time here.
We’re your route to more than 400 groups, countless volunteering opportunities, events, great places to eat, drink and chill in, an Advice Service when you need it, and if you want to make lasting change at UCL, we can help you do that too.
Whether you're new to UCL or you're just settling into a new term, you'll find lots of different ways to make friends, experience new things, and have fun. And remember - it's never too late to get involved!
From club nights to plant sales, here's everything you can get involved with...
Your Students' Union
We're here to help you make the most of your UCL experience. From clubs and societies, to volunteering and events. Spaces just for students, and whole load more...
Student Life
Your time at University isn't all about hiding in the library - you're part of the amazing UCL student community. We've got plenty of clubs, societies, events and more to help you make the most of your time here
Postgraduate Welcome
Postgrads make up over half of UCL's student community, so we've got tons of events and advice to make you feel at home.
Food & Drink
Your morning latte, your lunchtime meal deal and your Friday night pizza and pints - we've got all of that and more at our very own cafes & bars. You'll find that our prices are a lot more pocket-friendly than your average coffee shop or central London pub, too.
Our guide to London
Welcome to your new home - with our guidance, you'll be a seasoned Londoner in no time.
Housing
We're here to help every step of the way, whether its queries about student accommodation or entering the world of flat-hunting. We can't help you decide how to decorate your room, though.
Things to do around UCL East
A shiny new UCL campus isn't all that East London has to offer - there's a lot going on in Stratford!
More tips and tricks
What London park do UCL students love to hang out at? Where's the best place to buy an avocado? Very important questions. See below for the answers to these and more.
The Hanger
What better way to kick off your first term than with our exclusive branded merch? We’ve got tees, sweaters, caps, TeamUCL kit and more available at The Hanger. Grab a hoodie to pull on for those 9AM lectures, or a tote bag to throw all your essentials in.
We put every penny of profit back into your community. Every time you buy something from our shop, cafes and bars, you help us do the things we do.
Our shops
Last year, we opened two brand new convenience shops at our Bloomsbury and UCL East campuses.
You'll be able to grab a meal deal, pick up the ingredients you need for dinner or treat yourself to an impulsive sweet treat. All of our staff are students, just like you, so it's the friendliest convenience store you'll ever visit!
- What is Students’ Union UCL?
UCL is a huge community, and at the heart of that community is the Students’ Union. We’re here to help you make the most of your time at UCL, we’re the place where more happens. Your route to 320 Clubs and Societies, countless volunteering opportunities, events and opportunities to socialise, great places to eat, drink and chill in, an Advice Service when you need it, and if you want to make lasting change at UCL, we can help you do that too.
We’re led by students, democratically. Students decide what we do and how we do it and 1,000’s of students are elected each year to do just that. Six students even take a year out of their studies each year and get paid to make decisions, influence UCL, and represent you. They’re called Sabbatical Officers.
We’re separate from UCL, which means, whatever happens, we’ve got your back. We’re only ever working for you
- How can I make friends?
Come along to our events, join our clubs and societies, chat to people on your course, strike up a conversation in one of our cafes, join a pub quiz or bingo team at our bars, attend a Project Active class... the list is endless. Here's a few ways UCL students met their friends.
- What can you help me with?
We can help you do more at UCL, but what does that mean?
Volunteer. We have a team of people here to help you find ways to volunteer (online and in-person) in the local community. An amazing way to discover London, develop skills and give back. Find out more and browse their directory here.
Lead. We support 1,000’s of different student leaders each year. These leaders run the clubs, societies, campaigns and networks that help make our community at UCL truly special.
Make change. We help students make change at UCL, from small changes on your course to institution-wide changes. Elected Representatives are working all year-round to make your life a UCL better.
Support. When times get tough, we’re here for you. Our Advice Service can support you with academic issues (like complaints), money issues (like debt and budgeting), housing issues (like contract checking) and lots more. We’re here for you.
- Where can I hang out on campus?
Our bars, cafes, shops and gym will be open and ready to welcome you in January. Pizza from Stone Willy's, Pints in the Huntley, Paninis in Gordon’s Cafe, or pull-ups in Bloomsbury Fitness – we’re here for it all, including things that don’t start with ‘p’.
Our bars, cafes, shops and gym work a little differently to the kind you might be used to. We live by four promises; we put every penny of profit back into your community, we’re always better value than the high-street, we’ll choose planet over profit every time, and we’ll be at the centre of your campus community from start to finish.
- How do you join clubs and societies?
Clubs and Societies are run by students, supported by us. They’re groups of students connected by a shared interest or passion - like K-Pop, or football. There’s a lot of groups so we’re sure you’ll find the one for you.
You can join online through our website. Have a browse through the Clubs and Societies Directory. Come along to our Welcome Fair and meet clubs and society committees and ask them about what they do.
- Where can I get more info about UCL?
UCL is regularly updating its FAQ pages for new students, follow the links below for the latest information: