How to Make Friends at University
Whether you’re coming to Belfast from the other side of the world or from just down the road, starting university can be a daunting experience - and one you should not face alone. Find out how you can forge long lasting friendships at Queen's!
Freshers’ week
Freshers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to begin putting down your roots at Queen’s. Take a dander around the ground floor of the Queen’s Students’ Union at the beginning of the academic year and get chatting to students that are promoting over 200 clubs and societies at the annual Freshers’ Fair.
Whether you want to become part of a competitive team by joining one of our many sports clubs, or chat with new friends over wine and cheese, there are plenty of opportunities to expand your social circle.
Freshers’ Week doesn’t end with the fair – don’t forget to attend the various events taking place in the SU throughout September, such as Trash Bingo, Live Acoustic Sessions and Brunch. Why not ask your flatmates or fellow students from your course to tag along?
- How to Navigate Freshers' Fair
- Your Essential Guide to Freshers Week
Chat to fellow students at Freshers' Fair!
Campus events
The Queen’s Students’ Union is the heart of social activity on campus during each semester – the buzz doesn’t stop after Freshers’! Make sure to keep an eye out on the SU’s events page for weekly performances, quizzes and bingo nights. Special one-off events provide the perfect opportunity to meet with like-minded students with similar interests. Upcoming/recent events include:
- Big Disney Quiz
- LEGO Build and Beers
- Community Gardening
- The Big Quiz
- Harry Potter Pub Quiz
- Star Wars Pub Quiz
- Comedy Live at Mandela
Don’t forget to check out What’s On at Queen’s for events organised by various other departments within the university, including:
- Reading Seamus Heaney: Door Into The Dark
- Poetry, Prose, Pizza!
- Rejuvenation Yoga
- Networking for Introverts
Get involved in community gardening
Accommodation events and trips
While living in Queen’s student accommodation, resist the urge to spend the whole day studying or hanging out in your room – venture into the kitchen and share your meals with your flat mates, or organise a movie night in the living room! This is the perfect chance to make friends in a relaxed and open environment.
Queen’s Accommodation regularly organises events for those staying in halls – from pizza and quiz nights in the comfort of your accommodation, to day trips throughout Northern Ireland for the more adventurous.
If you are interested in having a larger role within the Queen’s community, why not become a Residential Assistant on behalf of your accommodation? Your role as RA gives you the opportunity to support fellow students in their transition to university accommodation and become a point of contact for student queries and advice.
- VIDEO: Day trip to Glenariff Forest Park
- VIDEO: Queen’s Accommodation Trips
- VIDEO: Come with me on a trip to the Giant's Causeway!
Organise a movie night with your flat mates!
Life in Belfast
Beyond campus events and opportunities, the city of Belfast has much to offer for students who are interested in meeting new people and immersing themselves in a new culture. Whether you want to communicate with others by learning a new language, or would like to join a Sunrise Social for fresh air and light exercise, check out some recommendations below:
- Sign up for Irish language lessons or learn to play the bodhrán at Grace O’Malley’s bar on Dublin road (located 10 minutes from the main campus). Queen’s Language Centre also offers an extensive range of language courses every semester, from beginner to advanced.
- Check out local talent at the Sunflower Bar’s comedy club, taking place on the last Sunday of every month.
- Visit the new Queen’s gaming café on the Lisburn road (located just 5 minutes from campus) and challenge a fellow gamer to a board game on the ground floor; or join a tournament in the state-of-the-art Esports centre.
- If you enjoy an early start to your day, join a Sunrise Social and take a gentle hike up Cavehill with a group of fellow early-risers.
- Head to Belfast’s LGBTQ+ Quarter for karaoke, weekly quiz nights and drag cabaret!
Check out the new Queen's gaming cafe
- Listen to traditional Irish music at a range of locations across the city, including McHugh’s (the oldest surviving building in Belfast!) and Madden’s Bar. Weekly traditional music trails are also available if you would like to experience live music with a larger group of new people.
- Join a dance class at the Crescent Arts Centre, located several minutes from campus. Choose from Pop Dance, Contemporary Dance, Adult Tap, Argentine Tango and more.
- Or join one of several local book clubs and meet some fellow readers! Clubs include Literature to the Tit (all-female), Waterstones Belfast and The Gloss – or why not start your own book club?
- Exploring Belfast on a Sunny Day – 5 Free Things To Do!
- Navigating Belfast's Nightlife: A Guide to Safe Fun
Top tips from our students
Want some advice directly from our students? Read their top tips below:
“Your first year of uni is when you’re most likely to have free time - make the most of it. At the start of the year, there will be lots of events and nights out running, and lots of chances to bond with flat mates and course mates. The best advice I can give - say yes! This is valuable time to get to meet new people, find your crowd and soak up new experiences.
Whether it’s lunch between lectures, a movie night, a trip to the pub - don’t be afraid to say yes, even if it’s outside of your comfort zone. When I look back on my early days, the odd things I said yes to doing led me to meet many of my close friends.”
“I would definitely say the main thing is to be confident in yourself and put yourself out there! When I first moved over from England to Belfast, I knew no one and I remember my first night in halls, I met 2 lovely girls and asked them if they wanted to go out for a few drinks that night. It turned out to be one of my favourite nights and I met so many more people that evening.”
- Katie Gordon, Broadcast Production, England
Don't be afraid to say yes to new opportunities
“What has helped me avoid feeling too homesick since I moved into my Queen’s Accommodation is the community of people at Elms BT9. The reception team organises social events every night at the Treehouse. There are holiday themed events, crafts and movie nights, and knowing there is always something going on helps me to get out of my head, out of my room, and more integrated into the community of other students.”
- Isabella Barros de la Rosa, Violence, Terrorism and Security, Colombia
“Everyone loves good food, and what better way to spend an evening than to host a potluck? My friends and I became closer as a group after sharing meals together, as it gave us an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations whilst enjoying our food. We did a Christmas themed potluck and it was great fun! You could try hosting a potluck with your flat mates to get to know them better, or with the people on your floor if you’re living in student accommodation.”
“Now, this does seem very vague and hard to do…this year I have called it ‘a brave day’ where I do something without someone I know or do something I’ve never done before, e.g. go to an event or try a new society alone. Don’t get me wrong, this is scary but this year I have found the more I do it, the less daunting it becomes. Try with one brave day a week and then you’ll realise you start saying yes and going to things alone and before you know it, you have had 3 brave days in a week!”
- Jadzia Armstrong, French and International Relations, England
The opportunities for making new friends and gaining new interests are endless – make the most of them and enjoy your first semester at Queen’s!
Find out more
Hannah ReillyStaff Writer | Queen's GlobalHi, I’m Hannah, a two-time graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and now a current staff member of Queen’s Global! As well as helping with general content management for the main Queen’s website, I also collaborate with current students to create relatable and useful content for the student blog. I studied BA English and MA English Literary Studies at Queen’s and have since worked in various editorial positions in Belfast, including previous roles as Editorial Assistant and Assistant Commissioning Editor for local publications. In my spare time, I enjoy reading novels (and attending various book clubs), studying Korean at the Queen’s Language Centre and attending Belfast Giants ice hockey games! |
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