Clubs and societies during Welcome Week
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5 reasons you should join a club or society at university

Get involved in university life
Want to meet like-minded people or discover a newfound hobby or passion? Joining a university club or society lets you do this and so much more!

Becoming an active part of a university group is a great way to meet new people and get involved in the local community and student life on campus. Need more convincing? Here are five reasons you should join a club or society at the University of Sydney.

1. Discover new interests

With over 200 clubs and societies to choose from, it’s hard not to find a group that piques your interest. The University of Sydney Union (USU) offers a huge variety of clubs and societies, categorised into the following nine groups:

  • Academic
  • Art, Music & Performance
  • Culture & Language
  • Faith & Religion
  • Hobbies & Special Interest
  • Political
  • Professional
  • Social Impact & Advocacy
  • Sport & Recreation

If sports are more your speed, Sydney Uni Sport have more than 40 different sports clubs you can join, from boxing to badminton, to cricket and canoeing.

Students from the the Sydney University Judo Club posing for a photo

The Sydney University Judo Club (SUJC)

2. Make new friends

Meeting new people can feel daunting, but joining a club or society is a fun and stress-free way to connect with others and form new friendships. 

Most clubs and societies host regular social events and activities, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know other students, many of whom have also joined to meet new people and make friends at uni.  

Joining a club or society also means that you have the chance to make friends beyond your classes since you might be mingling with students across a range of cohorts and study areas. 

Students from the Sydney University Musical Society singing at Welcome

The Sydney University Musical Society (SUMS)

3. Find your community

Joining a university club or society is a great way to form networks that will be there to support you throughout your degree.  

If you're interested in celebrating one of the many cultural communities represented in our student community, you can join a cultural club or society and connect with like-minded students. 

If you have a specific interest or are keen on learning more about a community or a hobby, join a special interest group. From interest-based clubs like robotics, roller-skating or radio to societies that are more focused on your area of study such as the Designers Association or Queer STEM, you’re sure to find a group of people you can connect with and rely upon for academic and personal support when you need it.

A group of students at a stall

The Sydney Uni Greek Society (SUGS)

4. Learn and practice skills 

Classes aren’t the only place on campus to learn and refine your skills. Joining a club or society allows you to build new professional, academic and interest-based skills in a different setting – be it on the sports field or in a shared community space.

Being part of a club or society also allows you to refine your professional skills. Most employers are looking for evidence that you've applied the skills you've learned from your studies in real-world scenarios, so taking up a leadership role in a club or society is a fun way to prepare for your career. Plus, it looks great on your resume.

Students at club and society stalls during Welcome

The Sydney University Business Society (SUBS)

5. It's easy to join

Finally, university clubs and societies are easy to join! All you need to join is a free USU membership, which you can sign up for online at any time. Some clubs and societies may require a small fee to join, which goes towards organising their activities. 

After joining, most student societies will share event details on social media or through digital newsletters, so make sure you stay up to date via these channels.

Check out the USU’s clubs and societies list to see all available groups in 2025.

29 January 2025

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