A significant majority of students are missing out on one of the most valuable aspects of higher education, according to new research. A survey conducted by Savanta found that 67% of students did not take part in any clubs, societies or social activities during term time, with those commuting from home among the most likely to stay on campus. Yet for the students and graduates who did get involved, extracurricular involvement proved transformative — shaping careers, building confidence and creating lasting friendships. Here is everything you need to know about making the most of university life outside the classroom.
The Case for Getting Involved
For many students, the transition into higher education can feel isolating. Lecture halls are impersonal, and making friends takes time and effort. Societies offer a ready-made community of people who share your interests, whether those interests lie in music, sport, debate or creative arts.
The benefits extend well beyond socialising. Participation in university clubs builds transferable skills that employers actively value. Graduates who have held leadership roles within societies often find themselves better equipped for the professional world than peers who focused solely on academics.
“Clubs and societies are a huge part of student life, though many miss out on them,” the survey findings suggest, pointing to a clear gap between opportunity and participation. The message from those who took part is unmistakable: getting involved is worth the effort.
How to Make the Right Choices
Sign up broadly before committing. Freshers are often eager but uncertain about where to invest their time. Dell, a 25-year-old graduate in Japanese from Oxford University, recommends casting a wide net early on. “You’ll probably end up joining more societies than you might be able to keep up throughout your time at university and that’s totally normal,” Dell says. “I definitely recommend joining at least two, because it is such a great way to meet people. It can be quite a great escape from when you’re feeling stressed about university work or other situations.”
Izzy Clark, a 20-year-old anthropology student at the University of Aberdeen, echoes this approach. “Join maybe three or four and then decide whether or not you like them, because it’s harder to join the societies midway through the semester after they’ve settled into a routine,” Clark says. “I had no idea whether or not I would enjoy joining the show choir, as I wasn’t a particularly confident person, but I found that it definitely helped me.”
Put your extracurriculars to work. Joining a society is not just about enjoyment — it can directly enhance your employability. Alex Frost, a 24-year-old history graduate from the University of Edinburgh, says his role on the committee of his orchestra proved more valuable to his current career working in a prison than anything he studied during his degree. He learned “a lot of skills in how to interact with people and leading projects,” he says. “For example we had someone who needed financial support to buy an instrument and we dealt with that. We also organised a tour to the Lake District. And that’s the sort of stuff that you have to do in a real job. You have to get out of your comfort zone.”
Isabella, a 26-year-old film-making graduate from the University of Sussex, found that her position as social secretary of her cheerleading squad gave her skills that opened professional doors. “I became social sec around the time when people realised you could make a career out of social media – and it was really helpful for me to put on my CV.”
Try before you commit. Financial pressure on students is real, and not every club will be the right fit. Radhika, a 22-year-old medicine student at Queen’s University Belfast, advises freshers to explore before they invest. “Asking if they’ve got any free taster events allows you to see if you’d like to join that one and potentially commit to membership. It just means you’re saving money, especially considering how expensive everything is nowadays.”
For students who find in-person networking daunting, digital connection can serve as a useful bridge. Martha Page, a 23-year-old graduate from Lancaster University, recommends starting online. “My main advice is to join WhatsApp group chats and connect with people online first.” Page, who is blind and experiences anxiety, says this approach helped “take the pressure out” of joining a new group. “Before the session, that can open some doors so I would advise anyone to do that first.”
Remember that everyone is learning. The freshers’ fair can feel overwhelming, but society leaders are there precisely because they want new members. Isabella notes that simply recognising this can ease anxiety. “I think just realising that can help when you’re going around the freshers’ fair,” she says. “The people running the socs want people to join, so I think it’s good to just go up to their desk and say you’ll join.”
What to Watch Out For
Not all aspects of university society life are universally positive, and students should be aware of potential pitfalls.
Do not dismiss sport automatically. Isabella, who describes herself as thoroughly uncoordinated, warns against assuming that physical activities are not for you. “As a thoroughly unsporty 18-year-old, I somehow settled on one of the two cheerleading groups at my university,” she says. “I was as coordinated as a newborn foal. We were not a competitive cheer club, and we didn’t have a coach, but we had big sparkly bows and each other.”
Be cautious about unstructured socialising. Some societies carry a culture that extends beyond their stated purpose. Dell recalls her time at a Marxist society with some disappointment. “I definitely think a lot of student culture revolves around drinking,” Dell says, reflecting on the experience. “Regardless of whether it’s a structured society or not. But I think the less structured societies are more susceptible to just becoming excuses to get really drunk together.”
Do not skip out entirely. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that even modest participation is better than none. Isabella, reflecting on her own university years, offers a simple piece of advice: “My only bad experience is I wish I had done even more.”
Why it Matters
The divide between students who engage with extracurricular life and those who do not is more than a matter of entertainment — it is a question of equity and outcomes. With two-thirds of students opting out, particularly those from commuter backgrounds, there is a real risk that the benefits of university societies are concentrated among a privileged few. These clubs build confidence, develop professional skills and foster networks that can shape trajectories for years to come. Universities, employers and students themselves should recognise that participation is not a luxury but a core component of what makes higher education transformative. For anyone starting their degree this autumn, the message from those who took the leap is clear: show up, sign up, and see what happens.
