Welcome to Edinburgh! Whether you are a new or returning student, the start of the semester is always an exciting time. Between moving cities or countries, finding accommodation, completing your international check in and more, Welcome Week truly flies by. By now, you are hopefully starting to feel a little more settled in Edinburgh – but you may still be looking for ways to meet people, make friends and try out new experiences. The good news is, it’s never too late to get involved with your student community! Here are our top tips to help you build a community in your home away from home.  

Join a society or student group 

Joining a student group or a society is a great way to connect with people around a shared interest. Not only you’ll get to expand your social circle on campus, but you’ll also have the chance to engage in your favourite activities or learn something new! The best place to find out what societies you can join is on the Students’ Association website - you can browse by category depending on your interests or just scroll through the whole list. Most societies run taster sessions during the first weeks of term, which can be great to decide if you’re interested in becoming a regular member.  

Society and Peer Learning and Support group: what’s the difference? 

Societies are student-led, democratic membership organisations that cover a wide range of interests and activities. Great to join if you’re looking for a space to socialise and engage in your hobbies! 

Peer Learning and Support groups (like Global Buddies!) are student-led groups offering academic and pastoral support to their fellow students – their peers. Great to join if you’re looking for academic support or for more targeted support from a student peer! If you're interested in getting more involved with the international student community, check out Tandem Language Exchange or English Second Language PALS!  

Get involved with your local community 

While most of your student life will obviously be centered around university, Edinburgh has so much more to offer! Volunteering can help you meet new people and build a sense of belonging to the local community. Check out our Volunteering Hub to discover what exciting opportunities are available to you.  

Learn something new

Why not looking for ways to develop existing skills or learn new ones? Language courses are a popular option – the university runs some great ones. If you’re into sports or want to get more active, join a gym – you can get a nice student discount at the Pleasance gym. You can also explore the range of workshops offered by the University or the Students' Association.

Finding your place in a new environment is a process – take things at your own pace and remember that there is always time to get involved with something! We hope you have a wonderful start to your semester.