Best Universities for Clubs and Societies 2022

Offering over 350 societies for students to join, the Uni of Sheffield has finally won the Clubs and Societies award, after ranking second in 2021. The choices for students include beekeeping, cosplay and skateboarding societies. Sheffield’s Give it a Go scheme allows students to try out new activities without any commitment - perfect for those wanting to explore different club options. The Sheffield Volunteering scheme links local charities and schools to students who want to develop further skills and help the wider community in their spare time. Also, there are over 80 sports teams that host training and events each week.

St Andrews has over 150 societies, all run by 11 different subcommittees that help support and organise events for each category. There are classic academic clubs for each type of degree, alongside special interest groups focused on topics such as science fiction and fantasy, politics, faith, cultures and the arts. Saints Sport encompasses over 50 sports clubs at the university, as well as managing the facilities and organising fixtures.

It's easy to get involved at The University of Manchester: the SU offers over 300 student-run clubs, societies and campaigns. Whether it’s comedy, cyber-security or chess, there is something for everyone. If a society doesn’t exist yet, students can start new groups, as long as they have enough members to begin with. Manchester is full of volunteering opportunities. An example is Student Action, which allows students to work with local communities and make change happen.

There are over 100 societies in RUSU, playing host to students connecting over academics, careers, arts, campaigns, culture, faith, hobbies and politics. Playing sport at this university means representing the Reading Knights at competitions, whether that is in ultimate frisbee, softball, lacrosse or rugby. Want to find a niche society? Options include caving, sailing and clay pigeon shooting at Reading, so students can find their new passion.

Students wanting a huge range of choice should look no further than Birmingham, with over 500 organised clubs and societies. For UoB students, time isn’t just spent academically, but also socially. Why not try Esports or join the Gospel Choir? There are many interesting choices, with some students taking part in Hide and Seek, Silent Film or even the Pasta society! Sporty students are also catered to at UoB, with over 50 different teams to get involved with.

Over 400 clubs and societies are on offer at the University of Cambridge. There are university-wide groups as well as inter-college groups which is great for students of all personalities, introverts and extroverts alike. Most colleges have sports and music clubs but there are wider options across the university. Some examples of societies include AI in medicine, a boat club, consulting, equine veterinary, railway and modern pentathlon.

Helping to bring like-minded people together, Bangor University offers over 200 clubs and societies. A variety of groups that celebrate culture, diversity and personal interests are accessible at Bangor, ensuring every student finds their ideal group. This could be sports, special interests or volunteering and students can join as many societies as they wish with no pressure to commit to any early on.

Looking to enjoy student life beyond the textbooks and library sessions? UEA offers an assortment of societies that suit every student. The thought of presenting for student television at UEA TV might seem exciting for some, whereas others may prefer to share their favourite recipes at Vegan society. There are over 250 clubs and societies at UEA so the choices are extensive!

The selection of societies extends to over 200 choices at the Liverpool Guild of Students. As the LGS wants to improve student life, these groups have access to funding of up to £4,000, so students can make their society event ideas a reality. Choices include Animal welfare, Bhangra, Catholic, CrispSoc and Karaoke society!

Trying something new at Northumbria University is easy, with over 100 societies and volunteering projects to get involved with. Students can go abroad, learn new skills or discuss topics of interest with people similar to them in the wide array of society choices. Examples include snowsports, BangladeshSoc and the Harry Potter society.

Welcoming students from all over the world, societies at Aberdeen cater for people from all cultures and backgrounds. There are over 100 options to choose from such as wild swimming, 5-a-side football, Egyptology, linguistics and various cultural groups. If a society doesn’t exist yet, AUSA ensures that students receive the training and assistance in setting up new groups.

Want to have the best social life, make new friends and have a great-looking CV? Joining a society at Southampton will tick all these boxes. Choices include 40+ cultural groups, 35+ performing arts groups and 30+ social action groups, and that is just three categories! If there are too many options, there is a random society selector tool on the SUSU website to help in decision-making. We love that!

For many students at NTU, being a member of a society is their favourite part of university life. Getting involved in societies helps to develop skills in leadership, teamwork and events organisation, all of which would look great on a CV. There are over 130 different societies at Nottingham Trent, including RAG, belly dancing, documentary, chemistry and mixed rounders.

Joining a society at Exeter is the perfect way to meet people with similar interests. Exeter’s Student Guild has over 300 societies, all providing a platform for socialising, enjoying down-time from studying and practising key skills. There are 13 different society categories at Exeter, namely, medical, media, outdoor, political, faith, fitness and charities.

Upwards of 200 societies can be joined at Cardiff University, all hosting weekly events and socials for their members. Memberships can be obtained at any point in the year, so there is no pressure to make any society choices in freshers week. Each month the Students' Union promotes a ‘Society of the Month’ which students can nominate groups for.

There is bound to be a society for every student at Warwick, with the amount of groups exceeding 250. Whether it is the allotment society or the theatre tech crew society, students are able to find a group that suits them, to really express themselves and use their skills to contribute to the group.

Clubs and societies are an invaluable part of the university lifestyle at Leeds. There are more than 300 societies, all set up by students that are enthusiastic about what they love. Covering virtually every interest under the sun, some of the options are archery, KPOP dance, Nintendo & Pokemon, and spoken word.

The University of Glasgow offers over 300 societies associated with the Student Representative Council. Joining a club whilst at Glasgow is a notable way to gain more than just a degree from university. Students sing their hearts out at acapella society, or take part in a cocktail masterclass with the gin society... only a few of the exciting socials to enjoy.

Making new friends at the University of Essex is straightforward through joining student-led societies. Regardless of what interest they focus on, societies can complement degree-study, create time to relax or accelerate a social calendar. Some interesting societies at Essex are environmental sustainability, bookish, debating, blockchain & cryptocurrency and musical theatre appreciation.

There are socialising opportunities for every interest at the University of Bristol. 400+ student groups arrange events and activities. If a group doesn’t exist yet, Bristol SU has the resources to set one up, including organisation and leadership training sessions. Bristol also runs Intramural, a social-sports league for any ability, for students who love sport but aren’t able to commit to a team.