The Benefits of Joining a Club/Society at Queen’s
Our student bloggers explain how joining a club/society at Queen's has enriched their university experience.
It gets you out of your comfort zone
"I am a member of both the Law Society and the Spanish and Portuguese Society at Queen’s. I think joining a society is the best way to get to know people! Even better, the events are all organised for you, so all you have to do is show up! One of my favourite events I’ve attended was a pub crawl in my first year – I was super shy in first year and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I became friends with some really cool people who I speak to everyday now! My favourite event has to be the formal, which is held every year – being a member of both societies, I of course attend both formals!"
Grace Nelson, LLB Law with Spanish, Donegal, Ireland
You can bond with people from different cultures and backgrounds
"I’m a member of the Mature Students society and I’m also the Wellbeing Officer for the newly established Latin American Society. There are plenty of benefits that come with being a member of a club or society. I’ve met so many amazing people, bonded with different cultures and backgrounds, learned new skills and I’ve just had fun with everyone! Part of the Uni experience is to put yourself out there and interact with others, make connections and be open to these new experiences. I’ve been very lucky in that way and everyone has made me feel right at home!"
Miguel Ruiz Reyes, BSc Psychology, El Salvador, Latin America
It's a chance to develop your skills
"Joining a society in second year was like unlocking a secret level of university life. I’m part of the Queen’s Writers’ Society, and I don’t think I realised how much I needed it until I joined. It’s one thing to write on your own, but it’s another to be in a room with people who get it—who love words the way you do, who wrestle with characters and endings and the occasional bout of imposter syndrome just like you. We meet in small groups, sharing poetry, prose, and ideas in an intimate, supportive space.
Plus, the team that runs it? Incredibly friendly, incredibly encouraging, and just the kind of people you want to be surrounded by when you’re figuring yourself out as a writer. It’s not just about the writing. It’s about the connections - the friendships you form, the opportunities that open up, and the simple joy of finding people who speak your creative language."
Faye Colhoun, English and French, NI
READ: Spotlight on the Queen’s Writers’ Society
You can foster authentic connections with fellow students
"I’m with the QUB Players (Theatre) Society, and I couldn’t be happier! I actually ended up joining in the second semester because I was worried about the academic load in the first. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t worried so much and just gotten involved straight away. Being with the QUB Players has helped me connect with people equally as excited about acting, writing, and storytelling as I am. Because of our shared interests, uncomfortable introductions and awkward icebreakers were easily skipped. We were able to jump into real, actual relationship-building super fast.
Nowadays, I feel like so many people are exhausted by the idea of starting friendships from scratch. There’s a loneliness epidemic, and now more than ever, we crave raw, authentic connection. My university experience has been enhanced tenfold because the society I joined truly fosters that."
Brittany Marasciulo-Rivera, MA Creative Writing, New York, USA
READ: Society Spotlight: QUPlayers
Share your passions!
"The main society I am involved in is Queen’s Christian Union, which holds various events throughout the week, and as with any society, was a great way to get to know lots of other people with the same passions as myself!
Pro tip: If you’re unsure about a society, check out their Instagram pages. It’s a great way to learn more about a society and see the sort of events they organise so you can work out if that’s the society for you!"
Chloe McCann, BA English, NI
De-stress from uni life
"I’m the Vice President of MSSNI. Being part of this community feels like having a little piece of home right here in Belfast. We aim to create a sense of belonging for Malaysians in Northern Ireland, and working with Malaysian companies to support our students has been so fulfilling.
Joining a society is hands down one of the best things you can do at uni. You make friends outside your course, discover new interests, and gain a whole new perspective on life. Trust me, there’s a society for just about anything you can think of! Plus, it’s a great way to de-stress from uni life. For me, organising events for MSSNI gives me that much-needed break from studying and keeps me grounded."
Keith See Choy Xing, Law, Malaysia
Discover a home away from home
"I was part of the committee of the Malaysians’ Student Society of Northern Ireland (MSSNI) for 2 consecutive years. This society has helped me network with other Malaysian students here in Belfast and it has helped me gain a sense of ‘home away from home’. They frequently host events where the members can meet and celebrate traditional Malaysian festivities."
Priscilla Jeyaraj, PhD Medicine, Malaysia
It opens up opportunities beyond your course
"As an explorer and nature enthusiast, joining the QUB Hiking Club was hands down one of the best decisions I made after arriving here. It allowed me to meet new people beyond my course and connect with others who share my love for exploring and learning about different cultures. Through this club, I’ve had the chance to share my own culture while discovering breathtaking spots like Cave Hill, Portrush, and the Giant's Causeway. To all the new students at Queen's who might be feeling uncertain, I totally get it! I highly recommend joining a society that interests you and you won’t regret it."
Raeesa Riaz, MSc International Business, Pakistan
An essential part of the university experience
"I’m a member of many different clubs and societies. The ones I am really active in are the badminton club, mooting club, law society and international students society. I am also the diversity and inclusion officer for the Amnesty International Society at Queen's. I believe that joining clubs and societies is an essential part of the university experience. Finding new hobbies or rediscovering old ones helps us maintain ourselves. Any physical sport or anything we’re genuinely interested in helps us in reducing stress and improving our mental health. Additionally, from my experience, I can vouch that clubs and societies are the perfect places for making new friends, and they help in strengthening our social connections."
Muhammad Abdul Rehman, LLB Law, Pakistan
Being a club member enhances your CV
"Currently, I’m a member of DragonSlayers. Joining a society was a fantastic way for me to meet like-minded people with the same interests at heart. Though I’ve not been able to this year, you can attend in-person events like quizzes, game nights, and competitions – some with prizes too! I also follow a whole host of the academic medical societies on Instagram like QUBradsoc, Scrubs, and WoMed. I’m able to follow along with events that they’re running, like conferences and revision nights, which are both fun to attend and great for your academic CV."
Callista Middleton, Medicine, NI
Find out more
Clubs and Societies at Queen's
BLOG: A-Z of Queen’s Clubs and Societies
Read more about our students' experiences of Clubs and Societies