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SPS student voices and experiences
 
Exploring Edinburgh’s student clubs and societies – Ash’s guide

Exploring Edinburgh’s student clubs and societies – Ash’s guide

Looking to try out a new society this term? Ash shares their guide to student societies at the University of Edinburgh, from academic and creative opportunities to sports! 

Blog by Ash

When I first started at the university, I was not only overwhelmed with the sudden realisation of starting my degree, but also with the huge amount of extra-curricular activities that I could do after finishing my studying for the day! So, today, I thought that I would give you a little insight into the different options that we have on campus, specifically societies!

What even are societies?

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of societies before coming to university, that is no problem at all! A society may sound like an exclusive, member-only club, but do not worry! For an easy explanation, societies are basically your extra-curricular activities while you are at university! Most of them are super friendly and love welcoming new members! If you are looking to connect with like-minded people, grow your skills, try something new or rediscover an old hobby – getting involved with societies might be for you!

What can I get involved with?

What a great question! The University of Edinburgh is huge, we’ve got almost 50,000 students, and that translates into a looooot of different societies, currently almost 300! If you want, and have the time, you can scroll through a whole list of them here:

Edinburgh University Students’ Association

I have broken them down for you a little bit here:

Academic Societies

A lot of subject areas have their own societies, where students in that department, but also those who are just interested in the subject, can come together in a mix of social and academic events! These societies are great to meet people from your degree in different years, but also just like-minded people generally! Meet-ups can range from coffee mornings, and discussion groups, to public lectures and even formal balls! For the School of SPS, especially, there are quite a few, such as:

  • Edinburgh Political Union
  • Sociology Society
  • Social Policy Society
  • Social Anthropology Society
  • Sustainable Development Association
  • Women in Politics and International Relations
Media Societies

If you are interested in journalism, broadcasting, or just media generally, a society in this category might be for you! For example, you can gain your first experiences in reporting and writing articles by writing for The Student Newspaper, or another publication on campus, such as The Rattlecap! Or, you join EUTV, the Edinburgh University Television Society, who provide a space where you can create TV content as a presenter, producer, or editor! Or Freshair Radio, running since 1991, provides students with the opportunity to gain insight into radio production.

Creative Societies

This is such a diverse area! We have got societies for theatre, like the Shakespeare Company, a lot of choirs to choose from if you are into singing, such as our showchoir Footlights, or orchestras and bands, like our Jazz Orchestra. But dancing is also not forgotten about, and we’ve got societies like the Modern Dance Society or the Salsa Society. If you are more into Creative Writing, you could try out the Creative Writing Society. And for the artists among you, there are the Contemporary Art Society or the Fashion Society as well! Something for everyone!

Campaigning/Political Societies

This is personally my favourite category, because I’ve been involved in quite a few societies on the list during my time at the university. But, campaigning societies, as the name suggests, often campaign on social issues, on or off campus. If you are passionate about a certain issue and you want to create change – consider joining one! We’ve got a few feminist societies on campus, but also an array of climate action societies, such as People and Planet.

Apart from societies focused around a specific topic, there are also a number of societies focused on politics generally, or relating to a specific political party in the UK. Some examples here are Model United Nations, Edinburgh Labour Students, or Students for Scottish Independence.

International and Multicultural Societies

Starting at university can be a daunting experience, especially if you are from a different country or have trouble finding your cultural community in Edinburgh. But there are so many societies around campus that can help, and they are some of the most welcoming and friendly people I have met during my time at Edinburgh. Some of them include the African and Caribbean Society (ACS) the Chinese Students’ Association (EUCSA), or the Latin American Society. Also, if you want to learn more about a specific culture, why not check out some of their events, a lot of them are open to non-members too!

What about Sports, though?

Another great question! At the University, we actually have our own Sports Union, which is slightly separate from our Student’s Association, due to the sheer amount of sports you can do!

Edinburgh University Sports Union

This might deserve its own blog post, but in essence, there are so many ways to do sports at the university! You can join a sports club, from Archery all the way to Weightlifting, where you can compete against other universities if you make the team, or just join the club sessions and practices with other members! Intramural Sport, on the other hand, is an affordable and social way to participate in sport, mixed in with some competition, as you compete against other teams within the university in our Intramural League! Some sports you could do here include Squash, Netball, or Basketball. And lastly, our Recreational Sport is a fun and informal way to be active, try new things and meet friends in a relaxed environment. These sessions are for all students and staff, regardless of their previous relationship to sport, and there is no pressure to compete!

I hope that this little guide could alleviate at least some of the worries about joining the university – it is definitely possible to find you community here on campus! Societies are a great way to connect with people who have similar interests to you, and you learn so many new skills along the way, too! From the Taylor Swift Society to Ponytrekking in the Pentland Hills just outside Edinburgh, you will discover something for you for sure!

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