MAKING FRIENDS

We all come to university with the expectation that we will make friends as soon as we arrive. This isn’t always the case for all students, but that’s okay!

Use this page to discover who to speak to about making friends. This page also offers tips on how to make friends and where you should go on campus to meet people.

You won’t be the only person struggling to make friends so please keep reading to see how we can help!

Top tips for meeting people!

Making friends can sometimes be challenging so use the tips below

Break the ice

One of the easiest ways to do this is to comment on the situation you are both in or on something you have in common

Smile and make eye contact

This will communicate to the other person that you are being friendly and you are interested in them.

Introduce yourself

Knowing someone’s name helps you to feel more than strangers.

Ask questions and make small talk

Start with some simple basics and go from there.

“Where are you from?”, “Which residence do you live in?”

Don't share too much too soon

Be careful not to overwhelm the other person with a lot of information or personal details about yourself when you have just met them.

Have you tried building connections with your flatmates?

• Suggest that you make dinner together to get to know each other
• Offer your housemate a cup of tea or a cold drink
• Join online groups for your accommodation to get to know people outside of your flat
• Suggest a film night with your housemates
• Get out of the flat – go for a walk or spend some time outdoors together
• Suggest you go food shopping together

Build connections with your course mates

• Try to rally some of your course mates together to make a study group
• Invite people out for lunch or a coffee after a seminar
• See if your course subject has an SU society that you could join
• Take time to get to know people when working in groups – make a WhatsApp group so you can stay in touch
• Get to lectures a few minutes early to give yourself a chance to chat to your course mates before the lecture starts

Events!

We have lots of teams that run events and help build student friendships.

Check them out!

Residential Community Team

The Residential Community Team run free weekly events for students living on campus. They run a range of events such as crafting nights, petting farms, and mini-golf!

You can follow them on Instagram for further information on their events:

@rct_warwickuni

SU and Societies

The SU work alongside their societies to run events for all Warwick students. They often run sports club events, club nights, society events, and campaigns.

You can follow them on Instagram for further information:

@warwicksuofficial

Chaplaincy

The Chaplains and Faith Advisors delight in the diversity and vibrancy of relationships between people with differing worldviews. Drop in and make yourself a hot drink; attend their regular events; chat and socialise with friends; reflect or pray.

Click here for more information

Warwick Presents...

Warwick Presents... works alongside many teams to create whole campus events for students living on and off campus. In the past they have organised the Holi Colour Party, Zombie Run, Battle of the Cover Bands, and Warwick Pride.

Click here to check out their current events

Building and Maintaining Friendships

Building friendships takes time, use the advice below to support you through this process.

Start small

At first, try to get to know just one or two people. This will build your confidence and help you to feel less isolated. It may also give you the chance to meet their friends and build your network further.

Find things in common

Try to find something you have in common that you can connect over. This can be easier if you meet while taking part in a common interest e.g. studying, in a society or in an exercise class.

Give it a go

If someone invites you to something, make the extra effort to say yes. If you’re shy it can be easy to think of all the reasons not to do something, but you can’t know how good something will be until you try it.

Give people a chance

Don’t write people off if you don’t warm to them instantly. Remember that they could be nervous and not being their true self.

Focus on the positives

Remind yourself why you are wanting to meet new people – what will having more friends give you that you don’t have at the moment?

Be proactive

If you want to see the person again, say so and make it happen. Suggest another get-together and swap contact details.

Don't force it

If the other person really isn’t keen, don’t try to force it. There are plenty more people you can get to know.

Put in the time at the start

It will be easier to make new friends when everyone else is also new. That doesn’t mean that you can’t also make new friends at any time though.

Get a date in the diary

Organising meeting up at a specific time for a specific purpose is a great way to make sure you have a chance to get to know each other.

Still needing some support?

Speak with the Residential Community Team, they are students themselves so they will have tips of their own!

Residential Community Team

The Residential Community Team are a peer-led service that offer pastoral support to residential students. They are always free for a chat and can support you to make friends or speak with other services at the university.

Residence Hubs:

Our staff are available in your Residence Hub every evening between

7pm-9pm.

RCT Hub (Red Square):

Our staff are available in the RCT hub from 9am-11pm Monday to Friday

and 12pm-11pm Saturday and Sunday.

Non Emergency Out of Hours Number:

Have a chat with someone from our team, please keep in mind our staff aren’t to be utilised as an emergency or counselling service

If you live in Arthur Vick, Benefactors, Bluebell, Claycroft, Jack Martin, Rootes, Tocil or Westwood call:
07884 733 042

If you live in Cryfield, Sherbourne, Heronbank or Lakeside call:
07881 267 519

Only accessible between 11pm-7am