I’m not going to lie – I was a little nervous about the social life of a graduate school student. I wasn’t sure how much master’s students socialised or what social life was like at LSE. However, I knew it would be different from my undergraduate degree. During undergrad, I boarded on campus and was constantly surrounded by classmates, so social life was pretty inherent. At LSE, I expected it to be different. Not only would I have less time to spend with classmates, but I also wasn’t sure how much time I’d have for social relationships outside of class.

I’m happy to report that I’ve really enjoyed the social life on campus. Meeting new people has been a blast – but it has been more challenging than during undergrad. So here are some tips for enjoying your social life as a graduate student.

The easiest way to meet people is through your programme. At LSE, you spend a lot of time with people in your cohort, whether during class, in between classes, in group projects, or in social events planned by the School. Lucky for me, my cohort is filled with a bunch of interesting people from all around the world, and I’ve found it easy to make friends that have been an integral part of my social life at LSE and in London more generally. So my best advice is to chat with everyone and anyone in your cohort, whether in-person during class or by adding them on social media and taking the conversation online. Either way, you’ll be glad to have friends on the same educational path as you.

While I feel fortunate to have found friends in my cohort, I’ve also had the urge to expand past this and meet people from other educational backgrounds while at LSE. One of the best ways to do this is by taking classes that aren’t directly affiliated with your main subject. You can do this through official enrollment in a class if your degree allows it or auditing an exciting class if you cannot enrol formally. Taking courses outside your degree will enable you to explore other interests and meet people who share those additional interests. Plus it’s a great way to get outside your comfort zone once you’ve gotten your bearings at LSE.

Another great way to step outside your comfort zone is by joining one of the many societies, clubs, or sports teams at the LSE’s Students’ Union. This is another incredible way to find people interested in the same things as you. The LSESU offers a wide array of opportunities, from societies focused on career interests to creative and culture-based societies. You’ll be sure to find one that matches your hobbies, or better yet, one that allows you to try a new hobby. Regardless of the society you choose to join, they will all be filled with people eager to make new friends and share some of their passions with other students at LSE.

While making friends as a postgraduate student hasn’t been the simplest, I’ve built an incredible social life at LSE. Hopefully, my tips above can help you do the same!