Ahead of coming to university, I was told that societies are the hub of social life, and this is true for LSE. During Freshers’ Week, LSE societies set up stalls at the Freshers’ Fair where incoming students can talk to existing societies about the events they run, when they do things, how much they cost, and anything else related to the societies. I found this very helpful when I was a fresher, and it prompted me to select the societies I am still a part of today. If you miss Freshers’ Fair, be sure to check out the Student Union website for a comprehensive list and description of all the societies at LSE, including costs.

Different types of societies at LSE:

Societies at LSE are split into four broad camps. There are business societies that focus on career events and networking; academic societies which connect you with people on your course and in your department; activity societies covering niche hobbies and interests; and sports societies, which tend to be the most popular at LSE. Even if you are not the biggest fan of playing sports, there is the option to buy a social membership, which allows access to sports club events without the expectation to play matches and the membership fee is substantially cheaper. This is beneficial to those who want to enjoy the social side of sports clubs without high levels of commitment.

Each society takes up different amounts of time and runs varying numbers of events. On average, societies tend to hold one event per week, with sports societies sometimes doing up to three. Society memberships are generally very affordable (usually below £20, apart from a few of the larger sports societies). I believe societies give LSE a sense of community and are a great way to make friends. I would implore incoming students to dive into societies and give them a try. Most societies run trial sessions, so there’s no need to commit straight away – it’s worth signing up for mailing lists and giving them a go.

In terms of choosing the best society for you, I would strongly encourage students to join something they are passionate about. I think this gives the best chance of meeting like-minded people and “finding your tribe”. I also encourage incoming students to push themselves to try something new – something they’ve never done before or want to learn more about.

My experience in societies:

I chose to join a few societies in my first year, namely Sports Business Society; Film Society; and I founded Social Football. My only regret was not signing up for an academic society that could have helped me connect with more people on my course, so remember to sign up for one of these too!

I joined the Sports Business Society because I wanted to learn more about this career sector, and I thought it would be a great place to meet like-minded sports fanatics like me. I found this society at Freshers’ Fair after speaking to the people running it, and it has indeed provided great insight, events and networking in the world of sports business.

I also chose to join the Film Society, which I discovered on the Student Union website, having missed them at the Fair. This has been a great society to be involved in too, with screenings once a week featuring films outside mainstream viewing. I have found this a really nice way of escaping any academic and social pressure I encounter.

Lastly, if there are no societies that appeal to you, nothing is stopping you from starting your own or branching out from an existing one. When I joined LSE, I noticed there was no Recreational Football Club, which exists at other universities. I knew there was demand for this, so I decided to set up Social Football at LSE. It was a difficult but rewarding experience, and I’ve now met many of my best friends through it. I can’t imagine my LSE experience without it. I strongly encourage students to set up their own society if they feel there is a gap, as the Student Union will help facilitate this.