Whether you’ve come straight from high school or from the workforce, uni can be a slightly daunting time for anyone. As a student myself, I understand how challenging it is to put yourself out there and meet new people.

When I first started at Murdoch, I was too scared to start a conversation with my classmates, thinking that they wouldn’t want to be friends or that I should wait for them to talk to me first. I later realised that everyone else in my class had the exact same worries!

So here are four easy steps every new student can follow to meet new people at uni:

1. Introduce yourself – and don’t be shy!

Your first few weeks might feel like unfamiliar territory, but your fellow students will be feeling exactly the same way. To get past this, you’ll find just saying “Hey!” to the person sitting next to you in class will help. They probably will be grateful you had the courage to start up a conversation, and you might meet people who have similar interests to you along the way.

If you're taking classes online, join our New Students at Murdoch Uni Facebook group and get to know your fellow students.

2. Sign up to the MentorMe program

A mentoring program is a great place to start if you’re trying to make new friends. Engage with fellow students or the community as part of programs such as MentorMe, Murdoch Student Emerging Leaders program, or Murdoch EDGE.

3. Join a club

The clubs and societies at Murdoch are amazing and they are the perfect way to make friends. Join a club relating to your interests, and you’ll be more likely to meet like-minded people. I joined a club and I have no regrets! Have a look at the Murdoch Guild website to browse the list of clubs and societies.

In fact, international student Rachel credits the campus clubs and events for helping her to make life-long friends while she studied at Murdoch.

“Murdoch Guild constantly had cool events and free things, and I always looked forward to the Thursday market day... I made some really awesome life-long friends during my time there.”

Learn more about studying at Murdoch as an International Student.

4. Sign up to do some volunteering

I found this was a great way to make friends while also giving back and contributing to the world around you. Volunteer to take up a role in your club or participate in some volunteering ventures run by the Murdoch Guild. It’s a really fun way to get involved, build teamwork skills and meet new people from different disciplines.

These are some ways I made friends when I started uni. It’s important to remember that building friendships takes time, but everything you do is worth it. Now it’s time for you to go make some awesome friends and enjoy your uni life!