As postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, particularly in terms of how much time you spend with others on your course, it’s a good idea to try and find other ways to meet people and get involved in campus life.
The primary element of Students’ Unions that students expect to meet new people through are clubs and societies. These are a great opportunity to meet people who are similarly driven by drama, sport, art, politics or any other niche interest you may have. We have over 300 sports clubs and societies that you can join, but we appreciate that as postgraduate students you may feel as though less of these groups may be tailored to you. As a postgraduate student, you may choose to join student groups that are tailored towards your research or background – more like our academic and cultural categories, for example. Look at our ‘Find a club or society’ search function, to see if anything is of interest to you! Each club and society will have their contact details listed, so you can speak with the students running the group and ask any questions you may have. We also have Welcome Fairs in September and January where you can meet almost all the student groups in person.
At the Students’ Union, we are committed to embedding sustainability in all that we do, and we offer some opportunities for students to also get involved with this. As you may have found with your searches of clubs and societies, we have some student groups that are dedicated to sustainable practices, like the Environmental Society and Biological Sciences Society, that you can join and attend events for. You can also volunteer in sustainability areas, both on and off campus, to make a difference in the community, including monthly canal clean ups, bulb planting in nearby parks, and helping at Bow Foodbank. We also have a Reuse scheme where students can donate unwanted items to find new homes with other students, which has diverted over 4 tonnes of items from landfill! Find out more information about how to get involved with our Sustainability team at the Students’ Union through this webpage.
On a similar note, the Students’ Union also has a Raise & Give (RAG) scheme that covers all the Students’ Union’s charity fundraising activity. RAG Is all about having fun and raising money for charitable causes. Each year, students elect RAG officers for Queen Mary and Barts and the London who then lead a student RAG committee on their campus and engage hundreds of students through events and activities to raise money for official RAG nominated charities. Student groups (Societies, Clubs, Student Media Outlets and Volunteering Groups) can also fundraise for their ‘adopted charities’, which you may encounter when you are part of a group, or even may see them fundraising on our campuses.
Alongside these sustainability and RAG opportunities, the Students’ Union also provides opportunities for students to volunteer in Tower Hamlets and across London, giving students the chance for new experiences, developing new skills and to make a difference. We have a wide range of different opportunities available with a variety of organisations, there is something to suit all interests and time commitments. We also have a scheme where if you log the community volunteering hours that you do, these can count towards receiving a Volunteer Award. To find out more information about volunteering opportunities with the Students’ Union, please visit this webpage.
Finally, the Students’ Union has an employability programme called the Skills Award. By registering for the Skills Award, you get access to additional free training sessions and career reflection sessions. You can expect to learn, develop and present your transferable skills, in a different way to what may be on offer as part of your postgraduate course – this could act as a nice change of scenery to the other forms of training offered by the University. We know that all students have different interests and career paths, but this varied programme should suit all needs, with training sessions like public speaking, first aid, leadership and mental health awareness. Learn more about the Skills Award, and register for future programmes, please visit this webpage.
Alongside these various routes of student engagement within the Students’ Union, we work hard to produce an events programme with postgraduate students in mind. These events are tailored specifically for you, with your schedules and interests in mind. To see what events we have going on for you, at the moment, please check our Postgraduate Events page through the button below.