Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
Following COVID guidelines, university restrictions have been put in place in the form of social bubbles.
But this raises many questions around how students are currently making friends at uni across a pandemic.
Has making friends at uni changed with social bubbles?
With the introduction of social bubbles, the process and dynamics of making new friendships at university has changed.
With many students this year restricted to only hanging out in close proximity with people within their bubble, there has been a large change in the way students form and mix in social groups across campus. This has changed the standardised process of new friends making new uni friends for most students up and down the country,
Although students aren’t able to attend physical events right now, mix and mingle on nights out or move freely around the uni campus, there is still ample opportunity to make friends - even outside of your social bubble.
What happens if I have no friends in my social bubble?
It may be the case that you can’t easily make friends within your bubble. But, if you are struggling, don't be disheartened as you will have other opportunities.
For the time being, you can start making friends within the digital world.Get to know and make new friends through your handy tech devices, and we know the perfect place to start.
Your course may be home to many like-minded individuals, who are all working toward the same goal. This could be a degree in a particular subject, or a future interest in working at NASA. Whatever your shared interests, this is a great place to start friendship exploration numero uno: conquer the course mates.
To embark on these friendship journeys, it's important that you have a place to start conversation. Set up virtual study groups where you can chat and help each other with work or look to join any Facebook groups setup by the university or the university’s students’ union.
Taking advantage of any buddy systems the university may have put in place can also be a great way to meet fellow students within your study group.
You should keep an eye out for any events too. These could be put on by the university or the students’ union. Although either socially distanced or completely online, you will have the chance to meet new people and you’ll likely get to meet people that aren’t only within your social bubble or on your course.
How can I make new friends at uni?
Making friends at uni is still very realistic in spite of COVID restrictions. An effective way to build your friendship group whilst in a socially distanced society is to be active in finding individuals who share similar interests.
You can think of a niche as we have done above, in terms of course mates, but there are so many other common grounds of interest for uni students including, fitness, food, music, religion, sexuality, culture and a host of so many other things.
There are a couple of ways to start this voyage. You can start by using the friends you have already made on your course (numero 1, remember), and ask to join in larger event activities they participate in. Popular lockdown events include the old Zoom quiz night, scattergories for a truly on-topic night of fun, or the classic online bingo - the power is in the numbers. Whatever events are happening, it’s always good to get involved, and if you don’t like it… my wifi went down. Simple.
Voyage numero dós: the wolf pack. Be bold, be bright and be creative. There is no problem in knowing your own niche or groove and getting others on-board. You can start by joining virtual groups of your interest area outside of your course. These could be local or community-based groups. Often you will find a large crossover with uni students and local event activities. Another option is to start your own. Many students will be going through the same concerns as you, and may be struggling to find new friends as well. Create a space and people will gather. Who knows, you might meet some new faces, and find out about a host of societies and groups you would would be interested in.
If the wolf pack mentality isn’t for you, many universities have also held socially distanced on campus activities that allow you to meet others. If you strike a chord with individuals at these events or find common interests within fellow students through your digital explorations, and the university’s rules and government guidelines allow so, you should arrange to meet up for lunch on campus - socially-distanced of course. If those within your social bubble have other friends in other bubbles, you could also reach out and get to know them too, be it virtually or in-person, dependent on the government guidelines within your local area. It may seem strange now, but it won’t be this way forever, and your building your digital network as you go.
Can I join a different social bubble with my new friends?
If you wish to join a different social group to be with your friends, this will require changing your social bubble. You will need to firstly check the guidelines from both the government and your accommodation provider. But remember, you will only be able to join another social group if you intend on permanently joining their social bubble which can mean changing households to be with that bubble, as opposed to just hanging out for the day.
Currently, the rules in England are changing depending on your base location.To find out your local restriction rules you should check with your university directly or go to your government’s website for local information. If you request to move social bubbles to be with your new friends, and this complies with your university’s guidelines as well as the government guidelines outlined for your area, you may be in a position to join another social bubble or group.
How can I make new friends online?
With so much university work taking place online at the moment, there is almost a free hub for getting to know new faces. Start with those you interact with most. A suggestion would be a course work group, or a tutorial group. You could arrange to host virtual study groups, sharing ideas on the course and getting to know each other in the process. Setting up a Facebook group for the course is another way of making new friends online. You could also assess what societies are currently up and running. They may be hosting virtual events and get-togethers throughout the week with plenty of new people outside your bubble. Apply what you would do in real ‘non socially distanced’ life, to the virtual world. Sometimes you have to take the first step.
How can I grow my digital social bubbles?
Growing your digital social bubbles may feel strange, but given the current circumstances, it is the safest way to meet people and make new friends. Getting to know others virtually, without meeting in person, can feel odd but know it’s only temporary. Whether it be virtual groups, joining societies that host online events or even having Zoom parties with other bubbles, growing friendships digitally can be done in a number of ways. Rest assured that as weird as it may feel, everyone else is in the same boat.
The introduction of social bubbles due to COVID hasn’t made making new friends impossible, it has simply changed the dynamics of the game. There are still plenty of ways for you to expand your circle of friends in a safe, socially-distanced way.
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