UBC is home to lots of communities where you can join something that speaks to you, interests you—and maybe even inspires you.
There’s truly something for everyone here on campus. Here are just several ways you can make friends, build your own community, and get involved!
Click on something below that interests you, or scroll through to browse them all!
Undergrad student associations
Campus events (low time commitment)
Bonus ways to make friends and explore your interests
Clubs
UBC is home to over 350 AMS clubs! Connect with students of all years and faculties who share your interests or aspirations (however niche they may be). Get to know individuals you might never have a class with or can’t easily meet otherwise.
Some ways to connect with a club:
1. Wander around on Imagine UBC (Sep. 3)
During the Main Event (after the Pep Rally), campus clubs will hold booths along Main Mall and greet you! Ask questions, sign up for their mailing list, and meet current members of the clubs you find appealing.
2. Go to AMS Clubs Days
In the third week or so of September, AMS clubs will set up booths in the Nest on multiple floors—it's a great way to see more options. You can search on Facebook in advance for clubs that pique your interest to see if they have information on their booth locations!
3. Reach out to club executives
Many clubs remain open to newcomers throughout the year. Search up the contact details of the clubs you want to join by visiting their Facebook page or the AMS Clubhouse.
What if UBC doesn’t have the club you want to join? You can start your own club with a group of friends! There will probably be students interested in joining—diversity thrives on campus!
Undergrad student societies
Each faculty is represented by a student society. Along with all the other students in your faculty, you can attend faculty-specific events (and access support or resources) held by your faculty's society. Some examples of these perks: socials, tutoring, and mentoring! You can also study and hang out in the designated faculty building.
Each of these societies is led by an elected executive team, and recruits student volunteers and council execs to organize events and services. Joining these student societies can help you be a strong leader amongst your peers!
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list:
- Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS)
- Commerce Undergraduate Society (CUS)
- Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS)
- Forestry Undergraduate Society (FUS)
- Kinesiology Undergraduate Society (KUS)
- Land and Food Systems Undergraduate Society (LFSUS)
- Science Undergraduate Society (SUS)
- UBC Vancouver School of Economics Undergraduate Society (VSEUS)
Undergrad student associations
Student associations consist of students who are in your (prospective) specialization/department and who create events relevant to that specific program, e.g. networking opportunities, student socials, and information and study sessions.
Contact the association you’d like to get involved with for more details via Facebook, websites, and so on.
More ways to get involved
From volunteering opportunities to student programs, UBC offers more ways for you to find your niche! The time commitment of these opportunities may vary greatly, so do your research. Some ideas that come to mind:
- Spread school spirit by joining the cheerful, music-filled Thunderbird Marching Band, no matter your background or skill level!
- Write for The Ubyssey
- Get on radio with CiTR 101.9 FM
- Cook with UBC Sprouts
- Fix bicycles at the Bike Kitchen
- Shelve/catalogue books at Out on the Shelves—Vancouver's only LGBT2QIA+ Library (second floor in the Nest)
- Participate in initiatives at the Global Lounge, such as the UBC tandem Language Learning Program—learn a language from a partner, and teach that person yours!
- And more! Search “UBC volunteering” online for more possibilities!
Campus events (low time commitment)
You can attend a wide range of events here at UBC! Apart from posters around campus, you can stay updated on the events of the week by checking out:
- Weekly event round-ups right here on the UBC Life blog—and on the UBC Life Instagram (updated near the beginning of each week between Sept. and Apr.)
- This Week at UBC on the UBC website and on the UBC Events website
Here are some more ways you can stay in the loop on upcoming UBC events:
- Follow UBC Facebook and UBC Events Twitter
- Check out the AMS Events Facebook and UBC School of Music Calendar (for concerts, performances, etc.)
- Sometimes, students like to hold meetups and club events open to the public on the UBC subreddit (I went to a couple and the people I met were RAD!)
Bonus ways to make friends and explore your interests
- Take an elective and find like-minded individuals
- Reach out to peers in smaller classroom settings, e.g. tutorials and labs
- If you live in residence, consider being a floor representative—you get to create events for other residents, and it’s a great way to meet people you live with!
UBC has many experiential opportunities—so many that you may not be able to try out everything you find interesting in your first year. So, start with a few that you know you'll enjoy and can stick to.
