Starting a postgraduate course is an exciting new chapter but it can also feel like a lot to take in. Alongside lectures, research and assignments, there is a whole campus community waiting to be discovered. If you are studying full or part-time, commuting, working alongside your studies or balancing family life – Edge Hill has plenty of ways to meet people, try something new and make the University feel like home.
Start with induction
Induction is about more than finding your way around campus. The induction process is designed to you help you understand the support and opportunities available to you, while giving you the chance to meet other students in a relaxed and informal setting.
Each academic department hosts its own induction programme so you will receive information tailored to your course. Alongside this, Student Life delivers activities and presentations to introduce you to the wider University from Student Life Events, Campus Sport, Arts Centre, the Students’ Union and the Student Life Portal.
The social side of induction can be especially valuable. It gives new postgraduate students the opportunity to connect with people at a similar stage of their university journey as well as students from other courses and across the wider Edge Hill community.
Find your people
The Student Life programme is designed with Edge Hill’s diverse student community in mind and is shaped by student feedback. Everything is free to attend and there is no expectation to take part every week. That flexibility is particularly helpful for postgraduate students who may be fitting university around work, commuting and other commitments. Activities run across different days and times to make it easier to dip in when it suits you.
Commuter Breakfasts, for example, take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 9am in Creative Edge, while the Student Life Arch runs every weekday from 11.30am to 1pm. Other activities include social strolls, Global Café, games, wellbeing sessions, Therapy Dogs and Craft Lounges. They are informal, low-pressure ways to meet people and a good option if you would rather try something once before deciding whether it is for you.
“Getting involved doesn’t have to mean making a huge commitment“
Danielle Barnes, Student Life and Engagement Manager, said: “One of the most important things about induction is helping students realise that their university experience extends beyond their course and that there are lots of different ways to find their place at Edge Hill.
“We know that starting university can feel daunting, particularly if you are balancing study alongside other commitments, so having informal, low-pressure opportunities to make those first connections can make a real difference. Getting involved doesn’t have to mean making a huge commitment. Even attending one activity or event when it works for you is still getting involved and you don’t have to arrive with a friend to leave having made a connection.”
Join a society or try a sport
Beyond Student Life, there are lots of ways to get involved through the Students’ Union and Edge Hill Sport. The Students’ Union supports a wide range of societies, covering everything from shared interests and hobbies to culture, faith and volunteering. If there’s not already a society that matches your interests, students can also look at setting one up.
For sport, there is something for every level of experience. Team Edge Hill is the University’s competitive sports programme, for students who want to train regularly and compete in BUCS leagues. Campus Sport offers a more recreational option, with more than 20 low-cost and commitment-free activities from badminton and table tennis to five-a-side football and netball. The newly refurbished gym also offers flexible memberships, high-quality facilities and expert support for students who want to get active, stay healthy or work towards personal fitness goals.
You don’t need to be an experienced sportsperson or commit to a team for the whole year. Trying something new can simply be another way to meet people, rediscover an activity you used to enjoy, or find a new hobby.
Use the Student Life Portal
The Student Life Portal is one of the best places to keep up to date with what is happening across campus. Rather than listing only Student Life events, it brings together activities and opportunities from across the University, as well as events taking place in the local community. Students can explore what is available and find activities that fit around their interests, timetable and other commitments. The Portal is introduced during induction and promoted throughout the welcome period, so it is worth checking regularly as new events and opportunities are added.
Take the first step
It is completely normal to feel nervous about attending an event, joining a society or walking into the gym on your own. But please remember, you are not alone, and many others may well be feeling the same way.
The best approach is often to start small. Choose an activity that genuinely interests you, give yourself permission to try it once and see how it feels. Student Life activities are intentionally informal and low-pressure, with a friendly welcome and often a small treat on arrival. Whether it is an early Commuter Breakfast, a lunchtime visit to the Student Life Arch, a weekend Craft Lounge, a society taster session or a trip to the Sports Centre, there is no single right way to get involved.
Your postgraduate experience at Edge Hill can be whatever you make it and sometimes, simply making that first visit is the hardest part.
October 14, 2026
