Student life
Learn about our Students’ Association and Sports Union; how to find advice, get involved in student societies or sports clubs and meet new people.
Students' Association
If you join us in September, you will automatically become a member of our 49,000 strong student community.
The Students’ Association exists to support and enhance your student experience through our wide range of services and facilities.
There are a range of societies, peer learning and support schemes plus volunteering groups you’ll be able to join.
You’ll have lots of opportunity to:
- make new friends and meet like-minded people
- make a difference in the wider community
- enjoy a great range of social spaces, activities and entertainments
Advice
If you need advice during your time at Edinburgh, then the Students' Association offers free, professional and confidential advice on:
- health and wellbeing
- money and funding
- safety and security
Advice from the Edinburgh University Students' Association
Venues and events
The Students' Association has a number of venues in the University’s Central Area and nearby, including:
- Potterrow (a café, bar, nightclub and home to the Advice Place hub)
- The Pleasance (the home of societies and volunteering groups)
- King’s Buildings House (students’ home on the King’s Building Campus)
- The Wee Red Bar (an iconic venue at the Edinburgh College of Art)
- Teviot Row (closed for renovation until spring 2025)
These venues also host society and weekly events, online and in-person.
Find events on the Edinburgh University Students' Association website
Student societies
There are over 300 societies, covering almost every area of interest. Whether you’re interested in philosophy, dance, Harry Potter, music or baking, there’ll be a society for you. Or you can even set up your own.
You can join societies at any time in the year, and you can meet them at the Activities Fair in Welcome Week.
Search societies you could get involved in
Sports Union
With 70 sports clubs, our Sports Union has something to offer for everyone, from American Football and Archery, to Underwater Hockey and Weightlifting. Our clubs have opportunities for complete beginners through to athletes competing on an international stage with a huge variety of training, trips, coaching, and competitions. We also provide a wide range of sports-related volunteering and skills development opportunities through our Coaching and Volunteering Academy which is open to all Sports Union members, volunteers and coaches.
We run Scotland’s largest intramural sports programme, offering leagues, tournaments and fun events for students looking for a more informal sporting experience. There are also many one-off and free to play sports sessions for students wanting to try something new throughout the year.
Find a sports club on the Sports Union club directory
If you join the University of Edinburgh you will be able to meet our Sports Clubs during Welcome Week and attend free taster sessions across many different sports. If you miss Welcome Week you can still join most of our clubs at any point in the semester and jump into our Edinburgh team #WeAreEdinburgh.
Other ways to keep active
Keeping active is not only vital for your physical health but for your mental health too. So, as well as our sports clubs, and intramural and recreational sporting opportunities, the University has a wide range of world-class gym, sport, and exercise facilities and services, to help you stay active, have fun, try new things, and feel your best.
Find out more about our facilities, services and ways to keep active
Read on...