Making friends and settling in
At NTU, you’ll be joining a warm, friendly and truly international community. There are so many social opportunities available to you through our Global Lounges and Students’ Union to enhance your university experience. You'll soon be making life-long friendships with fellow students from all over the world.
Welcome to the Global Lounge
Chatting in Clifton Global Lounge
The Global Lounges are dedicated social spaces open to all NTU and NTIC students and colleagues.
These spaces are peaceful places for you to relax, socialise and make friends. They're also great places to broaden your horizons through taking part in cultural events, learning a new language perhaps, volunteering or other opportunities.
For a full list of activities in the Global Lounge, visit our Global Lounge web page. And if you’re interested in organising your own event for the lounge or for Global Week, we'd love to hear your ideas!
Visiting your Global Lounge is a great first step into your new life at the University. You'll be welcome any time, you don't need to make an appointment.
Your Students' Union
Coming to NTU isn’t just about studying. You’ll make new friends, try new things and do all the things you already love too!
Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU) is here to help you get the best out of your student experience. It organises lots of activities, including:
- social societies
- sports clubs and activities
- trips to visit famous places in the UK.
The Students’ Union also represents you – to make sure your voice as a student is heard.
Joining the Students' Union
When you enrol, you'll automatically become a member of the Students’ Union. You’ll also get a Students’ Union (TOTUM) card. This offers you discounts in shops and restaurants, as well as cheaper travel around the city.
Get to know the team as soon as you arrive at the University; the Union's a great place to meet people and get advice and support when settling in.
Every university in the UK has a student union, offering services and social activities to students. It's run by students for students, and international students are well represented. You're automatically a member of the Union when you enrol at the University.
Clubs and societies
There are over 80 social and sports clubs and societies run by the NTSU for you to get involved in. You’re sure to find something you’re interested in.
But if not, you can always start your own society!
See the full range of clubs and societies you can join on the NTSU website.
You can also find information on how to start your own, details of upcoming events and the support that's available to you.
I made friends initially through my flatmates and by joining ‘play for funs’. For example I have been climbing every week, which keeps me active but also helped meet people. I’ve met some of my closest friends through joining societies. The events provided a welcoming environment where everyone can share their interests and bond. I’ve also made friends outside university, which has given me a sense of belonging in Nottingham.
Samvi Yau, BSc Zoo Biology
Welcome activities
Whether you start with us in September or January, our welcome activities are really important and a great way to make friends and settle into student life.
There's a busy programme of activities and events designed to provide you with essential information and to help you meet fellow students so you can start to feel at home.
We run a series of welcome activities specifically for international students as well, because some students arrive earlier and need extra support settling into living in Nottingham.
Faith and spirituality
Students talk about their experience of faith at NTU.
NTU Chaplaincy is led by our coordinating chaplain Reverend Richard Davey who is a Christian Anglican priest. Our Chaplaincy team also includes Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic chaplains.
We offer many opportunities to discover, explore and practise your faith. That could be through specific religious services. It could also be through spiritual practices including mindfulness and meditation.
Many of these activities are available on campus, for example we have Muslim prayer rooms at City, Clifton and Brackenhurst. Or, you can attend events all over Nottingham.
You may be interested in becoming a faith ambassador through our Faith Ambassadors Project – an initiative that’s promoting the value of faith across NTU and the wider community.
Support
Dedicated international student support team
It's normal to feel homesick sometimes. We know that starting a new life at university in a new country can sometimes be challenging and we have dedicated international student support teams for you to talk to anytime. We are often one of the first teams you'll meet when you arrive during the welcome activities.