Academic societies can run a range of activities that don’t always have to be academic focused, but aim to create a sense of community amongst students studying the same course.  

Ideas could include:  

• External speaker talk or workshop with experts in your field  
• Book club 
• Skills workshops – these can be either transferrable skills or industry-specific 
• Quiz or competitions  
• Networking events  
• Trips  
• Socials  
• Study groups  

Leading academic societies are a great way to connect with others on your course as well as helping you forge relationships with academics and industry professionals. You can build up lots of CV-worthy skills and experiences, from time management and communication to leadership and building relationships with stakeholders! They also help you gain a deeper insight into your course and academic studies, allowing you to embrace new perspectives and take part in co-curricular activities that embrace your studies.  

But besides all that, they’re a lot of fun! You get to shape a project, lead a team and create new opportunities for your peers. 

How can SMSU help me? 

SMSU is a charity and exists to ensure that all students get the most out of their time at St Mary’s. One of the ways we do this is by supporting societies.  

We do this by:

• Giving you access to grants to run your activities and events 
• Training you to run your society (including information on writing risk assessments, managing finances and organising events)  
• Being a helping hand for when things go wrong or when you’re unsure about something