Our Top 8 Quirkiest Student Societies
by Newcastle UniversityTrying to imagine life at university? Join us as we take you on a tour of 8 of our most quirky (and amazing) active Student Societies.
There’s more to student life than studying. Our Students’ Union is home to more than 160 student societies that welcome new members every day.
We’ve picked 8 of our most quirky societies to help you imagine what you might get up to when you’re here.
20 minute Society
Ready, set, GO.
The 20 Minute Society organises free activities for members from Laser Quest to Comedy Club nights out – and you only have 20 minutes to get the secret location before your time is up.
The Society even has a ‘Mystery Holiday’ – and in the past, 20-Minuters have been to Budapest, Krakow, and Italy. At the end of the year, there’s a ball in a mystery location to look forward to, too…

Comedy Society
Whether you’re into listening to stand up comedy from the back row or you’re an emerging comic yourself - our Comedy Society organises regular nights out and activities such as improvisational comedy training, stand up comedy workshops, and trips to The Stand Comedy Club in the city centre.
Every year, the Society heads together to the Scottish Student Comedy in Festival in Edinburgh, too.

Newcastle Wilderness Medicine Society
Ready for an adventure?
This Society aims to bring students together to explore the north east’s beautiful landscape and beyond. Trips can involve canoeing, orienteering, cycling, climbing, and many more adventurous activities.
The Society gets its name from the fact that it also trains members to be ready to treat casualties in remote and challenging environments. So you'll always be prepared.

Table Top Society
For the gamers.
Our Table Top Society hosts weekly meet ups for board games, table top role-playing games, and trading card games. So get ready to voyage to worlds as yet undiscovered...
The Society also organises get-togethers and joint socials with other NU Societies, such as the Board Games Society, Anime Society, and Pokemon Society.

A Cappella Society
Our A Cappella Society welcomes everyone who wants to sing – whether you’ve been in a choir before or just want to give it a go.
Made up of four unauditioned and auditioned groups, some have competed at national events, such as ‘The Masters of Show Choir’ in London’s West End, and ‘Sing: Ultimate A Cappella’ on Sky1.

Creative Writing Society
Whether you’re a poet or a novelist, flash-fiction writer or playwright - our Creative Writing Society welcomes bards of all types.
Come to the regular writing workshops, practical activities, and creative socials, and then submit your work to be published in the Society’s official anthology at the end of the year.

Animal Rights Advocates Society
With regular socials and activist activities, the Animal Rights Advocates Society is determined to make a difference to animals' lives, everywhere.
Get updates on animal rights developments and learn how to campaign via workshops with external speakers. The Society regularly links up with other activist groups too to make sure it's making maximum impact.

Give it a Go Programme
Is there anything you’ve always said you’d like to try once?
Not strictly a society, ‘Give it a Go’ is a programme run by the Students’ Union and gives students the chance to try something new without any experience or commitment needed. From calming crafts and paintball battles to saddling up on a horse or going white-water-rafting, there’s plenty going on.
The Society’s Disneyland Paris trips have already become legendary amongst students…

What will you try when you get here? Explore our full list of societies to get a taste of student life.
You can join as many societies as you like, or if you have a special interest or talent we can help you set up your own. If you're a postgraduate student considering joining a society, why not read our blog on whether Master's students can join societies?
Published By Newcastle University on 25/11/2019 | Last Updated 17/03/2023