Top 10 Club Activities for Students - Study Abroad After 12th Grade
All work and no play can take the shine out of university life pretty quickly. Thus, club activities for students are a wonderful addition to the university experience when you set off to study abroad after 12th grade.
Joining a club is an exciting part of any level of education. Although it isn’t always compulsory, your studies as well as career can benefit from your participation in club activities. Plus, being part of a community focusing on something you enjoy or are curious about is a great opportunity to decompress from the demands of academic life. It is a great way to learn skills and connect with people of similar interests.
Why are Club Activities Important?
In the first couple of weeks of your journey to study abroad after 12th grade, you are away from your friends and family and homesickness is inevitable. Joining a university club can be the perfect way to spend your time outside classes, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Club activities for students can help you connect with others sharing the same interests as you. Depending on the kind of activity you sign up for, you can learn new skills and obtain knowledge about something new. You can also try out activities for the first time to explore whether this is something you would like to continue doing in the future.
Some of the top perks of joining a club in university are:
⦁ Exploring your interests: Whether you’re passionate about the arts, sports, tech, or volunteering, there’s very likely a club activity for you. Clubs offer a space to dive deep into your passions or discover new ones.
⦁ Develop essential skills: Clubs are a hands-on way to improve leadership, teamwork, communication, and time management skills—qualities that employers highly value.
⦁ Expand your social circle: Joining a club helps you meet like-minded people. You can foster friendships and build a sense of community, making university feel more like home.
⦁ Boost your career: Club activities often open doors to internships, networking opportunities, and professional exposure. Having that on your resume can give you a competitive edge in the job market.
⦁ Make an impact: Many clubs focus on social issues, environmental causes, or community service. These clubs can be a platform to make a positive difference on campus or beyond.
⦁ Relieve academic stress: Engaging in extracurricular activities offers a healthy break from studying. Club activities can help you balance academic pressures in an enjoyable and fulfilling way.
Best Club Activities to Try Out
University life abroad is full of possibilities. There are so many options you can explore, especially when it comes to club activities for students. If you don’t want to get lost in a sea of choices, you can start by sorting these activities into broader categories. There are many kinds of university clubs that you can pick from. Some of the top club activities you could consider are:
1. Academic Clubs
Academic clubs are the ones closest to your studies in university. They are a good way to explore a subject you are curious about from a different perspective than in the classroom. Academic clubs usually form around a particular subject and often attract students from other fields looking for an opportunity to explore a discipline outside of their own. They are also a hit among students who want to focus on a specific aspect of their field of study. Activities of these clubs include research events, workshops, and projects beyond university courses. Some academic clubs you should consider are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer These Activities |
| Robotics Club | Robotics projects and training workshops. | Swinburne University Coding and Robotics Society |
| Astronomy Club | Stargazing, astrophotography, planetarium visits, etc. | Society for Astronomy at Melbourne University (SAMU) |
| Math Club | Math Olympiads, workshops, and study groups. | Auburn University Math Club |
| Psychology Club | Mental health awareness projects, research, and discussion panels. | Adelaide University Psychiatry Society |
| Business Club | Business competitions, job fairs, and entrepreneurship events. | Business Students Association RMIT (BSA) |
2. Sports Clubs
Sports is one of the most popular activities among students of all ages. Participating in a sports club helps you relieve academic stress while keeping you healthy. If you’re looking for a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you study abroad, sports clubs are a great solution. You can participate both as a casual enjoyer of the sport or sign up to be part of the university’s official sports teams. Those excelling in sports may also be eligible for scholarships to study abroad after 12th grade. Some of your options are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer these Activities |
| Climbing Club | Rock climbing sessions, training, and outdoor trips. | Newcastle University Mountaineering Club |
| Gymnastics Club | Practice sessions, coaching, and participating in competitions. | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Gymnastics Club |
| Martial Arts Club | Training sessions, self-defense workshops, belt allocations, etc. | Curtin University Elite Judo Club |
| Swimming Club | Practice sessions, open water swimming, and competitions. | Princeton University Club Swim |
| Cycling Club | Group rides, cycle trips, mountain biking, etc. | RMIT Cycling Club |
3. Music and Performance Clubs
Music and other performance arts are fun to learn and enrich your life. Whether you are completely new to the activity or have a long-time passion for it, these clubs can be a great outlet for your creativity, serving as a refreshing break from the demands of academic life. In fact, music and performance can help enhance your academic performance, thanks to the positive impacts it can have on your brain’s development. Some options are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer these Activities |
| Film Club | Film screenings, filmmaking workshops, short film projects, film festivals etc. | Newcastle University Film Society |
| Music Club | Jam sessions, open mics, workshops, and masterclasses. | University of New Orleans Music Club |
| Mime Club | Workshops, mime competitions, and street performances. | Ecole Omnibus Montreal |
| Dance Club | Dance classes, performance opportunities, and dance competitions. | Bond University Dance Club |
4. Art Clubs
Another way to enrich your mind is through art club activities for students. Art clubs offer an opportunity to explore different forms and mediums of art. They are especially popular among students with an arts and crafts major or those seeking a creative outlet to balance out the rigors of their core program. Examples of art clubs include:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer these Activities |
| Anime/Manga Club | Anime screenings, manga readings, anime art competitions, and drawing workshops. | Monash University Anime & Manga Appreciation, Society for (SAMA) |
| Drawing Club | Drawing workshops, masterclasses, and art competitions. | Adelaide University Drawing Club |
| Photography Club | Photowalks, workshops, photography competitions, and exhibitions. | University of Delaware Photography Club |
5. Debate and Public Speaking Clubs
Debate is a very popular form of extracurricular activity. For students with and without experience, debate clubs offer an opportunity to explore this form of public speaking, communication, and competition. Public speaking clubs also serve a similar purpose in terms of skill development. Some of your options in this sector are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer these Activities |
| Debate Club | Debate tournaments, argument workshops, and mock debates. | Monash Caulfield Debating Club |
| MUN Club | Model UN conferences, position paper writing workshops, committee simulations, and guest lectures from diplomats. | University of Adelaide Model UN Club |
| Public Speaking Club | Public speaking workshops, storytelling events, and speech competitions. | University of Waterloo Public Speaking Club |
6. Volunteering Clubs
You can also join a club that helps contribute to society outside of your campus. Club activities for students involving volunteering help you take initiative and act on your interest in the welfare of society. These club credentials are also a very good addition to your resume.
| Club Name | Activities |
| Habitat for Humanity Club | Home-building and renovation projects, fundraising events, community awareness campaigns, etc. |
| Community Health Outreach Club | Health education workshops, wellness screenings, volunteer days at local clinics, and informational campaigns on health topics. |
| Environmental Conservation Club | Tree-planting events, park clean-up drives, recycling initiatives, and educational workshops on sustainability. |
| Food Bank or Soup Kitchen Volunteer Group | Food drives, meal preparation, and serving, pantry organization, fundraising events, etc. |
| Animal Rescue Volunteer Club | Animal care and feeding, adoption event coordination, fundraising for shelter needs, and fostering animals. |
7. Cultural and Language Clubs
You will find clubs that center on a particular culture or language. These clubs are a way to connect with a community for international students. You can find others of your nationality and culture in these clubs and engage in regular events with them. These are an excellent way to beat the homesickness, since you and your clubmates are in the same boat bonding over your shared culture and language. You can also join clubs for cultures and languages new to you to better develop an appreciation and understanding for the multicultural community you’re now part of. Activities generally involve regular meet-ups, cultural holiday celebrations, and language workshops.
8. Technology Clubs
Aside from academic clubs, certain clubs focus solely on technology. Club activities for students feature workshops, competitions, and education campaigns about technology. Some options here are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer these Activities |
| Web Design/Coding Club | Hackathons, web design projects, coding workshops, etc. | Purdue University Web and Design Club |
| Cybersecurity Club | Ethical hacking and network defense workshops, hacking competitions. | Swinburne University Cyber Security Club |
| Game Development Club | Designing and creating video games, art design, and storytelling workshops. | University of South Australia Artists, Gamers and Programmers United (AGPU) |
| Data Science Club | Data analysis and machine learning projects, seminars, etc. | University of Manchester Data Science Club |
| AI Club | AI-based seminars, projects, and testing of new AI technology. | Kent State University Artificial Intelligence Club |
9. School Publication Clubs
Most universities and colleges have their own campus publications and media. Student clubs are usually at the helm of these publications. The activities of these clubs generally involve gathering news and media for a weekly or monthly publication. Some options you can look for in your university are:
| Publication Name | Activities |
| Magazine/journal | Publishing a weekly or monthly magazine or newsletter |
| School radio station | Broadcasting to the students via a radio station on campus |
| School website | Regularly updating a student website for the university |
| Yearbook committee | Publishing and gathering articles for the yearbook |
10. Special Interest Clubs
If none of the above options pique your interest, some of these clubs below might. Special interests bring people closer and help build communities. Special interest clubs form around the passion of a group of people for these niche hobbies and activities. From exploring the supernatural to board games, university clubs can cover every interest. Some of the special interest clubs you are likely to find at your university are:
| Club Name | Activities | Clubs that Offer These Activities |
| Chess Club | Chess tournaments, practice matches, and lessons. | St. Louis University Chess Team |
| Horticulture Club | Garden maintenance on campus, plant-care classes, etc. | The University of York Gardening Society |
| Culinary Club | Potluck events, recipe experimentations, etc. | Westcliffe University Cultural Cooking Club |
| Travel Club | Group tours, travel guidance and information, etc. | University of Westminster Travel Society |
| Reading Club | Book readings, library management, and sharing book opinions. | The Really Popular Book Club, Cambridge University |
Rounding Up
Signing up for club activities for students at your university can greatly enhance your study abroad experience. These clubs provide opportunities for personal growth and cultural exchange. They can also help you develop professional skills and industry connections. Most importantly, clubs help build friendships and a sense of community. Participating in these activities ease your transition to a new country and culture. International students can create a well-rounded university experience that supports your academic journey. So, take the leap and join a club to make the most of your time abroad.
