How to Make Friends in University: A Guide for Pakistani Students
Wondering how to make friends in university when you know nobody? This post gives practical, direct advice for Pakistani students starting their first year and feeling out of place.
How to make friends in university starts with being in the right places at the right times: your hostel floor, your class cohort, one student society, and orientation events. The first move is simple: introduce yourself, ask what program they are in, and suggest studying together before the first test. Everyone is new at the start.
How to make friends in university is something almost every first-year student wonders about and almost nobody talks about directly. You arrive knowing nobody, everyone seems to already have a group, and it is easy to conclude that friendships are forming everywhere except around you. They are not. Here is what actually works.
How to Make Friends in University: Where Friendships Form
1. Your Hostel Floor or Block
If you live in hostel, your floor neighbors are your most natural first social circle. You share bathrooms, hallways, and common rooms. Proximity is powerful. Knock on a neighboring room door, introduce yourself, and ask if they want to get dinner or chai. This is the simplest and most direct path to your first university friendship.
2. Your Class Cohort
You will spend 4 years with your class cohort. The friendships that form in the first semester often last the entire degree. The fastest path is a study group: before the first test, ask 2-3 classmates if they want to study together. Shared stress forms bonds quickly.
3. Student Societies
Joining one student society is one of the most effective ways to build friendships outside your immediate class. A coding club, debating society, literary society, or entrepreneurship club puts you in a smaller group with shared interests. Smaller groups with a shared purpose form friendships faster than large lecture halls. Join one society and participate fully rather than joining five and attending none.
4. Orientation Events
Attend orientation events even if you feel awkward. Everyone at orientation is new. Everyone is looking for familiar faces and open to conversation. You do not need to be outgoing to benefit from orientation. Just show up and introduce yourself to the people nearest to you.
How to Make the First Move
The first move does not require confidence. It requires only a few words. Three openers that consistently work in Pakistani university settings:
- Introduce yourself by name and ask where they are from: "Hi, I'm [name], where are you from?"
- Ask what program they are in and which courses they are taking
- Before the first test: "Are you studying for [course]? Want to do it together?"
These are low-stakes openers. Most people are relieved when someone else makes the first move in the first week. Social awkwardness in Week 1 is completely normal and universal.
What Not to Do in the First Semester
- Do not isolate yourself in your room and rely only on phone contact with friends from home
- Do not wait passively for others to come to you
- Do not limit yourself only to students from your city, school, or province
- Do not judge the first week as representative of your entire social life at university
The Diversity at Pakistani Universities is Genuinely Valuable
Pakistani universities bring students together from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, and everywhere between. Students from Balochistan and Punjab sit in the same class. Students from rural areas and major cities learn alongside each other. This diversity does not happen naturally after university. Engage with it deliberately and your perspective on Pakistan will genuinely expand.
Build Strong Foundations Before University
Students who arrive at university with solid entry test preparation are less stressed in the first semester, which frees up more energy for building friendships and adjusting to a new environment. Prepare your entry test first with Parhlai to start university strong
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make friends in university if I know nobody?
Start with proximity: your hostel floor neighbors if you live on campus, and the students sitting near you in the first lecture. Introduce yourself by name and ask what program they are in. Before the first test, suggest studying together. Simple openers work consistently.
What if I am too shy to introduce myself?
Shyness is common in the first few weeks, and you are not the only one feeling it. A simple opener does not require confidence: just say your name and ask where they are from or what program they are in. The social awkwardness of Week 1 is universal. Most people are relieved when someone else makes the first move.
How long does it take to make real friends at university?
Most students find 2-3 solid friendships within the first semester, usually through shared study sessions or hostel proximity. Deeper friendships tend to form by the end of the first year. Do not compare your timeline to others. Some people look very social in Week 1 and are still finding their real people months later.
Should I join a student society to make friends?
Yes, joining one society is one of the most effective ways to build friendships outside your immediate class cohort. A smaller group with a shared interest forms bonds faster than large lecture halls. Choose one society that genuinely interests you rather than joining many and not fully participating in any.
Is it harder to make friends at Pakistani universities if you are from another city?
It can feel harder at first because students from the same city or school naturally cluster. But Pakistani universities draw students from all provinces, and being from a different city is common. Student societies and hostel life specifically mix people across these initial clusters.
What should I avoid when trying to make friends in the first semester?
Avoid isolating yourself in your room or relying only on social media. Avoid waiting passively for others to approach you. And avoid limiting yourself to people from your hometown or previous school. The diversity of students at Pakistani universities is a genuine asset if you engage with it.
Co-Founder, Parhlai
Hadi Khan is a co-founder of Parhlai. He writes practical, fact-checked guides on entry-test preparation, university admissions, and study strategy for Pakistani students.
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