Icebreakers for you and your flatmates

Easy ways to build friendships and settle in to uni

Moving to university is an exciting time! You get to decorate your room, learn new experiences, and, most importantly, surround yourself with new people. 

Meeting new people can seem terrifying at times, but there are things you can do to help break the ice in your initial few days:

Introduce yourself when unpacking

The initial introductions can be a bit awkward, especially when you don't really know what to say. But you don't need to ask them their whole life story, you can start with simple questions about university to break the ice:

• What course are you doing?
• What made you choose it?
• What did you do over the summer?
• Do you have a hobby?

And whilst you're unpacking, you can say things like:

• I love that hoodie. Where did you get it?
• That plant is so cute!

Starting out with a compliment eases the pressure and allows you both to feel relaxed and more open to chatting.

You might not instantly click with everyone too, and that's completely normal. Over time, you'll naturally find shared interests, routines or activities that help you bond.

Invite your flatmates to a Freshers' Week event

Once you're all moved in and unpacked, have a look at the upcoming Freshers' events together and see if there is anything you're interested in. Whether it's a club night or an afternoon tea session, walking tours or something relaxed, it's the start of making memories together!

Or if you already have plans to go to an event, invite them along. It can feel less intimidating to go out and meet new people when you've already got someone you live with that you can bond with straight away. It's a nice, easy way for you both to ease into student life together.

Take a look at upcoming on-campus events:

Suggest a TV show or movie night

In your initial introductions, you could mention a TV show you've been obsessed with lately, or a movie that's been released recently that you haven't seen yet and see what shows they're interested in. This can be a simple way to create a relaxed environment together. You can get some popcorn and your favourite snacks and wind down together.

It's a great way to share an experience and also learn a bit about them, such as their humour (if it's a funny TV show) or their general interests. It's even funnier when you decide on a movie you both haven't seen, and it's not great. Trust us, you'll look at each other and think, "What in the world are we watching?!"

Share a meal

It's a known fact that food is one of the best ways to bring people together. Whether you cook a simple meal, order a takeaway or cook individually but eat together, it can spark natural conversation.

It's also a great way to learn about each other's backgrounds and bring a bit of home to university. One night, you can each prepare a dish from your hometowns and share cultures. It's a thoughtful way to help everyone feel at home.

We understand that it can be a struggle to break the ice sometimes, whether it's with flatmates or people on your course, but trying a few of these suggestions might just help take the edge off of social anxiety.