Doomscroll = easy. Binge Netflix = easy. Make friends online = not so easy?

If you’re looking for the ultimate flexibility to fit study into your life, then online study could be it. It means studying where and when it suits. Whether that’s logging in after work or before weekend sport. Or smashing out readings from the comfort of home or your fav cosy cafe.

If there is one challenge to studying online, it’s finding your people, a.k.a. making friends online. Coming to uni as a mature-age student or after a study break can sometimes feel a little daunting. But finding your crew doesn’t need to be impossible. Especially when you know how and where to find them.

Online forums = instant friends!

Nervous about making friends at uni? Learning online doesn’t mean you’ll be doing it alone. In fact, plenty of future friends are in the student portal. At Charles Sturt, you’ll access your learning materials through a platform called Brightspace. Each subject that you’re enrolled in gives you access to online forums, where you’ll connect, collaborate and interact with your classmates.

Now, posting on the forums can be a compulsory part of some subjects, e.g. you may need to respond to questions and share your understanding of coursework or take part in group projects. However, the forums are also a place to engage with other students in your course. So you’ll have exclusive access to your very own brainstrust and can share knowledge, ask questions and make connections.

Just think. The more active you are on the forums, the more likely you are to build meaningful connections with your peers, both on and offline. You’ll start to recognise the same students in different subjects throughout your course, and you just might find some lifelong friendships.

What’s more, making contacts isn’t just great news for your social life. It’s also important for your career progression and professional networking opportunities.

Join the Online SRC

Here is a no-brainer way to make friends at university. The Student Representative Committee (SRC) plays an important role across all our campuses. Of course, that role extends to our online student community. As an online student, you’ll have the unique opportunity to join the Online SRC to support your student community.

But what does the Online SRC do? They represent the needs, priorities, and concerns of online students. They also support online student organisations and clubs. And they help manage initiatives that benefit the online student community. Think scholarships and grants, social media competitions and online games nights.

So if you want to represent your online student community and make a real difference, consider joining the Online SRC.

“I want to give online students a bigger voice. I have represented Charles Sturrt twice at Uni Nationals in taekwondo and would love more online students to take part in any sport. I also want to speak out for our queer population. Also give new online students a better Orientation experience. We shouldn’t miss out on fun because we aren’t near a campus.”

Ro Bellingham, Online SRC

Read more about Charles Sturt’s Online SRC members.

Connect with other uni students on socials

While we’re talking all things SRC, connect with peers through the dedicated Online SRC Facebook group and Instagram page. It’s where you’ll keep updated with the latest competitions and student events. Be sure to engage in the comments, and you could even win a prize!

You can connect with other students through course-related Facebook groups, e.g. teaching or nursing. There are also online groups for all students, like The Social Club Charles Sturt University.

There are even more ways you can keep connected on Facebook through the official Charles Sturt University, Charles Sturt Global and Charles Sturt University Alumni pages.

So like, follow and comment away to stay in the know!

Be part of an online club – or create your own!

Joining or starting a club can be one of the fastest ways to make friends who share similar interests. Student clubs are a big part of uni life for many Charles Sturt students. Our on-campus clubs range from course-related clubs, such as Sole Mates (Podiatric Medicine Club) and Teachers College, to Charles Sturt Health and Rural Medicine Society (CHARMS). Clubs also cover a wide range of interests, such as book club, dance/cheer and footy. The good news? There is room for our clubs to grow. That’s right, you can create your own online club and connect over shared interests.

Here are some idea starters:

• Virtual book club (an introvert’s dream!)
• Coding and STEM
• Online gaming
• Creative writing and podcasts
• Public speaking and debating
• Paint, sip and stream
• Your fav niche topic or hobby
• Unibuddy make friends club – self-explanatory!

The limit? A strong internet connection + your imagination!

Host an online meetup – BYO snacks and matcha!

So by now, you have plenty of ways to build connections with other students. Why not build on those connections by hosting your own online meetup? You could set up a Zoom or Teams meeting and invite your new friends. Give the meeting a theme (best background or drinking vessel wins a prize!), host a trivia night, or chat about life, the latest book or TV series, or anything at all!

You could even find that some of your new buddies live closer than you think. So a coffee catch-up IRL at a local cafe, library or even on campus could be on the cards.

Be cybersafe: Keeping safe and secure in your quest for friendship is key. Beware of digital stranger danger, avoid online friend scams and always protect your personal information online. Check your privacy settings, watch out for fake profiles and always verify someone's identity before meeting in a public place. Read more.

Balance your screen time to prioritise your wellbeing

Studying online is all about balance. It’s important to step away from screens, touch grass and recharge.

• Take regular study breaks – you could try the Pomodoro Technique.
• Step outside for some fresh air and sunshine.
• Go for a walk with friends or the dog.
• Prioritise self-care.
• Practise meditation and mindfulness.
• Maintain good wellbeing and nutrition.
• Do a digital detox (until your next study sesh, of course!).

“I’d listen to lectures on my morning run or while cooking. I’d also always have a printed article in my bag to read while I waited at the vet for my dog to be seen, or in any other waiting room. This determination to make use of every moment in the day meant that I managed to stay on top of things and could head out for a surf on the weekend with friends.”

Thiery Willa, Charles Sturt online student

Over to you – study with the most experienced online uni

So, now that making friends online has become simple, it’s over to you. Go ahead and enrol in that online course you’ve been thinking about. Keep your eye on the prize (your shiny new degree and dream career) and get set to make a BFF or two along the way!